Friendship Red Flags: Don’t Ignore These Signs of a Toxic Friendship

You often hear about red flags in relationships, but what about friendships? Believe it or 
not, your friendships can be just as toxic as your relationships, sometimes even more 
so. Here are some friendship red flags you don’t want to ignore.


Always You, Never Them

Does your friend always seem to steer the conversation back to them? While it's normal 
for friends to share personal experiences, a good friend also listens and makes the 
conversation about you when it should be. If you find that your friend always brings the 
focus back to themselves and disregards your feelings, this could be a red flag.


Criticism, Not Constructive Feedback

Feedback is a part of every relationship. But there's a big difference between 
constructive criticism and constant negativity. If your friend frequently criticizes you, puts 
you down, or makes you feel bad about yourself without any constructive intent, you 
might be dealing with a toxic friendship. Healthy friendships involve supporting and 
building each other up, not tearing each other down.


Friends in Sunshine, Not in Rain

Is your friend only around during the good times? Fair-weather friends are those who 
are happy to share in your joys but are nowhere to be found when you need a shoulder 
to lean on. A key sign of a healthy friendship is support during tough times. If your friend 
disappears when you're going through a rough patch, it might be time to reconsider the 
friendship.


Breaking Boundaries

Each of us has our own personal boundaries, and it's important that these are respected 
in a friendship. If your friend continually disregards your boundaries, makes you feel 
uncomfortable, or pressures you into doing things you don't want to do, this is a red flag. 
A good friend respects your boundaries and values your personal space.


The Green-Eyed Monster

A little bit of envy is normal in any relationship. However, if your friend always seems to 
be envious of your accomplishments and can't be genuinely happy for you, this might be 
a sign of toxicity. Healthy friendships involve celebrating each other's successes without 
envy getting in the way.


A Cycle of Drama

If your friendship seems to be constantly filled with drama and conflict, this could be a 
sign of toxicity. While disagreements are a normal part of any relationship, constant 
arguments and drama are not. If you feel like you're always walking on eggshells 
around your friend, it may be a sign that the friendship is doing more harm than good.

Each of these red flags can indicate a toxic friendship. It's important to remember that 
everyone makes mistakes and has bad days, but when these behaviors become a 
pattern, it may be time to reconsider the friendship. After all, a good friend brings joy, 
support, and positivity into your life.
