“A red flag for one person could be a green light for another person,” she says. “A red flag is something that you experience with one of your five senses that does not align with your values or goals.” That said, there are a number of common friendship red flags that tend to register as unideal to a great many people.
Red flags in a relationship include excessive jealousy and frequent lying. You should also be wary of a partner who frequently criticizes you or puts you down. Another major red flag is an unwillingness to compromise — relationships shouldn't be one-sided.
“Toxic friendships happen when one person is being emotionally harmed or used by another, making the relationship more of a burden than support,” says Suzanne Degges-White, author of Toxic Friendships. A bad friendship can increase your blood pressure, lower your immunity, and affect your mental health.
Trust issues can develop due to a cheating partner, or something that happened between you and your best friend, but also when you were raised by parents who were not to be trusted. People with trust issues usually avoid people who they don't trust a 100%, which makes overcoming trust issues in general very difficult.
Examples of “red flag” behaviors include: Behaviors which regularly interfere with classroom environment or management. Notable change in academic performance- poor inconsistent preparation. Notable change in behavior or appearance. Impairment of thoughts- verbal or written.
This friend may only make plans when it is beneficial to them — or only when they are feeling lonely and bored. They may also seek constant attention or ask for unreasonable favors. Otherwise, they are unavailable or unreliable when you need them most.
Friendship green flags are the signs that you've found yourself a keeper. These are the positive attributes and qualities to look out for in a pal. Whereas a red flag is a warning sign that reads “danger ahead,” a green flag says “proceed with abundance.”
Sometimes, too nice really is a red flag. Someone who seems too nice could actually be love bombing you, an early warning sign of abuse, for instance. "Although on the surface, you may feel someone is too nice, it's actually your intuition trying to give you a subtle warning that something is off," Nikhade says.
A close friend is honest and speaks from the heart with good intentions. They tell you what you need to hear in a way that you can hear rather than gossip behind your back. A quality friend is trustworthy, not only are your secrets safe with them, but so are your vulnerability, fear, and weirdness.
A trustworthy person will use roughly the same behavior and language in any situation. They have the self-control to maintain character and follow through on what they say they'll do, even when they are tempted to walk it back. They won't wear different masks or pretend they're someone they're not just to impress.
It's just that simple. Without trust, there is no authenticity to the friendship. If you can't be straight with her or feel the need to hide your actions or tell untruths, the relationship is being built on shifting sand and won't be able to withstand any real challenges.
If they're making tons of inappropriate comments, oversharing, or generally pushing emotional intimacy, these are all red flags. Someone who truly wants to get to know you and wants something serious understands familiarity is something you absolutely cannot rush.
