Types Of Toxic Friends And How To Deal With Them

1. The gossip

Image source: Reddit

So there's the gossip friend, we all know one...they just LIVE for the drama. You know as soon as you've got something going on in your life that could be deemed as 'interesting' or dramatic they'll be straight in your messages. Even if they've not been in touch for some time. And when you meet up with them they fill you in on all the gossip. But if they're gossiping about other people they're probably gossiping about you behind your back!

2. The flaky friend

Image source: Reddit

The flaky friend is infuriating. You make plans, you cancel other things and make time to see them, and then an hour before you're supposed to be meeting they cancel. And this isn't just the once time because of some legitimate excuse. Oh no, this is pretty much every time. They are super flaky and they do not seem to care that it messes other people around and wasted their time!

3. The liar

Image source: Reddit

If your friend is always lying to you then they are very toxic and it's better to stay away from the people like that in your life because they will not bring positivity. If your friend is lying to you it's because they don't have your best intentions at heart. Why are they lying? For what gain? You may never know, but the reason will not be good and they are by no means a true friend.

4. The jealous one

Image source: Reddit

When you're a true friend you feel genuinely happy for your friend's happiness and success. Yes, you may say 'Wow, looks like you're having an amazing time on holiday, so jealous!'. This is completely normal. True jealousy however will be when your friend silently wishes that you didn't have what you had and they actually do not wish you the best at all, they wish you were more miserable than you are!

5. The clingy friend

Image source: Reddit

Clinginess doesn't come from a malicious place but it's still just as toxic. It can be extremely overbearing and take over. This person wants you all to themselves and that's not right! It's not because they just love you so much and you're their best friend, being overly clingy is being possessive of you. And you should not have to feel responsible for their happiness as they probably make you feel!

6. The judgemental friend

Image source: Reddit

If you're a true friend you love them without judgment. We all make mistakes and it's only human to sometimes act n a way that we end up regretting. But if your friend is not there for you judgment-free and acts differently towards you then this isn't a true friend it's a toxic friend. Our friends should be our safe space to be truly ourselves, the good, the bad, and the ugly!

7. The isolator

Image source: Reddit

Sometimes, just as with relationships, friendships can get super possessive. When you make a friend sometimes you'll experience this person who essentially loves bombs on you and calls you the best friend they've ever had. But they want you all to themselves. They'll slowly start trying to distance you from your other friends and talk badly about them to turn you against them so that it ends up just you two!

8. The user

Image source: Reddit

In all aspects of life we will sadly experience at some point, those people who just want to use us for something. It's often worse when it comes from someone close to us or a trusted friend because we let our guard down only for them to take advantage. But some toxic friends are simply friends with you because of what they can give you, whether this is reputation and popularity or otherwise.

9. The controlling friend

Image source: Reddit

Then you have those totally toxic friends who try and control you! They want to know who you are going out with, and where you're going and they only want you to be going to places with them. They might even try and change your image and control what you wear. These 'friends' enjoy having power over you. It's like they want you to be loyal to them so that they can view you as their 'puppet'.

10. Drama queen

Image source: Reddit

The drama queen. Those three words and everyone everywhere knows exactly what we mean when we talk about the toxic drama queen friend. Whenever there is drama, they're there. And usually they; 're uncoincidentally right in the mind of things. If things go quiet for awhile they will make some more! But you can't trust these toxic friends because they prioritize drama over your friendship.

11. The passive-aggressive friend

Image source: Reddit

Then there's the passive-aggressive toxic friend who instead of having an open, healthy discussion answers in blunt comments like 'it's fine', 'don't worry about it just suit yourself', or other comments we clearly know the hidden meaning of. These are toxic friends because it makes you second guess yourself and you may start to feel super anxious and on edge around them.

12. The hypersensitive one

Image source: Reddit

The hyper-sensitive friend can also be super toxic because they may misinterpret what you are saying into something negative, reading into what is not there and getting super upset about it. Then, they put the blame on you despite you having meant no ill intent whatsoever. It then means that you feel like you're on eggshells around your friend and cannot be yourself in case you accidentally insult them.

13. The negative friend

Image source: Reddit

We can split people into two categories, we've got the 'drains' and the 'radiators'. The radiators fill your life with positivity and are the glass-half-full kind of person. The drain is that person who sucks all of the energy from you and fills you with negativity. They view everything in a pessimistic way and you feel exhausted and unhappy after being around them which is super toxic.

14. The transactional friend

Image source: Reddit

The transactional friend is the toxic 'friend' who only wants to have anything to do with you when they want something or they will get something from being with you. They don't care for you as a person or want to spend time with you because they love being with you. They will only spend time with you or make any effort toward you if they think they it will benefit them in some way.

15. The manipulator

Image source: Reddit

The manipulator is the kind of toxic friend who is essentially emotionally abusive. They try and manipulate your feelings and they may gaslight you. Sometimes it can be harder to spot because often we associate this behavior with romantic relationships. But it's just as common in friendships too and with these kinds of toxic people we have to be very wary of and distance ourselves.

16. The self-centered friend

Image source: Reddit

'Me, me, me'...'I, I, I'...that's the kind of dialogue we're referring to when we talk about the toxic self-centered friend. They will never consider you first or as a priority. Everything in their world revolves around them. They see you as an addition, a spare part in comparison to them. So everything about the friendship will be in their favor and for them. This kind of friend will expect the world and give nothing back.

17. The convenience friend

Image source: Reddit

Di anybody experienced in high school being asked around to your friend's house or asked to some kind of event, being super happy and honored, only to realzie afterward that you were second, third, maybe even fourth choice? This is an example of a convenience friend. It's when your toxic friend only rings you up or wants to see you when it is convenient for them. However, they'll expect you to make an effort!

18. The enabler

Image source: Reddit

Honestly, it's a huge part of a friendship and when our friend is going down a path that isn't good for them or they are behaving in a worrying way we should tell them straight that we're worried about them and help them to stop. A toxic friend will enable them and encourage them. Perhaps because their self-destructive behavior makes them feel better about their own.

19. The bragger

Image source: Reddit

Being humble is an undervalued quality. You may have achieved brilliant things, but rather than bragging about it, it's always best to stay humble with your feet on the ground. If you have a toxic friend that brags about everything they will constantly be telling you how great they are which can in turn make you feel insecure and unworthy by comparison.

20. The friend who pressures you

Image source: Reddit

Peer pressure is something that should never be put on us by our friends. It's a horrible thing, making someone do something they don't want to do is unacceptable on every level. So if you have a friend who encourages you to do bad things or sabotage yourself or do something you aren't comfortable then it's time to call them out because this is truly toxic behavior.

21. The friend who leaves you out

Image source: Reddit

Being left out is a heart-sinking, isolating feeling. It's horrible. And it shouldn't be done. If this is happening to you because of your friend then it feels like an even worse betrayal. It can truly leave you feeling broken when you see the people you thought were your friends purposefully leaving you out of things. At this point, it's time to acknowledge them for the frenemies they are.

22. The competitor

Image source: Reddit

Your friend is our teammate, not your competitor. We want our friends to do well and achieve things and we should encourage them to do their best and push themselves. We shouldn't view them as competition, someone we want to beat. If that's the kind of behavior they have for their so-called friend then we'd hate to see how they act with their enemies!

23. The fair-weather friend

Image source: Reddit

Ah, the fair-weather friend; completely fickle and totally unreliable. They are there when times are good because they enjoy our company when we're at our best. them as soon as we hit a rocky patch where we truly need our real friends they are nowhere to be seen. Oh, they'll come back again, for sure. When everything's completely sorted and we're back in a good place.

24. The flatterer

Image source: Reddit

It's very easy to be charmed by the flatterer friend. Yet they aren't sincere. It's toxic behaviour to get you onside and the reality often is that they are not genuine no matter what they say about their feelings towards you. Sometimes we get swept up in their praise because they make us feel good initially and then we can end up with our hearts broken when we realize it was all a facade with no substance.

25. The underminer

Image source: Reddit

No one should have a friend who constantly undermines them. Being continuously undermined beats you down and can break down your sense of security and self-assurance. An underminer is actually insecure in themselves and they want you to feel how they feel. This isn't a true friend! Stay away from toxic people like this who will want to bring you down.

26. The secret collector

Image source: Reddit

You cannot trust the toxic secret collector friend. What are they doing with these secrets? Why are they pressurizing you to spill your deepest and darkest secrets? These 'friends' may store up these secrets as weapons. They feel powerful gathering information about someone that nobody else knows. It gives them a sense of power over this person and they aren't trustworthy.

27. The guilt-tripper

Image source: Reddit

When you don't want to do something, you shouldn't. Saying no is a valid answer. So if you have a friend that continuously guilt trips you into doing things you're not comfortable with, that's not a friend...they're toxic. It's pushing our boundaries and disregarding someone's feelings if they will not allow them to say no without kicking up a fuss.

28. The friend who puts you down

Image source: Reddit

Nobody should put their friend down. We should all be printing our friends and bigging them up, being that boost that everyone needs from time to time. That's what friends are for, they are there to support you and cheer you on. A toxic friend will put you down. They might make subtle or snide comments or they may even make fun of you in a public setting to make you feel small.

29. The attention seeker

Image source: Reddit

We all know an attention seeker. That person who just wants to steal the spotlight at any given moment. Even if you've achieved something, these toxic friends make it all about them. They cannot stand when you have their attention even for a second showing that they do not want the best for you and they cannot be happy with your achievements. Instead, they resent it!

30. The overbearing one

Image source: Reddit

Being overbearing is not a malicious thing, but it's still toxic. It can leave you completely drained when you have an overbearing friend because they become all-consuming. They blur and disregard your emotional and physical boundaries so that they are impacting your life. You feel responsible for them and their emotions and it is hard to have them as a friend.