A friendship is supposed to make you feel safe and joyful and allow you to be yourself. Along with receiving help and affection, it also involves giving care and support, making it a two-way street. However, sometimes a friendship might get unhealthy. A friend might engage in behaviours such as unhealthy teasing, humiliating or belittling you, which might cause pain.
Toxic behaviour can sometimes be disguised or subtle. It can include a friend always dominating over you, ignoring your opinions and talking to you politely only when they need a favour. They could expose your secrets or say something mean and parcel it off as a joke. Toxic behaviours also include making fun of your values or asking you to give up something you like to be a part of, such as a group. Additionally, being excluded from plans, being blamed for things that are not your fault and being made to feel like you are unimportant are all signs of an unhealthy friendship. And what’s confusing about such relationships is that they can be distressing even while they appear healthy.
Such friendships will make you feel uneasy. You might feel like you are always adjusting, while the other person doesn’t seem to care. If you are treated like this, share your feelings with your parents, teachers or a trusted adult. They will help you deal with the situation.
Remember, being a good friend doesn’t mean tolerating disrespect. A true friend will value you, just like you value them. Sometimes, ending an unhealthy friendship or maintaining boundaries is a wise decision. Spotting disrespectful behaviours will help you not only protect your feelings, but also stand up for those around you.
