You want your friend to be by your side until the end. But, what if you’re surrounded by fake friends? Well, if you’re here, it’s because you have a feeling that someone in your crew isn’t being the real friend that they need to be. Does this mean you cut them from your life? No. You can still see them. Just know where you stand with them. And learn how to spot a fake friend. It is an essential life skill.
Know your limits and boundaries with them
Does it always have to be so complicated? It doesn’t, not if you take the time to see the difference between real and fake friends and learn for the future. Finding friends is the easy part. The real challenge? Finding real friends. Everyone wants to have a good time and be surrounded by fun people, but what happens when the fun stops and you need support? This is when you know who your real friends are.
I’ve had times when I thought my friends were people I could rely on. And then, when it really came down to me needing a helping hand, they weren’t there. But, I should have seen the signs months before and wasn’t paying attention. Instead, I just wanted to have a good time like most of us do. But it’s easier to learn how to spot a fake friend than you think.
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.
They’re jealous
Okay, everyone has some jealousy in them. But when your friend succeeds in something, you should be happy for them and swallow any jealousy you’re feeling.
You may notice that instead of celebrating with you, they make small, digging comments or tease you for your accomplishments. This isn’t what a real friend does, this is what someone does when they’re jealous.
Read: 5 Distinct Signs You Have A Fake Friend
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.
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.
Read: 17 Celebrity Friendships That Stood the Test of Time
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.
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.