My mom has always told me when vetting to always be on the look out for red flags. Especially when the relationship hits the 6 month mark. She said whenever her relationships went down hill the man began showing his true colors within 6 months to a year (even if things go well after this time continue to vet, because men change like the weather on you).

I'm starting to notice this mark applies to friends as well. When I first met my ex best friend she was the nicest person in the world. She always made me feel included and as though my presence was wanted. She wouldn't let others talk down to me.

But by time I hit the 6 month mark with her things began changing. She would criticize me during video games. I chalked it up to just being competitive. After that tho, she started making petty comments then claiming it was a joke. I thought again, maybe she just didn't realize she was being offensive. So after all this she just began being straight up discouraging.

When I first met her she seemed interested in what I was talking about and what my interest were. But by the 6 month mark she would completely skip over my interest in favor of talking about hers. Sometimes she was lowkey insult my interest. I felt I was being used as a human note pad to be talked at, not talked to. I was just mirror for her to talk to herself and validate herself in. I wasn't my own person around her.

I always uplifted her and told her she can do whatever she wants if she puts her mind to it But with me, she'd basically say don't even bother because you're going to fail. Make sure your vet your friends as vigorously as you do your men. I sometimes forget that friends can be insecure and miserable as well, leaking their issues on to you. When I was around her I was always feeling like I was just too sensitive because I didn't have a "dark sense of humor". Im noticing dark humor is almost synonymous with being an insensitive prick.