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5 Signs Your Friend Secretly Wants You to Fail, According to a Psychologist

A psychologist says some people downplay your wins, harp on your mistakes, and disguise discouragement as concern.

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Have you ever had a friend who just loved to see you lose? If you ever needed them in the bad moments, they’d rush to your side and play the empath for a while; but once you’re winning, they’re throwing shade and making negative comments to bring you down.

Having a friend or loved one who secretly wants to see you fail is one of the most disorienting experiences. You would never expect a loved one to prey on your downfall, but alas, many of our closest people do—and often without even realizing it themselves. 

“Tension develops in relationships when individuals experience jealousy, lack of self-confidence, insecurity, or a feeling of abandonment,” says Dr. Shannon Franklin, Licensed Psychologist of Element Q Healing. “The people with whom we have the greatest tendency to compare ourselves are our friends and/or family members. If an individual lacks confidence in his/her life choices, then he/she may feel as though another person’s successes are highlighting he/her inability to be successful.”

Whether a projection of insecurity or a hidden seed of resentment, this negativity can be detrimental to your overall well-being. Energy is real, and when your closest people........

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