TOXIC FRIENDSHIPS

 Friendship is one of the most coveted relationship and it surpasses age, gender and even region. Like any other relationship, friendship requires time attention, care and fair adjustment and sacrifice from both ends 

While good friends and friendships makes us happier, being in a toxic friendship can make us miserable. Toxic friendship happen when one person is being emotionally harmed or used by another making the relationship more of a burden than support. It leaves one feeling exhausted, emotional and bad about themselves.

Signs you are in a toxic friendship

(i) You feel completely drained and always feel like you are in a competition with them 

(ii)You feel obligated to be their friend;They often use emotional abuse tactics such as  *shifting the blame on you to make you feel like you are the problem, *acting different when you are in public and private,*putting you down often and make you believe you are overacting.... etc

(iii)You give away more than you receive; it always feels like you are the one giving your time, money or any other resources...

(iv) They tease and insult you regularly. While friends occasionally joke and it may be harmless, chronic put-downs are a red flag. You feel like you are consistently criticized. They don't care how you feel and always get upset when you talk about it

(v) They are jealous of your other friends ; they may insult and criticize your friends and if you vent out about one of your friends to them, they try to convince you of how better you are than them.

(vi) They disrespect your boundaries; supportive friends work hard to understand and respect your limits but tocmxic ones believe they are exempt from your boundaries

(vii) They peer pressure you into doing things you don't wanna do

It's really true that toxic friendships are just as draining as any other relationship. For your mental well being you have to selectively chose who you let into your life... Let's all look for those friends who'll help us grow in all aspects. And if you any the toxic friend... Let's try and change