Many people seem to be our well-wishers, but not many are truly so. And this applies to people who pretend to be our ‘friends’ as well. While we may think they are our friend and want good things for us, just as we would wish for them, it turns out they were never our friends in the long run. This ultimately only leads to heartbreak and a lack of trust. So to help you understand and judge people better, here are five hidden signs that show a friend is not really a friend, as shared by psychologist Ziad Roumy on Instagram:
1. You feel drained either by talking or spending time with them
Being in the company of fake friends will make you feel drained in their energy and this is a crucial sign that one must not ignore. Your body and nervous system subconsciously gives you signs when you aren’t comfortable in someone’s presence. So, listen to your gut and follow your instincts.
2. It feels as if they don’t care about you
Have you often noticed that whenever you speak to your ‘friend’ about something you are deeply passionate or concerned about, they don’t listen to you actively unless there is something in it for them? Well, this is a classic sign of people who don’t care about you and so, aren’t your true friend. A genuine friend cares to know about your passions and what makes you happy; they don’t dismiss or disregard your views or what’s important for you.
3. They aren’t genuinely happy for you
Instead of being genuinely happy for you and your success, fake friends find it really hard to do so. And they may even mask their displeasure with sarcastic jokes or comments which may seem innocent on the surface but, it clearly indicates that they are jealous of your happiness.
4. Their often criticise you, but it’s not to help you be a better person
Their criticism often puts you down or it is meant to limit you– that’s what fake friends do. But, on the contrary, when true friends point out your mistakes, it is to help you be a better person and help you grow. They do this with the genuine interest of helping you find solutions to your problems and not to pull you down– this is something you can sense.
5. They often keep shift the focus on themselves
Even when it should be about you, fake friend hog the spotlight and start talking about themselves to be the center of attention. This shows their masked jealously, and one must try to stay away from such people.
Remember, the company you keep speaks volumes about you. And so, choose your friends wisely as they have a huge influence on your life. It is better to be alone than to be in the company of wrong people.
Your “best friend” may be using you! Watch for these 5 signs
