This story is part of the June 9 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories . Toxic friends are no fun, but how do you identify one? There are some common signs to look out for which are listed below.
But just a warning: while reading, you may realise you’re a bit guilty of a few of these behaviours yourself. That’s okay – it’s better to be aware of them rather than sticking your head in the sand. Your friends should be your biggest hype people.
They’re the ones who rebrand every loss with a silver lining, and cheer on your successes as if they were their own. Credit: Stocksy You’re scared to speak your mind Most people don’t enjoy fighting with their friends, right? If your friend is constantly combative, you may dodge confrontation by agreeing with everything they say. This is a big red flag and could lead to growing resentment the less you feel heard.
A healthy friendship leaves room for disagreements without the need to have a huge blow-up about it. As long as everyone is being respectful, differing opinions can actually help you grow in a friendship. You may also be afraid to speak up for yourself if you have a friend who always shuts you down.
They might always conveniently have an opposing opinion to you, go out of their way to prove you wrong or criticise your opinions for being “silly” or “immature”. These disagreements are inevitable in a friendship, but if they’re popping up frequently, the signs may point to a toxic friend. They put you dow.
