6 signs that someone is not a true friend
These “friends” from whom it is better to protect yourself. For Psychology TodayShainna Ali, mental health counselor, listed the characteristics of a healthy friendship. When you share things with someone, you easily ask for their help, you feel connected to them, you enjoy your time with them, you feel supported, respected and feel like you can be yourself… This are generally the signs of a balanced and solid friendship.
There are sometimes turning points that take place in certain relationships and help us realize that it is indeed a real friendship. Conversely, other relationships that seem to bring together all the characteristics of friendship. friendship ends show some flaws over time.
6 signs to spot a fake friend
There are several reasons why some people want to pretend to be your friend. In a toxic relationship, it is usually about domination. Some people, especially narcissistic personalities, need to be validated, admired and have power over others.
In other cases, “friends” may play pretend to get something from you. This could be to pass the time, cultivate their networks or obtain services from you. Regardless of their reasons, fake friends should not be seen as friends. This could lead to significant disappointments, lowered self-esteem, difficulty trusting others and feelings of loneliness over time. Here are the signs that should not be overlooked:
- Jealousy : false friends will not rejoice in your successes, but will envy them. A true friendship should not be based on competitiveness. While it’s possible to sometimes want to experience the same thing as a friend, that doesn’t stop you from being happy for them. In false friendship, there is “this underlying jealousy which means that they don’t want you to succeed too well”, specifies Annette Nuñez, psychotherapist, for MindBodyGreen.
- Conditional affection : if false friends are there out of interest, as soon as they don’t see their own, they disappear. If they are there to party, but stop showing signs of life whenever you need emotional support… Be wary.
- Failure to respect limits : As in all your relationships, friendships must respect some of your personal boundaries. It may be about not respecting your privacy, your “no”, not letting you enjoy the time you need or managing your emotions on your own.
- The imbalance : Fake friendships are usually one-sided. For example, only their emotions, thoughts and opinions interest them. They can be unreliable and rarely keep the promises they make to you, illustrates Aimee Daramus, psychologist, for VeryWellMind. You will have a hard time relying on them for anything.
- Sabotage : in addition to jealousy, the false friend may seek to harm you. In particular, you may hear of rumors about you that he may have spread or confided secrets that he may have divulged. In front of you, he can also be unpleasant, make unfounded reproaches and never have anything positive to say about you, says Annette Nuñez.
- Negative emotions : if certain signs seem obvious and translate into facts, it is also important to be attentive to what you feel. For example, some people are always very critical and judgmental, which constantly makes you feel like you’re not fully accepted by them, therapist Melanie Ross Mills explains to Women’s Health. If when you see this friend you have the impression of no longer having energy, of not feeling supported, listened to or even of being hurt again by certain “jokes”, it may be that this person is not sincerely your friend.