Life of a Student: How to Identify a Toxic Friend?

Life of a student can be difficult in college and universities without a good friendship. Friendship plays an important role in one’s life. However, as with any relationship, friendships can be challenging. Do you have a friend who is emotionally draining you? Does that friend bother you a lot? Do they manipulate the conversation and seclude you from other friends? These may be indications of a toxic friendship. A toxic friend can be more harmful than you can ever imagine. The influence of a toxic friend can be drastic if you let that friend control you and your life. They can affect your career, image, friend circle, and family life. Toxic friends do show some warning signs for you to identify them, here’s what to look for.

Manipulating The Conversation 

Toxic friends can be self-centered and may not really listen to you. Even if they claim to be listening, in fact they may tend to manipulate the conversation to revolve around their lives rather than yours. Know how to deal with a toxic friendship.

Exhausting and Draining You

Do you feel good around your friends or do some drag you down? Those who you consistently feel bad around could be toxic friends. These friends are not supportive, don’t create positive vibes, are exhausting, and draining.

Blaming You For Everything

Every human makes mistakes, and everyone makes mistakes in relationships. A good friend will apologize for their mistake in an argument. A toxic friend may not and may lay the blame on you.

Controlling Your Life

A true friend will encourage and empower you to make the best choices possible. They may give feedback about your choices but they will always respect your decision. A toxic friend may try to control you and change the way you are. These controlling behaviors may affect you in a negative manner.

Isolating You from Others

A toxic friend may be possessive and try to isolate you from your other friends. They might also prevent you from making new friends.

Break Your Trust

A true friend is trustworthy. They will maintain your confidentiality.

A toxic friend may share your secrets with others, effectively using you to their advantage.

Toxic friends can be found everywhere, in the workplace, college and universities. How do you feel when you are with your toxic friends? Do you feel drained? Do you feel unworthy? Do you feel worse? Toxic friends can be bad for you and your mental health.

If you can’t improve your relationship, it’s time for you to let it go.

Columbia College promotes professionalism and the necessity of treating each other in an equal, fair and just manner. We encourage students, staff, and faculty to be sociable, cooperative, outgoing, have a good sense of humor, and be considerate and sensitive to others. By encouraging everyone to work together in a sincere and respectful manner, Columbia College promotes the best in each individual.