How to know if yous're in a toxic human relationship — and what to do about it

blair serena

Mutual respect is vital for friendships.
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  • It can be hard to know when to forgive someone, as opposed to just cutting them out for good.
  • INSIDER spoke with a relationship expert, who outlined all the signs of a toxic friendship, too as how to know if you're in one.
  • If someone doesn't respect you lot, your time, your coin, or your other relationships, information technology'due south fourth dimension to motility on.
  • Proverb goodbye is never easy, but it's important to take intendance of yourself.


Nosotros hear about toxic relationships a lot, whether it's in a romantic or a platonic sense. But what exactlyisa toxic friendship? And how practice we know when we're in one?

For ane, information technology'south unlike than just not getting along with someone or having a deviation of stance — it'south when a relationship starts to take a toll on your mental health.

INSIDER spoke with April Masini, a relationship expert and author, who divers what exactly a toxic friendship is, and how to know whether yous're in ane.

What is a toxic friend?

Pretty much every relationship in "Girls" was unhealthy.
HBO

In that location have been many examples of toxic friendships in media over the years, from Blair and Serena in "Gossip Girl" to Amber and Cher in "Clueless." But sometimes, it'due south non then easy to see that you're a office of one.

Masini defines a toxic friendship as a friendship "that creates harm, over time, on a regular basis. Information technology's a relationship that appears to be normal, merely the more than fourth dimension you spend examining it, the more than clearly yous volition see that ane person — or both people — is beingness harmed by staying in it."

It seems uncomplicated enough to spot — simply unfortunately that'southward not ever the case. And the toxicity might not come up from a vicious place, either. "Fiveery often there are underlying problems like low self-esteem, a history of abuse, or some other trouble that causes people to seek out and stay in these relationships," Masini explained. "Bottom line: toxic friendships cause hurting on a regular ground."

Further, Masini says that if you lot take a toxic friend, they're most likely non going to change, meaning that it'due south best for you to just say goodbye.

Some things are friendship deal-breakers.

Carrie Bradshaw could be a toxic friend.
HBO

INSIDER asked Masini what she believes are friendship deal-breakers — in other words, what lines shouldn't be crossed in a friendship. If any of these scenarios audio familiar, information technology might be time to stop making excuses for someone, and to start deciding if this person deserves a place in your life.

The first, Masini said, is self-absorption. "Me, me, me. If you take a friend who isn't empathetic and tin can simply existexcited well-nigh his or her own life, leave. Friendship should be a two-way street," Masini explained, "Both people should exist there for each other to cheer each other on, empathize over tough times, and enjoy life together."

Another problematic quality in a friend is the demand to sabotage someone else. "When your friend tries to steal your dates, get your dominate' attending for him or herself, and is competing with yous more supporting y'all, information technology's time to get out of that relationship. Your friends should accept your back — non be gunning for it. If your friend is after your relationships with others, it'south time to find a better friend," said Masini.

The concluding trouble, according to Masini, is disrespect. "If your friend doesn't respect your time or your money, that'south a bargain breaker. When your friend is e'er borrowing money, only never paying any of it back, and worse — feels insulted when you enquire to be paid back, there's not enough respect in this relationship to make it go the distance. Same with your time. If your friend expects you to driblet everything whenever he or she needs you — that shows a lack of respect for your life."

Still not sure? Retrieve back on your friendship every bit a whole.

Blair and Serena had a pretty toxic friendship in "Gossip Girl."
Warner Bros. Television

If you're even so unsure well-nigh a friend, a elementary manner to evaluate how good for you your relationship is, is to think back on your interactions. Masini outlined a few instances when it tin get articulate that you're a office of a toxic friendship. If a friend...

  • puts you down and makes you the butt of jokes in public.
  • makes plans with you lot, but drops you if a better offer comes along.
  • is e'er out of money and expects you to pay for everything, without e'er keeping a tab or paying you lot back.
  • co-opts your relationships and sleeps with your boyfriends or flirts with your begetter or female parent, and befriends your siblings.
  • does things with your best friends without you lot.
  • sabotages your career and can't exist happy for your successes.

... so you're probably office of an unhealthy relationship. These are classic forms of bullying, and can be considered emotionally abusive. And that'southward when you know it's time to let them go, saysMasini.

"Don't await an apology."

It'southward important to make sure that your friends intendance about you for who you truly are.
Paramount Pictures

If you've decided to cut someone out, Masini advised being upwardly-front about why you're choosing to distance yourself. "Tell them what they've done, how it has made you feel, and why you're not going to be friends anymore," she said.

Existence honest is the best fashion for you lot to begin living authentically, and it could be the wake-up telephone call your friend needs to outset looking at their own behavior.

In regards to forgiveness, Masini told INSIDER that the start person you need to forgive is yourself — you might be angry with yourself for staying in this relationship for too long and letting information technology happen. But it takes piece of work to actually understand how you got into this relationship in the kickoff place.

"If you can actually exercise your homework and figure out what it was that you lot institute attractive in this human relationship — so you can work on yourself and evolve," she said.

For more great stories, head to INSIDER's homepage .

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