Do you have a Toxic Friendship?

How to recognize and deal with it

The problem with toxic friendship is that other people tend to dismiss it, but friends who are more like enemies, or “Frenemies” can be very abusive. Frenemy relationships tend to be more emotional (controlling, passive-aggressive or demeaning) than physical. It’s usually not as intense as domestic abuse, because friends have an easier time, in most cases, walking away from abuse than romantic or family relationships. Because people tend to downplay the abuse of a friend; victims of it keep it a secret.

How to tell if a friend is a “frenemy” (alternating pronouns)

1. She gossips behind your back. If she says bad things about you to your friends, or tells others secrets you shared in confidence, she’s trying to build herself up by undermining you.

2. He’s unreliable. If he doesn’t keep his promises, or is always late, or likely not to show at all, he doesn’t care enough about you. He’s…