1.Many of the same symptoms of toxicity apply, as do the markers of a good relationship. Friendships require work and compromise, but you should never feel like you are compromising who you are. Jacobs told BuzzFeed,"The biggest red flag in any toxic relationship, whether it be friendship or romantic, is that you feel like you have lost yourself.
Along with explaining away outbursts or hurtful words as a result of hard times, friends may also insist that certain things didn't happen or that they happened differently from how you remember, invalidating your feelings and your ability to have a reaction.
By muting my own reactions, I bought into the idea that I was responsible for my friend's emotions and even mental state. As my friend continued to struggle, I began to feel an intense guilt and sense of responsibility, devoting all of my time and energy to her. This both alienated my other friends and made me resent her, something that she sensed, and only made her emotional state worse in a toxic cycle.
The most important thing is that a) you're both willing to work on it, and b) you set some hard boundaries. Jacobs says,"Some friendships can be salvaged, even after they become quite unhealthy, if both parties are willing and able to give each other time and space to heal. If possible, an open and mutual conversation about pain points in the relationship could aid in the healing process.
Word to the wise, if your friend is toxic, they're not actually your friend. They are in fact a bully.
Angela_Harren a good read. ❤️
: “1. You must have friends first.” Me: 😂😅😭