Relationships
5 signs of a toxic friendship
While the word “breakup” is usually associated with a romantic relationship, breakups between friends can be just as painful and heartbreaking. Whether the person is someone who has been in your life for decades or a new acquaintance who you once really clicked with but now find insufferable, knowing when to end a friendship isn’t easy. Experts have identified five key signs that indicate that the whistle has blown time on your relationship. Keep an eye out for the below:
- They need you for everything – While good friends rely on each other, too much neediness can be exhausting and at time, very unfair. Women tend to rely on their friends for emotional support when times are good and bad but there’s a line between support and constant dependence. If it’s the latter, it may be time to redraw boundaries or consider a permanent break.
- You leave catch ups feeling exhausted and relieved – If you dread seeing someone or find yourself constantly coming up with excuses for cancelling coffee, warning bells should be ringing. Friendships are entirely voluntary, a fact we often forget, so if you’re really not enjoying a relationship it’s time to call time.
- Your catch-ups are constantly clashing – Carving out time to catch up with friends can sometimes be tricky. One or both parties may be experiencing an unusually busy period or a myriad of different stressors. Most friendships work around these periods but if you have a friend who is constantly “too busy” to catch up but expects you to find the time for them then it may be time to consider a change in relationship status.
- You suffer from friendship whiplash – If drama seems to constitute the basis of your relationship then its time to move on to greener pastures.
- They betray your trust – It shouldn’t even be a question but if someone betrays your friendship in any way, it’s game over. Once that bond of trust has been broken it’s almost impossible to regain and when it comes down to it, would you really want that relationship to continue?
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