TOXIC FRIENDSHIPS
Real friends are hard to come by, but for those who have had even one true friend in their
life, they likely know how lucky they are. Unfortunately, there are times when friendships
can drain the life out of you. Toxic friendships come in many forms, but the underlying truth
remains: these friendships do not have our best interest at heart, can be harmful on many
levels, and should be addressed before it goes past the point of no return.
Real friendships are not perfect. They come with uncomfortable moments, disagreements,
and even arguments. These kinds of rough patches have nothing to do with the overall
health of the friendship if the problems are infrequent and resolved swiftly and with care.
Toxic friendships, however, never seem to go smoothly and drama prevails.
So, you may be wondering, how do I recognize if I have a toxic friendship? You may need
to take a magnifying glass to your friendships to ask yourself if you find yourself feeling
manipulated, untrusting, unsupported, or uncomfortable. Florence Isaacs, author of Toxic
Friends/True Friends says, “There has to be a balance in friendship for it to be healthy — not
one person whose needs get met and another whose needs are overlooked.” This is a give
and take relationship, and when a friend is focussed only on themselves or if they have a
vested interest in bringing out the worst in you, it might be time to say goodbye.
If you find yourself in a toxic friendship, you
may have to consider whether or not the
friendship is worth salvaging. Begin with
open, clear communication, and set
boundaries to protect your own well being.
If the person cares about you, they will
work to repair the damage, but there are
times when people cannot - or will not change. In those circumstances, it is often
best to move on and focus your energy
on the friendships that lift you up.
TOP 5 TYPES OF TOXIC FRIENDS
65%
The Narcissist
59%
The Downer
55%
The Critic
The Underminer
The Flake
45%
37%
© Presto Plans
TOXIC FRIENDSHIPS
After reading the nonfiction piece, complete the tasks below using text evidence where appropriate.
Name: _____________________________________________________
Identify what solutions the author presents for
people who find themselves in toxic friendships.
Share one more solution you would suggest.
Date ___________________________
Summarize the article in one sentence.
Create your own definitions for the 5 types of
toxic friends listed in the graph.
Explain the symbolism of the “FRIEND”
image at the bottom of the page.
Create a scenario where you would need the support of a friend. Choose one of the types of toxic
friendships and explain how that type of friend might react. Then, contrast that with a supportive friend.
Scenario:
Toxic Friend:
Supportive Friend:
© Presto Plans
TOXIC FRIENDSHIPS
After reading the nonfiction piece, complete the tasks below using text evidence where appropriate.
Name: _____________________________________________________
Identify what solutions the author presents for
people who find themselves in toxic friendships.
Share one more solution you would suggest.
The solutions presented in this article include
communicating the issue openly, setting clear
boundaries, and reflecting on whether or not the
friendship is worth salvaging.
Possible student suggestions:
- Find a trusted adult or counselor to sit down
with you both to discuss your friendship.
- Take a break from a friendship to determine if
you want to continue being their friend.
- Join a new sport or club to help expose you to
new people and to create some distance
between yourself and your toxic friend.
Explain the symbolism of the “FRIEND”
image at the bottom of the page.
The friend image at the bottom of the page is
made up of the word enemy. This symbolizes
the fact that some relationships may appear to
be friendships from the outside, but if you
examine them more closely, there may be
negative elements within.
Date ___________________________
Summarize the article in one sentence.
It is important to be aware of the signs of toxic
friendships and to take steps to protect yourself
from being in one.
Create your own definitions for the 5 types of
toxic friends listed in the graph.
*Answers may vary
The Narcissist: This friend is obsessed with
themselves. They have the power to turn any
situation or problem about you into something
about them.
The Downer: This friend is always complaining
and focusing on the negative side of things.
They find it tough to celebrate any positive
times with you.
The Critic: This friend is always pointing out your
faults. They take every opportunity to tear you
down.
The Underminer: This friend is always trying to
weaken your points and make themselves look
better to others. They make you feel inferior.
The Flake: This friend is never there for you when
you need them. They constantly cancel plans
and leave you stranded.
Create a scenario where you would need the support of a friend. Choose one of the types of toxic
friendships and explain how that type of friend might react. Then, contrast that with a supportive friend.
Scenario:
*Answers may vary
You do badly on a math test that you prepared for and are really upset about it.
Toxic Friend:
When you tell this friend, they tell you that you should have studied more. They tell you
that they know you were on social media last night because you sent them messages,
so it was clearly your own fault.
Supportive Friend:
When you tell this friend, they tell you that it was a difficult test and that many people didn’t do well.
They suggest you both go to the teacher together for extra help and that you two study together for
the next quiz.
© Presto Plans