Try to take alternative explanations into account as well. If your friend has been complaining about how busy they are every time you’ve seen them in the last month, and they’ve only stopped reaching out the past month, it’s probably not a sign that they don’t want to be friends.
It’s totally normal for friends to ask for help every now and then. It shouldn’t be the only reason they ever hit you up, though!
There is a small percentage of people out there who are just genuinely bad at checking their phone. If this is the only thing on this list that you’ve noticed, they may just be a little scatterbrained when it comes to remembering to reply.
It’s possible for a true friend to tell a lie every now and then, but they should at least care enough about your friendship to craft a good excuse!
It should feel like they’re invested in you. When you hang out with them, it should feel like they actively want to learn about what you’re up to. If you don’t get that feeling, it says a lot about your relationship.
If you can’t tell the difference, pay attention to how your friend interacts with other people. If they treat you basically the same way as everyone else, it’s safe to assume that they’re just naturally nice. If they’re uniquely warm with you, they probably are your friend! Do they smile when they see you? Their initial reaction to you can tell you a lot about how they feel about you.
Recognize that this says more about them than it does you. All you’re trying to do is hang out; they’re the one with a problem, not you.
For example, if you complain about how difficult last night’s math assignment was, a real friend might say something like “Oh man, I know. I had such a hard time on the word problems. What did you get for #13?” A fake friend might just say, “It wasn’t too bad,” or, “Yeah, it was hard. ”
This may not mean much if they aren’t particularly active anywhere online. If they never comment on your page but they don’t comment on anyone’s page to begin with, they’re obviously just not all that active online.
It should feel like the two of you are on the same team, not like you’re competing with one another. If they seem like they’re always trying to beat you or do better than you, then they may not view you as a friend.
You can test this if you want to. Try telling them something untrue (and only tell them). If one of your other mutual friends brings that same secret up with you, they’re not a real friend.
It’s an especially powerful sign if it feels like their behavior has changed radically out of nowhere. If they went from being supportive to extremely critical of you, something is up. They might be upset about something you did, or changed their mind about being friends with you.
Stand up to them when they do this. Let them know that you don’t appreciate it when they tease you. Their reaction should tell you a lot. If they’re apologetic, they care about your friendship. If they try to act like you’re out of your mind, they’re not a real friend. You should evaluate your relationship with your friend. [14] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source Be honest with yourself and think about what you need in a relationship. [15] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If the relationship does not fulfill your needs, think if you can get what you need by making some changes in the relationship.
