Cutting off bad friends

 A close friend has been going through a tough time failing to understand how to end a bad friendship.

Ending an unhealthy, codependent relationship is difficult, but it's vital to know when it's time to say good-bye to a bad friend - for your own emotional and mental health!

Whether it's deliberate or a matter of drifting away, ending friendships can be hard to accept -- even if your friend was bad or your relationship was unhealthy or codependent.

Some relationships are weaker than others, which makes ending them easier. If friendships aren't based on similarities or true connections, ending them seems inevitable. Unhealthy friendships may not last very long, especially if the bonds aren't authentic.

Characteristics of ungrateful 'friends'

You don’t feel respected, and your friend doesn’t seem to hear your concerns. For instance, they may be constantly late meeting you and then disregard your feelings. Or they borrow money and neglect to repay it, or borrow items and return them broken or not at all.

You can’t speak your mind honestly, or can’t find space in the conversation to speak at all (healthy boundaries don't exist with bad or codependent friends).

You leave your visits feeling depressed, frustrated, exhausted, depleted or angry. A friend should leave you feeling happy, content, connected, and hopeful. A bad friend makes you feel bad.

Your friend behaves immorally, unethically, illegally, or in any way that runs counter to your beliefs and values. Ending a friendship like this -- which can be codependent -- may be the best thing for both of you.

Your friend never makes the effort to call or visit you. You find yourself reaching out, with minimal success. Sometimes you don't even need to formally end a friendship with bad friends, it just happens naturally. Unhealthy, codependent friendships can die a natural death.

You're friends with an energy vampire (a type of bad friend). Ending unhealthy friendships could protect your well-being.