logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
46m 1s

#423 How to Handle Toxic Friends, with D...

DR. LISA MARIE BOBBY
About this episode

Ever feel like your friendship is taking more out of you than it gives? If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a relationship that feels draining, toxic, or just plain bad, you’re in the right place. In this episode of Love, Happiness & Success, I’m sitting down with Dr. Marisa Franco, a brilliant psychologist and bestselling author of Platonic, to talk about one of the toughest aspects of relationships—knowing when a friendship is no longer serving you.

Together, we’ll dive into the signs of toxic friends, how attachment styles play a role in our friendships, and whether or not these kinds of relationships can be saved. You’ll learn practical strategies to spot the red flags, approach difficult conversations with kindness and clarity, and—if it comes to it—find the courage to end friendships that have run their course.

Here’s what we cover:

  • [00:00] The Friendship Trap: Why difficult friendships are harder to leave than romantic ones.
  • [03:57] Attachment Styles in Friendships: How your past impacts your present friendships.
  • [11:40] Making Positive Changes: How to recognize toxic patterns and start healing.
  • [17:34] Conflict or Goodbye? How to assess if this friendship can be saved.
  • [28:21] Deciding to End a Friendship: When enough is enough, and how to let go with grace.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a friendship is worth fighting for or it’s time to walk away, this episode is for you.

Ready to dig deeper? Take my free self-esteem quiz to see how your self-worth might be impacting your relationships: How Healthy is Your Self-Esteem?

Also, I’d love for you to join me for this week’s YouTube Livestream on Thursday at 12 pm MT, where we’ll talk even more about navigating toxic friendships. Submit an anonymous question in advance right here: Dear Lisa. I’ll see you there!

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Up next
Aug 18
Feeling Behind? 5 Tips to Reset at Any Life Stage | E467
“Am I falling behind in life?” If you’ve ever looked around and thought everyone else is getting married, buying houses, and having babies while you’re still figuring things out, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re getting real about that sinking, lonely feeling that comes w ... Show More
57m 31s
Aug 18
“I Love You... But I Don’t Like You”: Frustrating Relationships, and How to Deal | E466
Have you ever looked at your partner and thought, “I love you… but right now, I really don’t like you”? It doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed. It simply means you’re human. In this episode, we’re getting real about what happens when the warm fuzzies fade and the little thin ... Show More
42m 18s
Aug 18
Are You Mad at Me? How to Calm People‑Pleasing Anxiety | E465
Have you ever stared at your phone, rereading a text that ended with a period and spiraled into, “Oh no… are they mad at me?” Or maybe someone didn’t heart your Instagram story, and suddenly your nervous system is in full red alert mode. If so, you’re not alone. And you’re defini ... Show More
55m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Letting Go of Toxic Friendships + Healthy Friendship Breakups
Hey Muses! This week, we’re diving into the world of female friendships and how they change over time. Join me, Maria Fuentes, as we chat about how some friendships are meant for certain chapters of your life and why it’s okay to let them go when they’re no longer serving you.  I ... Show More
25m 43s
May 20
197. Overgiving In Friendships? It's Time To Heal Your "I Care More" Wound
If you’ve ever thought, “Why do I always care more?”—this episode is for you. Alissa Boyer unpacks the deep emotional pattern many highly sensitive people experience in friendships: the “I care more” wound. When you’re constantly overgiving, anticipating everyone’s needs, and doi ... Show More
18m 35s
Jan 2025
Shocking Truths on How to Create the DEEP Friendships You Crave: Thoughts From a Former Ghoster
Hiii friends! Welcome back to this lil corner of the internet! It’s time for another episode of ✨Finding Your Casual Magic✨ and I am SO excited to have you here with me. First, a massive THANK YOU for all the love on the last few episodes! Reading your messages and hearing your c ... Show More
53m 1s
Aug 2024
Stop Forcing Friendships - Signs You’ve Outgrown Certain Friends
Friendships are supposed to last forever, right? But what happens when the people who once felt like home start feeling like strangers?    In this episode of A Really Good Cry, we dive deep into the bittersweet reality of outgrowing friendships. As we grow and change, so do our n ... Show More
26m 16s
Sep 2024
S2, Ep 9 Friendship Therapy: Friendship Boundaries - how rupture in friendship can help us break our own patterns
Welcome back to Friendship Therapy, the podcast in which we look at friendships through a therapeutic lens. This week, Emma is joined by Scott, a man who, now in his 40s, has experienced a sudden turnover in the friends he made in his 20s. A repeating pattern of rupture and loss ... Show More
51m 14s
Sep 2024
S2, Ep 4 Dial Emma: Friendship Groups - how do I navigate rupture within a group dynamic?
Welcome back to Dial Emma from Friendship Therapy! This is where you get to dial Emma, with your dilemma (see what I did there?!) You share your friendship concerns, and I share my reflections as a therapist to give you the tips and tools you need to build better bonds. This week ... Show More
11m 48s
Jul 2024
How to Make Friends As An Adult, with Psychologist & Friendship Expert Dr. Miriam Kirmayer | Summer Rewind
Today's summer rewind is a re-release of one of our favourites that we keep coming back to. We'll be back in September with brand new interviews!Making friends can be intimidating at any age, but it feels especially daunting as adults. As we hit our 30s, our groups of friends are ... Show More
1h 7m
Apr 2025
It’s Not You: The Real Reason Adult Friendship Is So Hard & 3 Ways to Make It Easier
If you’ve ever felt like making friends as an adult feels impossible, or you’ve looked around and thought, "Where did all my friends go?" – you’re not alone. In this episode, Danielle Bayard Jackson is sharing the real reasons why female friendship can feel so complicated, based ... Show More
1h 31m
Feb 2023
The Guide to Navigating Friendship
Why does friendship get more difficult as we get older? Clinical psychologist and friendship expert Dr. Miriam Kirmayer is here to break down the various roadblocks that arise within friendships and provide practical tools for navigating the difficult times. She gives advice for ... Show More
51m 27s