Talk of relationships can always turn into a touchy subject for most. Many arguments start by having to defend who we associate ourselves with. The people we allow into our inner circle have a major impact on who we are and who we become in the future.

This is why friends and family tend to pry into our personal and social lives, not just because they may be nosy, but because they truly care about whom we have around that could influence us. It is a natural reaction to start talking or to doing certain things the people around us our doing.

With that said, it is important that we keep a tab on the friendships that need to be given the heave ho, and the ones into which we should put a little extra effort. A friendship with someone is always a two way street, but we cannot forget that we can close that road any time we want.

Most college students work and study consistently. If you have friends that seem to constantly start arguments and then leave you to clean up the mess, they add to your burdens instead of helping you through them. What is the purpose of having them around? Why would anyone want someone in their life to create more stress? Life is stressful enough. In the end, you should know what is best for you. Unless you enjoy chaos, it’s time to move on.

It is always much more simplistic analyzing our friends and families relationships rather than our own. If it is so easy to weed out who you think should not be in other peoples’ lives, why is it such a personal struggle to come to our own realizations?

How many times have you seen friends or family attach themselves to the worst person this side of Saddam Hussein? Everybody knows the person is pond scum except your friend.

“So when this terrible supposed friend finally turns on them, he or she is stunned, betrayed and utterly bewildered. Psychoanalysts make a fortune treating such na’ve people,” wrote Bill O’Reilly in his book, “Who’s Looking Out for You.”

Types of Toxic Friends

1. The Selfish Friend:

This is the friend that you can be on the phone with for an hour and a half talking only about themselves. The one that never offers to pitch in for gas or booze, but is always willing to hitch a ride in your car and feels free to having drinks on your dime. These types of friends are not much fun to be around to begin with. Why would you waste your time with them? If they don’t care about you, don’t bother with them.

2. The Backstabber:

Nothing hurts worse than hearing about your friends or family talking smack on you. The best thing to do is never confide anything on them anymore and keep to yourself. If the people you are around turn into more of a Judas than a friend, it is time to tell those babies, “Hasta la vista.”

3. The Downer:

Having to focus on other peoples problems more than your own is a major no no. The main reason for this is that you are not their therapist. If they aren’t paying you, don’t feel obliged to listen. When you ask how someones day is, you shouldn’t have to hear all their woes and groans. That is what their mommas are for. Why should you have to be their personal cheerleader and try to get their spirits up? Go find some more positive people.

4. The Leeches:

Having a friend that calls you fifteen times a day and leaves you twenty text messages telling you to call them back is annoying. These friends are basically acting like a needy three-year-old with a cell phone. One friend should not be taking that much time out of your day. It keeps you from developing new relationships with other people. Either tell your friends to cool it or just show them what it is like to really not call them back.

5. The Pathological Liars:

These are the friends that feel the need to lie about everything. In the beginning, it is easy to look over, but eventually they will start lying about you. Keep them away and never invest much into these types of people.