Four Signs That A Friend Is Using Us
We interact with different people every day. Among some of these we find some really sincere, for example a friend we can always count on, but others just try to exploit our friendship.
It is not always easy to tell when a friend we trust is using us, but there are some situations or characteristics of a relationship that are very specific and that help us identify a negative friendship or an interested approach from people.
A friend doesn’t feel alone when he needs it
This is the fundamental characteristic of a fake or interested friend: your friend will only show up when he needs something from you. It can be very simple things, like lending him a book or accompanying him somewhere, or more complicated situations, like borrowing money.
It is common for helping your friends to be a show of affection, but if you notice that this person is only reaching out to you to ask you for favors, perhaps it is time to put some limits or an end to this situation.
A friend doesn’t go out with your friends without you
It is safe to hope that our friends get to know each other and socialize with each other, but if someone we have recently introduced to our circle of friends starts dating them without inviting you and almost secretly, this could be a warning sign.
It is important to be objective if this situation arises, as we can sometimes feel a little threatened or jealous for no real reason. For this reason it is advisable to analyze the situation well before moving away from this person.
A friend does not use your personal information in their favor
Some fake friends come up for the sole purpose of obtaining data or information about us that they can then use in their favor. This situation may not be so clear and sometimes we don’t take it seriously.
The situations that can arise are very varied, which is why you need to be alert. This friend may be trying to get the details of your contacts who might offer him a job or get favors on your behalf. You may find yourself involved in misunderstandings or serious problems with your contacts without having a clue what happened.
You get rejected all the time
A true friendship is sincere and selfless, however there are occasions when we need our friends. Whether you need to be heard, or you need a favor or help, if you realize that your friend is always refusing to help you it is likely that his friendship is not that sincere.
This point is closely linked to the first because it is very common for fake friends to always ask you for a hand or try to take advantage of you, but then disappear when you need it.
Not all the people we know in our lives are going to use us or harm us, but it’s important to be alert to avoid being used by those who will.
Article originally published in La Mente es Maravillosa
