The harsh truth is: toxic people can be found everywhere — and yes, they can even be your friends.
It is not always easy to determine if you are in a toxic friendship. You have become so close to them that you cannot see their behavior as it is.
Sure, all types of relationships have their highs and lows. But if your friend always seems to be destroying you instead of building you up, then you have to evaluate whether the friendship is worth keeping.
Without further ado, here are some of the most common signs and behaviors of a toxic friend.
1) They criticize you constantly
Of course, we want our friends to always be honest with us. But there is a big difference between constructive criticism and harshness.
Does your friend often make hurtful comments to you? Do they always find fault with everything you do?
All of these are signs of a toxic friend. When someone genuinely cares for you, they’ll find ways to provide feedback without having to tear you down.
They will compassionately tell you the truth because their motive is to help you.
2) They dominate all conversations and decision making
Friends are meant to be equals, which means compromise is necessary for a healthy friendship to flourish.
But if you have a friend who seems to have the upper hand in everything, this is a sign that you may be in a toxic friendship.
This is when they talk too much and never hear you. They ignore your opinions and feelings and get upset when things don’t go their way.
And it can get worse: They make you feel guilty for not letting them call the shots.
3) They are not responsible for errors
Have you tried to talk to your friend at a time when you felt hurt about what they said or did but they had nothing to do with it?
Yes, it is not always easy to apologize for mistakes. But if your boyfriend always remains stubborn and refuses to admit when he’s wrong, that’s a sign that he might be toxic.
It takes a real, mature friend to be responsible for their own decisions and actions. Any indication of selfish behavior is a red flag.
If a person wants to maintain a healthy and sustainable friendship, they should know when and how to say sorry and try to make amends.
4) They are often rude
Friends can tease each other and have fun from time to time.
But consider this: Is your boyfriend…
insult you?
Does he embarrass you in front of others?
Taunting you to make you feel inferior?
Makes fun of you by attacking your personality and identity?
Do you crack bad or offensive jokes directed at you?
If you said yes to these, then this is a sign that you may be in a toxic friendship.
A good friend will never insult you, disrespect you, or make you feel small.
5) They never communicate
Are you doing almost everything you can to make the friendship work? Do you feel like if you stop initiating and planning get-togethers, you’ll never hear from your friend again?
Another sign that the friendship may be harmful is if it is one-sided.
No matter how busy they are, true friends will make time for you because they care about you.
Even if they can’t meet you in person, they will always find ways to check you in with you. They will show interest in you and reciprocate your efforts.
This brings me to my next point….
6) They only remember you when they need something from you
Friendships are about give and take.
But if it sinks into a pattern where you’re always giving and your friend takes more than they give, that’s a sign of a toxic, one-sided friendship.
You know, that toxic friend who expects you to do everything for him but never returns the favor.
They will only call or reach out to you when they have a problem but are rarely available when you need them.
They take advantage of your knowledge, connections, skills, and generosity, but give nothing in return.
7) They are always about themselves
Here’s the deal: If your boyfriend is self-centered, meaning he only wants to talk about himself, that’s a huge sign of emotional toxicity.
This usually happens when you are in the middle of sharing something and they end up forwarding the conversation back to themselves.
