Friendships always start out so fantastic, I mean let’s be honest, that whole best friend forever crap honestly sounds so reassuring. It means everything to have this best person in your life forever. However, what about when that best turns into the worst? Trust me, it happens and it sucks, and even though we may not realize it, there are so many signs throughout a friendship that make you realize how toxic that friendship is. If you find any of these signs and manage to get yourself out of that friendship before going into too deep, I truly applaud you, but still, the signs are always there:

1. The favor chain is never ending with them.

“Can you do this? Come on, please? Do it for me?” Having someone’s back and doing someone a favor are two completely different things. "Buy me this. Take care of that. Help me talk to *inset name her." Ever feel like when you’re doing this person these favors, that they are asking too much of you? Or that they are taking advantage of you? And you feel that way so much that it’s driving your mind? Well welcome, this toxic friendship has been expecting you.

2. They Critique Every Little Thing You Do.

“Why is your posture like that? Can’t you just keep it together? Why does your face look like that? Are you sure you should eat that?” From not wearing the right clothes, or having the right reactions to certain situations, or being too oblivious throughout a situation as well, you feel like whatever you do doesn’t fit the meets of that person. And of course, you try your best to be the person that your friend wants you to be, which is just a giant red flag and the biggest sign of toxic friendship yet.

3. The Jokes They Make Are Too Much/Hurtful

“Come on, I was just kidding, we all know it was funny. Don’t be such a baby about it.” And now they think you’re “too stern,” right? Like you cannot take a joke? But truth be told, all you really know and feel like they’re doing is tearing you down piece by piece. And of course, you’re too scared to say anything because you don’t wanna not take a joke, right? Rookie mistake, been there done that.

4. And They Have Little To No Empathy Towards You

“You’re fine. Don’t worry, just let it go.” You ever feel as if you cannot feel your feelings around this person? Like they aren’t a friend that you can really turn to or a friend who shows no understanding of whatever your issues may be? And no matter how hard you try to talk to them, they’ll never get it.

5. You Are the Most Enraged During Your Fights With Them

Fighting with *insert name here is different. It’s like you’ve never felt this upset during a fight in your life because this person angers you so much. And the anger that you have with them during your fights never lessens. This kind of anger wears you out so much because this so called friend of yours will never stop being so exhausting.

6. Other Friends Don't Like/Ask Why You're Friends With This Person

“Why do you let *insert name treat you like that? It’s as if she’s superior to you, and you are anything but inferior, you know that.” If the people around you can see how toxic your friendship is, than clearly something is wrong. When people can see that you never stand up for yourself with this friend, the rest of the world knows that this friendship is toxic, which makes a piece of you realize it too.

7. They Are Directing You More Than They Are Advising You

“I told you not to do that! This is what happens when you don’t take my advice, next time, let me tell you what to say.” Whenever you want to get advice from a friend, you realize this is the last person you could turn to. They’re the friend that gets angry at you when you don’t take their advice, even though it’s your own choice, and they continue to suck you into that feeling with all their toxic ways.

8. They Are The Hardest To Get Away From

“You know I care. I’m harsh because I care, and I’m always here.” Toxic friends are the smartest of them all. They have a way of keeping you in their lives by saying how important you are, why you matter, or help you have fun times. And yes, those temporary moments mean and feel like everything, but in the end, they are never to be trusted for anything else.