At one point or another, we all have to get rid of a toxic friend in our lives. Some of us go through it as children, and some of us learn the hard way as adults. No matter what age you are, it’s not always easy to get rid of a toxic friend. Sometimes you just need to read the facts in front of you to know it’s time to get rid of a toxic friend.
Any friend that talks badly about you is not a true friend. Whether it’s to your face or behind your back (I’ve seen both), this is a sign it’s time to get rid of a toxic friend. Friendship (and all relationships in general) are about building each other up, not tearing each other down. Any “friend” that is more than willing to talk badly about you is not a friend worth having.
Learn what a healthy relationship is and get rid of your friend if your friendship with her is not one. If they’re working against you, if they’re not there for you, don’t stick around for them. It’s a simple concept but it’s often so difficult. This applies for all relationships in your life, but especially in friendships. Healthy relationships are built on trust, honesty, and openness, and if you don’t have that with your friend, cut off the friendship.
There are few things worse than a friend that thrives on drama and gossip. It’s exhausting, and too much work, to be quite honest. Personally, I don’t like surrounding myself with drama and gossip, so removing friends from my life that do is essential to having healthy friendships. Drama and gossip are unhealthy for any relationship, but friendship is supposed to be about honesty and trust, two things that don’t exactly go hand-in-hand with drama and gossip. Don’t be afraid to extricate a toxic friend from your life if they thrive on gossip. It’s not worth it.
If you can’t be comfortable around your friend, she’s probably not a friend worth having. If you’re constantly worried about your friend picking you apart or talking about you behind your back, get rid of that friend. It’s not worth the pain and anxiety that comes from worrying about what your friend will say about you behind your back.
If your friendship no longer feels real, or maybe it never did, it’s okay to get rid of your toxic friend. Life is too short to surround yourself with fake people. It’s not too difficult to decipher between real and fake friends, so if you think your friend isn’t genuine, you’re probably right.
Your toxic friend may want you to pay for every last thing. Maybe there’s an outfit she really wants yet can’t find the money for, or maybe it’s become every single meal you two have together. If your friend is always turning to you when it comes to paying, don’t put up with it. One or two instances are fine, but when she’s expecting you to pick up the tab constantly, it’s okay to part ways with your toxic friend. It’s not worth it, emotionally and monetarily.
If she’s constantly jealous, no matter the circumstances, don’t put up with it. We’ve all had those friends who constantly act like they’re better than you out of jealousy, even when there’s nothing to be jealous about. If your friend is blatantly jealous of you, don’t be afraid to cut ties. You’ll thank yourself later.
Do you have a friend that you need to cut ties with? Have you ever had a toxic friend that you needed out of your life? What were your signs? Let me know in the comments!