The signs of a fake friendship may not look the same in every situation. Nevertheless, if you examine them closely, you’ll notice similar relationship patterns, qualities, and characteristics. Often, you’ll notice a lack of commitment on your “friend’s” part. They are frequently self-absorbed and more focused on their own personal feelings, rather than yours. Having this type of relationship can feel incredibly one-sided and hurtful.
Here are 12 signs of a fake friend:
1. They don’t accept you for you
This is who you are, you are you. But they don’t accept you for who you are. They treat you like there’s something wrong with you, that you need to change parts of yourself. A real friend knows your flaws and still loves and accepts you. Your friends aren’t supposed to judge you. They’re supposed to support you on your path.
2. They’re jealous
Jealousy in a friendship may stem from feelings of insecurity or fear. When left unaddressed, jealousy can lead to anger and resentment, inevitably causing irreparable damage to the friendship.
3. You’re their punching bag
Emotionally speaking, of course. A fake friend will have no problem unloading their issues onto you. In addition, you waste your time giving them advice that they ask for, yet, they never seem to listen to you. They want you to put in all the emotional work but never intend to change.
4. Calls only when they need something
This is one of those classic signs of a fake friend. Sure, they’re hanging out with you, going to the bars and clubs, having a laugh, but outside of that, they only call you when they need something from you. This is more obvious when you haven’t seen them for a while and they just pop out of nowhere, asking you what’s up and then asking the big favor.
5. They’re not there when you need them
That’s the funny thing about fake friends, they’re never there when you need them. If you’re wondering how to spot a fake friend, keep an eye on the flakes. They may say that they’ll be there for you, but when it comes to the actual time–poof, they vanish. They don’t actually care about your problems or if you need help. They just use you to help them through their own issues.
6. They hate it when you call them out
When a friend is annoying and you tell them, they may be angry. In time, they realize why you said it and sit down and talk about it with you. This is because they’re upset that you’re hurt and they value your friendship. But, a fake friend can’t handle being told the truth and when they hear it, they become defensive and lose their temper.
7. They Don’t Support You
If a friend is never available for you when you need them, they’re probably not fully invested in your relationship. Rather than listening and offering emotional support, they may give you unenthusiastic affirmations or comments. Real friends will pay attention to your needs and provide encouragement.
8. They demand your attention
You could be working or hanging out with other people, but when they call, they expect you to drop all your things and come running to them. But, the problem is, you go and help them. So, I can’t fully blame them for this as you are partially to blame. But they don’t respect your life or your time, they simply want it to revolve around them.
9. They’re all about the gossip
When they’re around you, they’re constantly fishing for information whether it’s about you or someone else. If they’re doing this in front of you, imagine what they’re doing behind your back. Gossiping is somewhat normal, but there’s a point when it becomes too much.
10, You don’t feel like you can be yourself
You can’t relax. It’s like, you need to be a certain person when you’re around them. If this is the case, they’re not your real friend. If you act like yourself, they make comments or become angry and cut communication with you until you conform to their opinions. If this is the case, ditch them.
11. They break promises
They tell you that they’re going to do this and that for you, but at the end of the day, they never keep their promises. Hundreds of excuses probably follow them as to why they had to bail, but the point is, they bailed. They bail over and over. If someone wants to do something, they do it. It’s as simple as that.
12. You feel their insincerity
You know they’re a fake friend, but you’re on here because you want confirmation. Deep down you know exactly who they are and what you’re dealing with. You may be scared to cut them off or need them for something. Listen, this relationship is toxic. So, make a choice.
