You and your group of friends have always gotten along well.
But recently, something has changed.
Instead of feeling supported and comfortable when you’re around them, you feel like you’re walking on eggshells.
Plus, you’re starting to dread spending time together.
Is it because their attitude towards you has changed?
Here are 12 warning signs that your friends have lost respect for you.
Maybe it’s time to address the elephant in the room.
1) They avoid making long-term plans
Your friends used to make long term plans with you.
Adding future concerts, adventures, or trips to your group’s calendar is a cause for excitement and celebration.
Suddenly, no one seems motivated to commit to these types of activities when you’re around.
If you suggest that you all take a vacation together in a few months, they ignore you or insist that it’s too early to commit.
That sounds like an excuse in my book, and it’s a bad one.
2) It doesn’t keep you updated
You used to know everything about what was going on in your friends’ lives.
Now, it seems like you have to beg them for information.
You don’t know who they’re dating or what’s going on at their jobs.
Worse still, you learn about important life events via social media — when they post a work update or a selfie with their new partner.
Friendships change over time. People get busy, priorities change, and schedules get crowded.
But when something big happens, you have to tell the people who matter to you.
If no one bothers to keep you updated with the latest news, this is definitely a red flag.
3) They don’t take your advice or suggestions
When your friends lose respect for you, they no longer care about what you think or trust your opinion.
If you offer advice, they reject it. If you have a fun idea for a group activity, they will absolutely reject it.
Next time you’re together, pay attention to their reaction when you offer input on one of their issues.
Their responses will speak volumes.
4) They frequently interrupt you while you’re talking
A huge sign of disrespect?
Your friends talk about you, walk out when you’re in the middle of a story, or exclude you from the conversation.
In other words, they don’t listen.
Instead, they act impatiently, as if they are in a hurry to end the interaction and move on to another topic.
I’m sorry to tell you, but they are no longer interested in what you have to share.
This will be more obvious if you’ve known each other for a while and never had this problem until recently.
5) They talk about you
Talking about someone behind their back and spreading rumors is not only disrespectful but can irreparably damage a relationship.
Once you know your friends are gossiping about you, trust goes out the window.
There are subtle behavioral signals that can serve as alarm bells:
- The conversation suddenly stops when you join them
- You find out they have a group chat that you’re not part of
- You hear about your own life or experiences from sources other than your friends
- Become aware of untrue or exaggerated stories being circulated about you
- Your friends act shifty and distant
Can you gossip about someone you have a high opinion of?
I didn’t think so.
6) They withdraw support
Your friends used to rush to your side whenever you faced any minor inconvenience.
They offered words of encouragement and a shoulder to cry on.
Now, they can hardly be bothered to express their sadness that you are having a hard time.
Instead of suggesting you all grab drinks to console, they offer platitudes like “this too shall pass” or insist that you’re making a lot of money out of nothing.
And when you have something to celebrate?
They act jealous instead of happy for your success.
7) They make fun of you openly
However, these are fun, lighthearted strokes that only bring us closer together.
For example, they make fun of my inability to cook elaborate meals or wear makeup without looking like a raccoon.
I know that these statements are not intended to be hurtful or offensive. They’re just kidding – I serve them right away.
On the other hand, sarcasm is generally aimed at belittling or mocking someone. This is not something friends do.
When you’ve been close to someone for a long time, you may not even notice when their clever comments stop expressing warmth and become a direct insult.
But if you feel like your friends are intentionally banding together to bring you down, it’s a sign that they may have lost respect for you.
They no longer care if they hurt your feelings.
When ridicule is done in front of others, it becomes deeper.
8) They ignore your boundaries
A person who does not respect you has no interest in your boundaries.
If this person was a friend, it would be even sadder.
Your friends know you well, so they can decide which buttons to press to annoy or annoy you.
You may notice that they have recently begun discussing sensitive topics that make you uncomfortable despite your expressed concerns.
Or they push you to do things completely outside your comfort zone, insisting that this is the only way you can continue to be part of the group.
True friends certainly challenge you, but they don’t issue ultimatums or make you feel uncomfortable on purpose.
However, people who have lost respect for you may do so.
9) They take advantage of you
Healthy friendships are built on reciprocity.
If your relationship with your friends seems one-sided lately, it may be because they have lost respect for you.
But instead of cutting you off, they keep you there for what you can give them.
Validation, financial support, connections, or help with various tasks.
If you notice that your friends are only contacting you to ask for favors and not to find out how you are doing, take this development as a warning sign.
10) They offer unwanted criticism
It’s one thing to offer constructive criticism to a friend who’s asking for your opinion, and it’s another to make insensitive remarks about his or her choices or personal qualities.
You never had problems with your friends before, but lately, it seems like all they do is criticize you.
They have something to say about everything from the way you dress to the way you act to your hobbies and passions.
You feel like you are constantly under attack.
News flash: This is not normal.
11) They break promises
A person who breaks promises does not take his obligations to you seriously, which indicates a lack of respect.
It’s frustrating, especially when this attitude comes from friends who used to support you.
Now, they arrive late to meet you, cancel plans at the last minute for no good reason, and fail to show up when they say they will.
Clearly something is wrong, and you need to speak up sooner rather than later.
12) You feel like a backup
Everyone in your friend group is used to being treated equally.
However, lately, you’ve started to feel like a backup to the group.
Not only do you feel like there are inside jokes among your friends that you don’t understand, they sometimes exclude you from activities altogether.
Feeling excluded is devastating.
Unfortunately, it can also be a sign that your friends have lost respect for you.
Final thoughts
Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.
When these relationships go wrong, it can be more painful than just losing a significant other.
If your friends start acting suspicious and you notice the warning signs above, it’s time to have a serious conversation.
Talk openly about how his doses affected you and make it clear that you expect to be treated better.
This may be a temporary situation caused by an error on your part or a misunderstanding.
But if the disrespect continues after the big talk, it’s best to withdraw from the friend group altogether.
No one deserves to be treated poorly, especially by people who should have their best interests at heart.
