We often hear advice to avoid toxic and unsupportive friends, but who exactly is the "bad friend"? While it's easy to point fingers and label others as toxic, it's important to examine our own role in relationships and consider whether we may be contributing to the toxicity. In this post, we'll explore the concept of toxic friendships and relationships, and consider how we can work on being better friends ourselves. What is a toxic friendship or relationship? Before we can examine our own behavior, it's important to understand what constitutes a toxic friendship or relationship. Toxic relationships are characterized by emotional manipulation, lack of support, and a general feeling of negativity. In these relationships, one or both parties may feel drained, stressed, or even unsafe. The importance of self-reflection. While it's easy to blame others for toxic relationships, it's important to take a step back and consider our own behavior. Do we contribut...