It can be difficult to stay away from friends who are a bad influence on you. Take time to notice which friends pressure you, are disrespectful, or try to manipulate you. These friends who are a bad influence are likely stressing you out and not treating you like a true friend should.
If you can get help from others, set healthy boundaries, and make priorities for good friendships, you’ll be better able to manage or stay away from friends who try to influence you. Just remember your values and needs, and that sometimes bad friendships have to end.
Recognizing Bad Friendships
Notice who feels like a bad friend. Notice who makes you uncomfortable, pressures you to do things you or parents don’t agree with, or teases you when you don’t want to do the things they want to do. These types of friends are bad influences, because they don’t respect your opinions and values. Instead, they try to pressure you and make you feel guilty if you don’t agree with them.Look out for friends who :
Boss you around
Use drugs
Are disrespectful or mean to others
Are destructive of property or violent
Try to manipulate you
Make you feel bad about your eating habits or body
Belittle your ideas or opinions
