Toxic Friends? The Mental Health Breakup You Need

“Identifying a Toxic Friend

• Feeling insecure due to your success:

Good friends always cheer you on. They shouldn’t criticize something new in your life, like a promotion, unless they’re genuinely concerned. You may have a toxic bestie if they’re judgmental and won’t appreciate your successes.

• Self-centered:

Friendship means sharing the spotlight. A toxic friend will try to overshadow your success and steal the spotlight. If the conversation isn’t centered around them, is there dialogue? Do they ask what’s going on in your life? It’s unhealthy to remain silent about your problems instead of sharing them with those close to you.

• Let down by your other friends

No matter how close a buddy you are, you should always be at liberty to pursue other interests and make new acquaintances. Having a toxic friend might disrupt your social life. They may make you feel awful about yourself when you prefer someone else.

• A troublemaker:

Although friends can argue with one other, it shouldn’t be because one person is constantly kicking things off. A warning sign may be present if the other person cannot forgive you for a mistake you made in the past.

• Always blame you:

One person can sometimes be at fault in a strong connection. Neither of you should always feel like you’re compromising. A toxic friend will always blame you.

Ways to Recover from the Heartbreak

It’s done, the friendship is over, and you are heartbroken. Now what?

• Find Support:

After parting with a friend, it’s nice to have support from other friends or family members.

• Seek Closure:

You may try drafting a letter to the toxic friend you just dumped, but you don't have to sent it. Do not just dispose of it; instead, place it in an envelope and shred it.

Strange as it may be, writing out your sentiments towards the individual helps you release them without talking to them.

• Move on:

Be patient and give yourself additional time if you need it. It’s hard breaking up with someone that you’ve been so close to for a long time. It may take a year or more to recover from a toxic friendship, but you can get over it.

The bright side of moving on is that you will feel better overall and can take pride in having the strength to avoid further toxic interactions.”

Read the full article on Medium

✨Takeaway: A toxic friend, far from helping relieve stress, can add to it. They might say or do things that upset you when you spend time together. Learning to draw boundaries in relationships is a skill that will serve you well as you move through life

✨Reflection: Have you ever had a toxic friend?

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