There’s never a need to go it alone - having friends by your side always makes it easier! It’s nice to have friends you can talk to, relate to, and just joke around with (especially when you’ve reached your time of the month!)
You may find yourself making new friends, losing contact with old ones, and deciding to end a friendship for your own good. Don’t worry, those may sound scary but, like growing up, you’ve got this under control!
(GLU NOTE: don’t sweat the rough days, we all have them, even the girl you think has it all.)
The beautiful thing about friendship is that it grows with you. So, how can you tell if it’s a case of Instagram vs Reality? Let’s discuss.
According to Gillian Needleman, a clinical psychologist, toxic friendships can cause increased levels of stress, anxiety, lower self-esteem, and depression. Is a toxic friend really worth losing love for yourself? Here are some signs that can help you determine if your friend isn’t ride-or-die material:
- They put you down. It’s always nice to have a good laugh with friends, but when that laugh becomes directed towards you, well, things can get dicey. When a friend starts making jokes at your expense which make you upset rather than laugh, it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate.
- It’s a one-way road. In a friendship, it takes two to tango (obviously not literally, unless you love ballroom dancing with your friends, and that's cool too) If you’re always texting first and not getting a response, covering for their Starbucks while they never cover yours, supporting them during hard times but receiving no support when you’re going through it… well, it’s an understatement to say that sucks.
- They critique your character. “OMG you’re just like… so dramatic all the time like it’s fine but wow hahaha!” No. Not cool. Your emotions are yours, you don’t need someone judging you based on how you react to things or act!
- They try to change you. Life is changing, right? Relationships, new places to see and go and new expectations about what your boundaries should look like. Your friend may try to make you jump into that quicker than you want to and the worst part is that if you don’t jump into it, you won’t hear the end of it from them. Just because your friend is telling you to do something, try something, or be something else does not mean you need to. Be Y-O-U, be true, and don’t do things you don’t want to do!
- They mislead you with their emotions. Now… this one is a biggie. One day you guys are buddy-buddy, and the next they won’t even look in your direction. All you can think is, “What’d I do wrong? Did I say something?? Is it because of how I’m acting??” which causes a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety. Know you did nothing wrong. A good friend will listen when you describe how you're feeling. If they dismiss you and the emotional roller coaster ride continues, it may be time to move towards the exit.
When push comes to shove, it’s important you have a friendship in which there’s mutual support, loyalty, trust, and laughs.
Just like Y-O-U not everything is one size fits all, things happen and sometimes you have to dive in a little deeper to get someone through a tough time.
But trust your instincts, do what you think is best for you, whether that’s wishing them well or communicating your problems in the friendship and finding a way to fix it.
You play a big role in making sure you give and receive in the best relationships; celebrate your bestest friends and telling them how much you appreciate them on the regular.
A mani/pedi night with GLU’s non-toxic polishes or our best-selling manicure kit may be just the thing you need to celebrate your healthy friendships! Here at GLU, we know one thing: Y-O-U deserve nothing but the best.
Have any tips you'd like to share? We're all ears! Drop some wisdom in the comments below.
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