Good and genuine friends are no less than a blessing in life. They contribute to your happiness and provide you with emotional support. However, not everyone you call a friend genuine or real. Without genuine friends, life is unfortunate. But it is better to have one genuine friend over a larger number of friends. And in today’s article, I will tell you how to deal with a fake friend and will help you to understand the sign that a friend is sabotaging you.
Friendships are an essential aspect of life, but for your self-preservation, one needs to learn to differentiate between a friend and a foe. So without further ado, let’s jump into the article and learn how to spot a fake friend and also how to deal with a fake friend. Why wait, then? Let’s begin!
How to Spot a Fake Friend?
Identifying a fake friend is not that difficult, but it is very crucial for your mental and emotional health. So let’s look at the sign you should keep an open eye for and never neglect if you don’t want to have deceitful and fake friends in your life.
1. Constant Criticism Disguised as Concern
The first thing you should never look over is when someone constantly criticizes you but then name it their concern toward you. When a person deliberately points out your flaws, mistakes, and insecurities, it is not because they want you to improve, but in reality, they want to make you feel uncomfortable and undermine your confidence.
2. Jealousy and Resentment
Someone who genuinely considers you as their friend will always celebrate your achievement, however small or big it is. They will be happy for you and want you to succeed in life, whereas fake friends will always be jealous of you even if they don’t show it; it will be clearly visible on their faces.
3. Lack of Support in Times of Need
You must have heard this saying “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” Genuine friends will always be there for you when you need them the most, but a fake friend will always leave you in your challenging times. This absence of your so-called friend in tough times is a sign you should never ignore.
4. Betrayal of Trust
Trust is what is the most important thing in any relationship. And if someone always breaks your trust or share things you have entrusted them with other without your consent, they are not your friend.
5. Always Competing
If someone is in constant competition with you, even over silly things, they are not your friend; they are actually jealous of you.
6. Conditional Friendship
True relationships are without any condition in which people accept each other with all odds, but if a person befriends you only when things are conducive for them, they are not your real friend.
7. Gaslighting and Manipulation
Someone who never admits their mistake but manipulates and twists facts to make you the culprit is not a genuine friend. Such a person gaslights and makes you question your own perceptions, leaving you feeling confused and doubting yourself.
8. Lack of Empathy
Only someone who truly cares for you can show empathy which is a vital aspect of any authentic friendship. If your feelings or struggles mean nothing to them, they are not your true friend
How to Deal with a Fake Friend?
Spotting fake friends alone is of no use if you don’t know how to deal with them. Identifying fake friends is just the first step towards self-preservation, and knowing how to deal with them is the second and most crucial step. Here are some ways to deal with such people effectively:
1. Set Boundaries
Boundaries are very important when it comes to fake friends. Your boundary will tell them what is acceptable and what is not. When you have strong boundaries set for yourself, they will know that you will not tolerate being mistreated.
2. Communicate Openly
You should also openly communicate your boundaries to other people the time you feel they are violating them. Tell them clearly that you will not tolerate it and express to them how their specific actions make them feel so that next time they know how to behave with you.
3. Limit Contact
If, even after communicating the boundaries, they are toxic toward you, you should limit your contact with them. Distance yourself is always better than communicating your boundary those who don’t respect them.
4. Surround Yourself with Positive People
Finding that the person you thought as your friend was a foe is very disturbing and makes you vulnerable. But surrounding yourself with positive people who genuinely care for you and wish the best for you is always good.
5. Seek Professional Help
If you are emotionally very disturbed by discovering the true face of your friend, you should consider taking professional help; this will help you navigate through complex emotions.
6. Learn From the Experience
The most important thing one should always learn from the experience. Though it is unfortunate and disheartening to get a fake friend in life, you should always take it as a learning experience that teaches you a lot about people in general. Not in the way that everybody is the same, but yeah, don’t trust anyone very soon, and don’t entrust everybody with everything.
Wrapping Up
With this, I come to the end of this article, and I hope you now know how to deal with fake friends and protect yourself from possible sabotage. So next time you be friends with someone, keep an open eye on what they do and how they act rather than believing their words. As your mental and emotional well-being should be your first priority, someone who can not add to your happiness should not be a part of your life. And remember that true friendships are built on trust, empathy, and mutual support, and without them, no meaningful connection can be built and developed.
