Do you think your friends are toxic to you?

Friendships play an important part in our lives. Having a strong social support helps improve our mental and physical health. However, if your friends are pushing you too hard, making you feel powerless and embarrassed, maybe it’s time to make some new friends. Here are signs to help find out whether or not your friends are toxic to your health.

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They constantly keep judging your opinions and criticizing your choices. They make you feel obliged to pay heed to their advice, imposing their own decisions onto you, not letting you be yourself when with them.

Be it plans made to go to the movies or even a small trip, they always have an excuse and bail on you last minute or leave you hanging.  There are times when your plans with them only remain in the ‘planning stage’ or are simply forgotten.

They’ve spread rumors about you in the past and have also disclosed secrets that you trusted them with. Their commitment to the friendship is really hard to predict as you just don’t know just when they will stab you in the back.

They need you to be for them whenever they’re feeling low or going through a rough phase. However, when you need them, they are always busy, making you feel un-important.

They are always convincing you to try something ‘adventurous’ which actually may be dangerous or illegal. They forced you to try your first cigarette and now you can’t seem to get through a day without smoking a pack.

They are never happy seeing you succeed or make progress. They try to out-do you in everything and anything new that you try. They think of you as their competition, making you feel awful.

You always worry that they will react negatively, or get upset with you. You’ve begun doubting yourself and have completely crushed your self-esteem.

You now realize that you've begun looking for reasons to avoid spending time with them. You ignore their calls and take hours to reply to their texts. You dread being with them and prefer staying by yourself.