3 Types of Friends An Expert Says You Need To Cut Off Immediately

Your social circle might be the biggest threat to your health right now, and I’m not being dramatic. It’s 2026, and while we’re more “connected” than ever, we are living through a statistically proven “Friendship Recession” in which 15% of men have zero close friends, compared to just 3% decades ago. The American Psychological Association’s 2025 report dropped a bombshell: over 60% of us are stressed by societal division, and more than half feel totally isolated.

Here’s the kicker: hanging onto toxic friends isn’t just annoying; it’s physically dangerous. Research by the National Institutes of Health shows that ambivalent or negative relationships can spike inflammation in your body as if you were fighting a physical infection. Seriously, bad friends are aging you. It’s time to stop collecting “followers” and start pruning the dead weight for your own survival.

The antagonistic competitor who secretly hates your wins

You know this person, the “frenemy” who claps when you win but has a look in their eyes that says they wish you hadn’t. Dr. Irene S. Levine describes this archetype as someone who offers “periodic” support, often laced with undermining behavior. They view friendship as a zero-sum game where your success feels like their failure, leading to backhanded compliments that leave you confused.

Science calls this “ambivalence,” and it is actually worse for your health than having a clear enemy. A study on social interactions found that competitive social exchanges predict elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines, specifically IL-6, which are markers for systemic inflammation. Basically, their jealousy is messing with your immune system.

• Signs of the Competitor:
  • The Backhanded Compliment: “That dress is brave for your shape!”
  • Success Minimization: They immediately point out the taxes on your lottery win to dampen your mood.
  • Schadenfreude: They seem weirdly energized or happy when you fail.

The parasitic energy vampire who treats you like a therapist

We all have that friend who calls only when their world is burning down, which is, coincidentally, always. Psychiatrist Dr. Judith Orloff defines “energy vampires” as individuals who constantly vent negative emotions without ever reciprocating support. They treat your time as an unlimited resource and your emotional bandwidth as their personal dumpster.

If you leave a coffee date feeling exhausted rather than energized, pay attention to that fatigue; it’s biological. Interacting with these “takers” forces your brain to simulate their stress via mirror neurons, depleting your own reserves of willpower and patience. You can’t set yourself on fire just to keep them warm.

• How to spot a Vampire:
  • The “Askhole”: They ask for advice for hours but never take it.
  • One-Sidedness: They talk for 40 minutes about their drama; you talk for two.
  • Crisis Addiction: Every minor inconvenience is a catastrophe requiring your immediate attention.

The ambivalent flake who holds your time hostage

In the age of the “soft ghost,” chronic unreliability has become a trend, but experts warn it is a major sign of disrespect. Dr. Andrea Bonior points out that while technology makes it easy to cancel with a text, habitual flakiness signals a power imbalance where they control the schedule. It sends a clear message: their time is an asset; yours is a placeholder.

This behavior triggers “intermittent reinforcement”, the same psychological hook used in gambling. You stay friends because sometimes they show up and are fun, but the stress of not knowing if they will bail creates anxiety that shortens your telomeres (markers of aging). If they are only around on sunny days but vanish during storms, they are a “fair-weather friend” and need to go.

• Why you tolerate them:
  • The “Slot Machine” Effect: The rare good times keep you hooked despite the constant cancellations.
  • FOBO (Fear of Better Options): They cancel on you because something “better” came up.
  • Digital Ick: You see them posting stories on Instagram while they are ignoring your texts.

Key Takeaway

To wrap this up, your social circle is your “social biome,” and keeping toxic elements pollutes the whole system. Whether it’s the Competitor spiking your inflammation, the Vampire draining your energy, or the Flake wasting your time, the science is clear: cutting them off improves your longevity as much as quitting smoking. So, take a hard look at your contacts list; your health literally depends on it.

Read the Original Article on Crafting Your Home.