What is the difference between real and fake friends?
Real friends acknowledge that fact, and they effortlessly accept you for who you are. You may disagree on things, but they are there for you, no matter what. On the other hand, fake friends won't be patient enough to deal with your faults and will try to leave as soon as they find themselves in unfavorable situations.
So, being too busy, citing excuses, or flaking out on you every time you need help or support is one of the unmistakable signs your friend doesn't truly care about you.
“Toxic friendships happen when one person is being emotionally harmed or used by another, making the relationship more of a burden than support,” says Suzanne Degges-White, author of Toxic Friendships. A bad friendship can increase your blood pressure, lower your immunity, and affect your mental health.
False friends can also happen when learners of a new language encounter new words that strongly resemble words in their native language. This causes the learner to identify words wrongly, and hence they find it harder to differentiate words based on meaning. This is called a linguistic interference.
It's possible a fake friend will change over a long period of time. Fake friends can turn into true friends over time. It's important to take stock of any changes in your relationship. If you feel someone is becoming a better friend, you may be able to continue to have this person in your life.
The negative behaviour of a toxic friend can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and stress. According to a study by the Mental Health Foundation, 68% of people who experienced a toxic friendship reported that it affected their mental health.
False friends are word pairings in two different languages that appear to have a similar phonetic form, but in reality have entirely different meanings, origins, and spelling. For example, the German word “enkel”, although pronounced nearly the same as English word “ankle”, means “grandchild.”
If you have a fake friend, it's best to break ties with them by distancing yourself or telling them your friendship is over. In the meantime, focus on finding real friends who are truly there for you.
Real friends may show unconditional love and expect nothing in return. They may not judge you or think less of you. They will likely always have your back and support you through thick and thin. Real friends can help you focus on your goals, stay motivated, and be creative.
Obviously, most people don't meet all of their friends during childhood and, unfortunately, not all friendships last forever. The poll found that the average friendship lasts for 17 years, however, 17 percent say they've had the same best friend for over 30 years!
If your friend doesn't respect your feelings, it's an unhealthy relationship. Feeling anxious or negative in your friendship is a sign that it may be best to end it. Your friend is dishonest or holds back information. “Deep connections require trust,” Schmitt says.
