Toxic friendships cause chronic emotional exhaustion and cycles of anxiety and self-doubt.

Fear of social isolation leads people to stay in harmful friendships, feeling “visible yet unseen.”

Moments of agency emerge when validation from others sparks detachment from toxic circles.

At their best, friendships provide a range of positive benefits, such as companionship, stress reduction, and emotional support. But they can also have a dark side—marked by manipulativeness, exclusion, and intense duress.

The costs of having a toxic friend are indeed high. These relationships can stir up confusion, guilt, and self-blame and lead to academic and professional underperformance, social withdrawal, and an unstable sense of self.

But what is it actually like to be in a toxic friendship? This was the central question of a study conducted by researchers Muhammad Arifin and Andi Muspida. They contend that breaking away from toxic friends is no easy feat. The undertow of aggression can be difficult to identify, and........

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