Also, making friends does not require any special talent. For some of us, talking to others is a challenge. But even the introverts find a way to make friends. Fake Friends: 10 Signs You Have One Fake friendsvs Real friends Tomé G, Matos M, Simões C, Diniz JA, Camacho I. How can peer group influence the behavior of adolescents: explanatory model. Glob J Health Sci. 2012;4(2):26–35. doi:10.5539/gjhs.v4n2p26

It’s You: If you feel hurt by your friend’s actions, if you feel there has been jealousy or undermining (see our articles on frenemies and ambivalent relationships), you can say you need time to recover. Set limits regarding time and emotional space. It's not always realistic to give a fake friend a lot of your time and energy. Be aware of how much you can tolerate this person and manage your time with them accordingly. [1] X Research source Surveyed police officers on their levels of stress, absences from work, and how often they were undermined and supported by their closest co-worker.Emotional dumping is a toxic form of venting that occurs when a person continues to share their thoughts, despite cues that it’s time to stop. When you find yourself constantly listening to someone behave in this way, you may grow frustrated and discouraged. 10. They’re Energy Vampires My friend has never going to initiate conversations that go deeper. They will not inquire about big things that are happening in your life. Do you need emotional support because a family member recently passed away? A fake friend will not be anywhere to be found. They certainly are not going to send flowers or go with you to the funeral. 9. A Fake Friend Always Talks About Themselves Yes! This is a constant issue with fake friends. Real friends accept you with your flaws just like you accept them. After all, every individual has some unique identifying traits. But the fake ones think that they are perfect. 6. Fake friends love to send you on a guilt trip Fake friends love to send you on a guilt trip The Problem: These kinds of frenemies are the worst! Why? You hope they will be supportive, but they often aren’t. Fake friendships can be depressing. But that does not mean you should give up. One should not stop looking for genuine friendships. Go ahead and make a new real friend. Let the friendship blossom in due course. 8. Enjoy the freedom Enjoy the freedom

Most of us who are interested in healthy friendships are happy to broaden our circles with someone new who is also authentic and seeking a mutually supportive friendship. 5. Don’t give up. A little preemptive effort and awareness can help you avoid the heartache and frustration of a toxic friendship. Here are some ideas to help you: 1. Define what a true friend means to you. Fake friends aren’t genuine in their care and investment in you. They may view you as expendable and convenient when it suits them.In some cases, if you've been friends for a long time, and these changes are more recent, Leeds says there may be potential to course-correct with open communication. Ask yourself what your friend is like in their other relationships, she suggests. "If you have a hard time finding any solid, real friendships in their life, there's little reason to believe you'll be the exception to the rule."

Full disclosure: I have watched this 60-minute masterclass myself and found it extremely valuable as a way to improve my own relationships. Bottom Line: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Don’t keep hoping. Cut this person out. They complain frequently, never seem excited about anything, and always seem to spoil the good mood of everyone around them. It’s easy to develop “friendly acquaintances” and even friendships that are more superficial or just for fun outings. They don’t stand up for you in front of others, or they fail to follow through on promises or commitments.

Real friends understand and appreciate your boundaries. But fake ones will downright disrespect it. No matter how many boundaries you set, they will overrule it. 9. Fake friends are never available for a conversation Fake friends are never available for a conversation Then as you get to know each other, you find more and more commonalities. The areas you have in common are called relevance. The closer your spheres of interest, the more you like someone. Give carefully in your relationships. You should not give someone a heavy amount of time or consideration if they consistently violate your boundaries, blow you off, or otherwise disrespect you. Fake friends tend to engage in these behaviors. A real friend will understand your personality and accept you for what you are. The fake friend will always look for flaws in your personality. In the long run, this hampers your mental development. Board game friends? Not anymore—your friend would rather watch the paint dry than play another game of Pictionary. Gym buddies? The most exercise your friend has now is lifting the remote.