8 Signs Your Friendship Might Be A Red Flag

2. You’re putting too much effort into the friendship.

Do you find yourself reaching out to your buddy more often than they contact you? Do you feel like you’re always the one initiating plans or making an effort to connect? When one person is more invested than the other, the relationship can quickly turn toxic. On the flip side, if a friend is constantly demanding your time but never makes an effort to reciprocate, that can feel like emotional exhaustion. Psychology Today notes, that true friendship is about balance—there should be mutual effort, not a one-sided dynamic where you’re always giving and they’re always taking. 

This is another instance where it’s crucial to communicate your feelings with your friend about the state of your relationship. While it can be uncomfortable to tell a friend that they need to step up, it’s an important conversation to have. After all, friendships play a vital role in our emotional and physical well-being, and we don’t want to risk losing that support.

A 2023 study examining the link between social relationships and physical health shed light on just how significant friendships are to our overall well-being. The study found that the quality of our relationships has a direct impact on our health, affecting stress levels, heart rate, and blood pressure. It showed that positive relational experiences led to lower stress, better coping mechanisms, and improved physiological functioning. On the other hand, negative relational experiences were linked to higher stress levels and poorer health outcomes.

What’s even more interesting is that the variability in negative relational experiences (i.e., how much stress or tension fluctuates within a relationship) also played a significant role. Greater inconsistency in these negative experiences predicted worse stress management and higher blood pressure. In other words, not only is it the overall quality of the relationship that matters, but how emotionally unpredictable it is that can really take a toll on our well-being.

In short, when friendships become a source of consistent stress or emotional turbulence, it’s not just affecting our mood—it could also be affecting our health. So, it’s crucial to spot those red flags sooner than later. Put your health first. 

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