5 Signs This Friend Is Secretly Jealous Of You
Friendship, beyond sharing and mutual support, is not without its challenges. Among them, jealousy holds a special place, which is often difficult to detect. If you’ve ever felt a strange or inexplicable distance from a friend after a personal success, this feeling may be to blame.
Therapist Afton Turner identifies these behaviors to understand and manage these dynamics before they impact your relationship. verywellmind,
1. They fall apart when you become successful
When a positive event marks your life, a jealous friend may react with a severe lack of enthusiasm. Instead of sharing your happiness, he may appear distant or indifferent.
For example, a promotion or new relationship may cause them to be largely isolated or even absent from functions. This behavior often stems from feelings of inferiority regarding your successes.
2. They exclude or downplay your achievements
Another common sign is exclusion, whether in discussions or social events. Your friend may avoid including you in certain activities, especially when you are going through good times.
He may downplay your accomplishments with comments like “It’s not that impressive” or “Anybody can do that.” The purpose of this attitude is to unconsciously balance the balance of power in the relationship.
3. Their communication becomes irregular
Jealousy often manifests in unpredictable communication patterns. A jealous friend may be rare when you’re on top, but suddenly reappear when you’re going through tough times.
Sometimes these interactions include sarcastic sarcasm or indirect criticism as a roundabout way of dealing with feelings of jealousy.
4. They focus on the negative aspects
Even in your happy moments, a jealous friend may try to find fault. Instead of celebrating your success, he will focus on what could go wrong, and try to uncover potential problems.
This attitude can lead you to doubt yourself or overestimate your accomplishments to avoid stress.
5. They want to isolate you
A jealous friend may want to limit your interactions with other friends or loved ones. He may criticize your relationships or discourage your initiatives to tighten his control over the dynamics of your bond.
This behavior is often aimed at preserving their own emotional comfort, while harming your social development.