"I became more aware of this dark side of human nature when I had kids, especially when they started middle school. Ah, middle school, also known as the pit of hell. Friends of our kids, who had previously acted like little angels in elementary school, appeared to grow talons overnight. Baby ducks morphed into velociraptors. Yikes, it was awful. Even our own kids (yes, I'll be honest) had their moments of behaving badly."
"This made me realize I also needed to do friend purging of my own-people who weren't always kind, or who didn't have my best interest at heart. Some of them also said downright nasty things. To my face. Life is too short to spend time with anyone but those who see us, love us, and accept us for who and what we are."
Some friends bring out the worst in people, causing doubt, low self-esteem, and distorted perceptions. Such dynamics can be subtle or overt, and people predisposed to see the good in others are especially vulnerable. Middle school social shifts often reveal mean behavior, prompting awareness of toxic influences. Personal boundaries may require purging relationships with people who are unkind or who speak nastily. Life should be spent with those who see, love, and accept individuals. Warning signs include trash-talking others in front of someone, indicating likely betrayal. Some toxic friends display narcissistic traits and may distort reality or sabotage for self-aggrandizement.
Read at Psychology Today
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