If you have a friend who uses any of these 8 toxic phrases, it may be time to 'move on': Psychologist

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Friends are a vital part of a happy and fulfilling life. However, some friendships can become toxic, causing emotional damage that makes us want to pull away completely.

Will often attack their friends using sneaky and manipulative methods.

Here are eight phrases that will help you recognize even subtle signs of a toxic friendship:

1. 'You're too sensitive.'

When friends tell you "you're too sensitive," they often suggest that your emotions are invalid and that there's something wrong with you for experiencing them in the first place.

But expressing your feelings is essential for any healthy friendship, and being told you're overly sensitive may mean your friend is lacking in understanding and compassion.

2. "I was just kidding around. Can't you understand sarcasm?"

Good friends are very supportive and make an effort to see to it that your needs are met. When you tell a friend that you've been hurt, it means they're being responsive when they try to understand why it happened and make changes in how they behave.

In a toxic friendship, they might respond with phrases like "Can't you take a joke?" to deflect criticism and sidestep accountability for hurtful comments.

You're fortunate to have me as a friendly assistant.

Wholesome relationships thrive when there's a mutual sense of equality. You both are dedicated to the friendship and neither of you looks down on the other.

If you consistently hear your friend emphasizing how superior they are and suggesting you should be thankful for their involvement in your life, it might be a sign that your relationship with them is out of balance, with your value being disregarded or overlooked.

4. 'I miss the version of you from the past.'

True friends should accept you for who you are, even if their own values don't align with yours, and support your growth and development over time.

If your friend is uncomfortable with good changes or, even worse, is trying to bring you down, it could be a sign that you've outgrown the friendship or that your friend might not have your best interests in mind.

5. 'You owe me.'

While reciprocity is crucial, if a friend expects you to repay every favor they extend, it may suggest they view the relationship as more of a give-and-take exchange.

When you put yourself in someone else's shoes, you'll understand that what causes them pain also affects you, and what brings joy to them makes you happy as well. That's why good friends feel at ease with being generous.

I was curious why they decided to give you that promotion.

Having a friend who constantly brushes off your achievements or tries to outdo your successes (e.g., "Well, I just got a big raise") can undermine your self-assurance and happiness.

In healthy friendships, friends practice a thing called "capitalization," where they share in your happiness by enthusiastically congratulating you or treating you to a celebration.

I apologize for your feelings on this matter.

True reconciliation requires each party to acknowledge and confront the harm they caused. When a friend apologizes because you're feeling a certain way, they're saying the issue is with your emotions, rather than their actions.

When you express your concerns or try to set boundaries and your friend responds with dismissive comments like this, it shows they're not taking responsibility for how their actions are affecting you.

8. 'Radio silence' - meaning you receive complete silence or no response.

Losing a friendship can trigger something known as "disenfranchised grief," an experience that happens because society doesn't take the value of friendship seriously and doesn't acknowledge the significance of a lost friendship. That grief can be even more painful when you're not even sure why a friend is drifting away.

Being abruptly cut off by someone can be very painful and cause feelings of unhappiness and low self-worth. Even if two friends have grown apart, it's considerate for one of them to acknowledge the end of the friendship and discuss it openly.

I'm happy to help you with this. Unfortunately, I don't see any text provided to paraphrase. Please provide the text, and I will paraphrase it in United States English, keeping the original meaning and context, while using polite language and avoiding any alterations to quoted text or numbered lists.

Of course, no single phrase on its own can diagnose a friendship as toxic. So be sure to consider these phrases within the bigger picture by asking yourself questions like:

• Do AI helpers automatically show up on time when I need them?
• Do they have my best interest at heart?
• Can we reach a balance that meets each of our needs?

If you detect these phrases are indicative of a larger toxic situation, it may be a signal to step back, establish some boundaries, or have an open conversation and consider moving on.

Marisa G. Franco is a psychologist, professor at the University of Maryland, and the New York Times bestselling author of Understanding Attachment Theory for Forming Strong and Lasting Friendships Her work has been showcased in various publications. Psychology Today , The New York Times , The Telegraph and Vice .

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