5 Signs Of A One-Sided Friendship — And How To Know If It's Worth Saving
Find out if your friendship is a one way street and if it is worth saving or not.
Josep Suria / Shutterstock I'm not the only one who would do anything for their friends.
Our friends are there for us when we need a boost of motivation. They are a phone call away when we need to cry about our boyfriends. They will always be ready for a late-night drive with the windows down and the music blasting.
A lot of people might think romantic relationships are hard work and need tedious care. However, friendships require almost the same amount of work and effort!
Some of the friendships we experience in our lives are great and thrive off an effort from both parties. However, not every friendship you have is going to be balanced.
One-sided friendships, for me, are even worse than a breakup. You can almost immediately notice when someone isn't putting in the effort that you are.
You can text them all day and ask them to hang out frequently, but it will not be enough for them to realize how great of a friend you are.
Like any relationship we all experience, I can truly say that seeing someone falling out of love with you or not being interested in your life anymore is very heartbreaking.
Knowing anything you try to do or say isn't enough can have lasting effects and make you question another person's intention when you meet them.
One-sided friendships will leave you feeling betrayed and unimportant. This is not behavior we should tolerate under any circumstance!
There are certain friendships we feel we desperately need to save because nothing would hurt more than losing these people.
Longevity is a huge factor that plays a role in determining whether or not we believe the friendship is salvageable.
If you feel as though you are in a one-sided friendship, you may want to reevaluate all of the friendship.
Here are the five signs you're in a one-sided friendship.
1. Your friend only messages you when they need a favor.
Cut the cameras, immediately. One of the biggest signs of being in a one-sided friendship is noticing that they only call you when they need a favor. These people might only call you when they need relationship advice or when they need help with how to solve a tricky issue they are facing.
This kind of person does not seem to value true friendship and only views you as a shoulder to cry on, a tutor, or an ATM machine.
2. You are always making the effort to hang out.
If you're the only one reaching out to your friend and trying to plan a day to hang, that is another major sign of a one-sided friendship. Your friends should always be eager to see you! Even though you both may have different lives and can be busy most of the time, there is never not time to see each other.
Everyone involved in a friendship should make the effort in reaching out to one another. If they do not do this, it might be time to cut ties.
3. Your conversations always revolve around them.
It is completely normal to bounce off each other's conversations and relate the topic to something you've experienced. The problem is when they begin and end every conversation with something about them!
In order to maintain a healthy, happy friendship, you both must be interested in each other's lives and stories. That does not mean you need to hog up the microphone every time you hang out.
4. They cancel plans with you almost every time.
I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes cancel plans on my best friend because I don't feel like leaving my bed. But I would never flake on her consistently!
People who always find a reason to cancel plans on you (no matter the occasion) are not good friends, period. Stay away from these kinds of people!
5. They never thank you.
I sometimes forget to say this to my friends and my family, but that doesn't mean I do not respect them. If your friend(s) never say thank you after you pick them up or pay for a meal when they forget their wallet at home, that's a red flag
This friend seems to take a lot of the things you do and say for granted and that is not something you should accept.
Do not feel as though all hope is lost in your friendship. If you truly believe that your friend can come to terms with the toxic behavior they exhibit, I think you can truly mend that friendship — especially if this person has been in your life for years.
A real friend will notice their mistakes, hold themselves accountable, and make a real change.
Destiny Duprey is a writer who covers self-care, love and relationships, and astrology topics.