Good friends are hard to come by, but fake friends are always by your side. The worst kind of a fake friend is the kind that is only friends with you to make use of you. 

They are just like leeches. The stick onto you and feed of you until they have drained you of everything that’s useful for them and suddenly, they are gone. 

The next time you start feeling some negative vibes coming off of your friend, here are the warning signs that they are just a leech:

1. They always need something

If you are starting to notice that every time your friend calls you or texts you it’s always because they need sometimes then they sus, gurl. 

Hi, I need a ride, or I need to borrow something or can you help me do this. There’s always some crisis that she can’t handle, and you are the only one with the answer. 

You might think it is your responsibility to help her as a friend, but you also need to know that there’s such a thing as taking advantage. Sometimes, people see your kindness and generosity as a sign of weakness, and they will use it as a way to manipulate you and make use of you. 

2. They hang out only when it is convenient for them. 

Does she only hit you up when she’s alone with nothing to do and no one to talk to? Well, this is just a sign that you are her last resort. 

It almost feels like you’re their spare tire or emergency friend. 

You will also start to notice that every time you try to contact her, you never get a respond. But, out of the blue after ignoring your texts for the past few days, she suddenly hits you up out of nowhere. It is almost like the is a ghost until she contacts you.

3. They are only involved and interested in one part of your life

Most of the time when a fake friend leeches onto you just to make use of you, it is because you have something that benefits them. Maybe you’re really smart, so these fake friends will drain you of your happiness by always texting you for answers or anything related to your knowledge and cleverness. 

But weirdly whenever you try to discuss anything else about your life, the seem uninterested. The reason is because, that part of your life does not benefit them in any way, so they don’t care about it. 

4. They be STEALIN’

Hell yes, I said it, but it might not be actual physical things. They might steal things like your ideas and opinions or even steal friends or boys from you. 

Just because you are friends with someone, it doesn’t mean that they can take whatever is yours and make it theirs. That is not how friendships work. You don’t gain anything when they steal stuff from you! Friendships are supposed to be symbiotic. 

5. They make you feel guilty when you don’t help them

So, you called their bluff and pointed out how they only call you when they need you? Good job but you know what comes next? Guilt tripping.

When you say no to them, they start saying things like, “oh, I thought you were my friend,” or “I got no one else to turn to, only you,” or “I thought I could rely on you”. Yeah, you get it. 

They start saying things like this to manipulate you and make you feel guilty, next thing you know; you’re doing exactly what you said you wouldn’t. 

How to end the cycle of exploitation:

1. Confront them

Sometimes instead of just keeping quite and taking shit form them, it is better to go straight up to them and confront them about it. 

Before doing this, make sure you’re calm and emotionally stable. If you’re not, then they are going to realise that and start emotionally manipulating you. 

So be direct. Tell them this is how you feel and if they don’t do something to change themselves or you’re done. 

2. Let them go

Just like Elsa from Frozen sang, let it go, you need to let that friendship go. It wasn’t even a friendship; it was a parasitic relationship. 

You need to realise that this cycle won’t end until you are completely drained of your happiness. Is that what you want?  

Just distance yourself from them immediately. Maybe don’t reply to their texts until a few days later. Try to not join activities that you know they’d be a part of. 

You don’t have to ghost them completely but just make sure there is a distance between you and the other person so that they start moving on from you and looking for another victim to replace you.