During a life-changing event such as divorce it is normal to seek guidance and support from friends. For the most part this support is beneficial but there are those friends, who despite their best intentions, create negative energy and may impede your judgment in the divorce process.
- The friend who must always be the center of attention. If you are navigating the emotional turmoil often associated with divorce, having a friend whose problems must constantly one-up yours is both invalidating and demoralizing. It is best to save interactions with this friend for times where you are looking for a distraction from your divorce rather than a supportive presence.
- The self-destructive friend. We all have at least one friend who makes questionable choices in the face of change or upset and this is not the person to take guidance from if you are seeking emotional health in divorce. Friends who encourage you to alter your lifestyle in negative ways (heavy drinking, burning bridges, etc) as a coping mechanism for stress or sadness are people you should avoid during this time.
- The know it all. This friend can be the hardest to avoid because from the outside they might appear to be your most stable friend. Unfortunately, friends with this personality are difficult to connect with on an emotional level because their “know it all” attitude leaves little room for your own self-expression, which is essential if you are seeking genuine emotional support or guidance based on your true feeling. You are most likely dealing with one of these individuals if you find yourself sharing or seeking support from friends who say things like “I could have told you that long ago” or “I saw that coming a mile away.”
