Showing a basic level of care is the least your friends and family should do for you.
While you don’t expect to be the centre of their universe, you do deserve respect, consideration, and support — what’s the point of the relationship otherwise? However, if you’ve ever felt like you give far more than you receive in return, you could have people in your life who don’t actually care about you as much as they should. Here’s how you know that’s the case. Get rid of them!
1. They never bother to acknowledge your achievements.
When you share something exciting or a personal achievement, they barely react, or they quickly change the subject. You might notice them comparing your good news to someone else’s success instead of celebrating yours. Big moments in your life often get brushed off or met with unenthusiastic responses. They’re clearly not really invested in your happiness or progress.
2. The conversation never gets deep.
They never ask you about your dreams or anything meaningful in your life. Whenever you start to talk about something personal, they quickly steer the conversation back to small talk. There’s no effort to understand your thoughts or feelings. It’s clear they’re not interested in knowing you on a deeper level.
3. They constantly ignore your boundaries.
You’ve told them what makes you uncomfortable, but they don’t respect it. When you mention it, they brush it off or accuse you of being too sensitive. It’s like they keep pushing against your limits until you give in. That’s a sign of real disrespect for your space and your needs.
4. They’re only around when it’s fun.
When things get tough, they suddenly aren’t available. But when you’re celebrating something or when they need a favour, they’re there in a heartbeat. If you’re going through a rough patch, and they’re nowhere to be found, it’s pretty clear they’re only sticking around when it’s convenient for them.
5. They don’t value your time.
They cancel plans last minute or show up late without a real apology. Your schedule is treated like it’s flexible, but they won’t budge when it comes to their own. They expect instant replies from you, but can take hours or even days to get back to you. It shows they don’t really value your time or your life outside of what they need from you.
6. Help always comes with conditions.
Any support they offer feels like it comes with a hidden agenda. They’ll often remind you of everything they’ve done for you, expecting something in return. It’s clear they’re keeping score, and their “help” isn’t really help at all—it’s a transaction.
7. They dismiss your opinions.
Whenever you share your thoughts, they completely ignore them or shut them down. If you don’t agree with them, they’ll either ridicule you or belittle your views. This kind of behaviour shows they don’t see you as an equal or care about your perspective.
8. They spill your secrets without a second thought.
Anything you’ve shared with them in confidence suddenly becomes public knowledge. They have no qualms about passing along your personal info to other people. When you call them out on it, they downplay how important it is. It’s a big red flag that they don’t respect your privacy.
9. Emotional support is nowhere to be found.
When you need to talk about something emotional, they either change the subject or make you feel like your feelings don’t matter. They’re visibly uncomfortable when you express vulnerability and might even brush you off. If they’re emotionally unavailable like this, it shows they’re not invested in your well-being.
10. Your relationship is all about them.
It’s always on their terms. They expect you to drop everything for them, but when you need something, they’re rarely there. Your needs don’t even register on their radar, and their preferences always take priority. It’s pretty clear they see the relationship as a one-way street.
11. Communicating with them feels like a transaction.
They only get in touch when they want something. The conversation usually revolves around their needs or issues they want solving. There’s little effort to just catch up or maintain the connection outside of their practical needs. It’s a sign they see you more as a resource than a friend.
12. Your growth threatens them.
Whenever you’re making progress in your life, they act threatened. If you’re improving or succeeding, they might subtly criticise you or even try to drag you down. It feels like your success makes them uncomfortable. This reaction often shows they’re more interested in keeping you in a certain position rather than seeing you thrive.
13. They never keep their promises.
They say they’ll do something, but they rarely follow through. Excuses start piling up whenever they’ve let you down, and when you call them on it, they act like it’s no big deal. This unreliability shows a lack of respect for their commitments to you.
14. They take you for granted.
They assume you’ll always be there, and don’t show any real appreciation for your time or effort. Your contributions are expected rather than acknowledged. It’s a one-sided dynamic, and it’s obvious they don’t value you in the way they should.
15. Basic respect is missing from your relationship.
They treat you differently than they treat other people. Little courtesies like saying thank you or being considerate are noticeably absent when it comes to you. In group settings or private conversations, they don’t protect your dignity or show respect. It’s clear they don’t view you as deserving of basic decency.
16. There’s no resolution to conflicts.
Whenever there’s an issue between you, it never really gets sorted out. They avoid talking about it, or worse, they manipulate the situation to avoid taking responsibility. If you try to bring up a problem, they either shut you down or act like it’s not worth addressing. This lack of interest in resolving conflict shows they don’t care enough to make things right.
