Can You Be Yourself?

• You shouldn't have to change the way you talk, dress or act to be accepted by your friend. A bad friend wants you to change to be like her or her image of who you should be. She doesn't want to get to know you. If you find yourself spending most of your time gossiping when you're with your friend, there is probably a weak connection between the two of you. It's a sign to move on. Gossip could come back to haunt you and can make you feel bad about yourself.
  
  

Insecurity and Jealousy

• A bad friend gets in the way of your goals. She often doesn't want to see you succeed. This can occur because she is insecure, or sometimes a deep-seated jealousy prohibits her from truly connecting and feeling happiness for a friend who has worked hard or is working hard to fulfill her dreams. She could even go as far as to try and lead you astray by encouraging you to abandon your goals and making you feel bad about yourself. Either way, the friendship is stifled as one person usually gives and the other person is unable to give back.
  
  

Negative Traits

• Friends can rub off on one another. This is why it's important to pay close attention to whom we spend our free time with. Over time, if you notice you are feeling negatively after spending time with your friend, or you have picked up negative qualities you could do without, it might be time to reevaluate the friendship. A bad friend often brings out your worst qualities or assists in instilling negative qualities. A bad friend wants to bring you down into his troubles.
  
  

Self-Gratification

• A friend who uses you brings you down and sucks your energy. A bad friend is someone who only interacts with you when she is down or depressed. She needs you to help her feel better, and then she disappears until next time. Another example of a bad friend is someone who always has the need to be right and can't be told about any issues in the friendship. Problems are never resolved on your end, but she has little trouble pointing out your flaws.