8 Subtle Signs of a One-Sided Friendship Most of Us Overlook

You have the paddle firmly in your hand while you paddle in the Friendship Canoe. The calm waters of Lake Connection open up in front of you. But as you push against the steady current with your paddle, you see your purported canoe partner is just sitting back, drinking a lemonade, mindlessly, not caring where the adventure is going or how far it has to go. You get a sneaking sense that this friendship is one-sided, with one hand doing all the sculling and the other barely hanging on.

# Your ‘Emotional Bank Account’ Is Always in the Red

Think of your friendship as a bank account where good deeds and encouragement are deposited while disappointments or unanswered messages are taken out.

A one-sided friendship is evident when you are the one making all of the deposits while your friend is the one making all of the withdrawals, leaving the account persistently negative.

# You’ve Become the ‘Initiation Station’

You've unwittingly turned into the Initiation Station in your friendship if you're the one who usually texts first, arranges all the get-togethers, or mediates conflicts first.

Mutual effort is required to establish and sustain a friendship.

# There’s a Clear ‘Benefit Imbalance’

The advantages of a strong friendship are distributed fairly, ranging from fun times and helpful counsel to memorable events.

A one-sided friendship is easily identified if one person seems to be benefiting from everything while the other appears to be stranded on the sidelines.

# They’re a No-show for Your Needs

At the drop of a hat, you have abandoned everything for them. However, when you're the one in need, they become just as elusive as a unicorn with rainbow colors.

If your friend is always disappearing when you need them, you may be sure your friendship is one-sided.

# The Conversation is Always About Them

So, does it feel more like you've got a front row seat at a one-man show with the captivating story of their life when you get together for a catch-up?

Recall that a happy friendship is not a solitary act, but rather like a lovely duet. A healthy mix of tales, giggles, and occasionally even tears should be shared by both sides.

You may have fallen victim to a one-sided friendship if you're the one who is always in the crowd while your pal is always performing.

# They Don’t Celebrate Your Successes

In our life, friends serve as our cheerleaders. However, it's a red flag if your friend acts enviously, indifferently, or by abruptly shifting the subject in response to your accomplishments.

Friends that are biased frequently don't want to lose their prominence.

# You Feel Emotionally Drained

It should energize you, not drain you, to have a friendship. In case you frequently feel exhausted after chatting with this person, it could be a sign from your subconscious mind.

Giving without receiving can be draining to your emotional health on a regular basis.

# The ‘Just in Case’ Friend

It's like you're the spare tire in their friendship car if you discover that your friend only calls you when their main plans fall through or they need assistance.

Although having a spare tire on hand can come in handy in an emergency, nobody wants to feel that way.

A genuine friendship bears similarities to a meticulously organized road trip: both friends share the responsibility of driving the route, are equally enthusiastic about the adventure, and cherish each other's company.

On the other hand, you function more as a roadside assistance service in a one-sided friendship than as a co-navigator and are only relied upon in the event of a breakdown.