How Do You Identify a Frenemy Within Your Group of Friends?

You expect your friends to be honest and upfront with you.  You expect them to act like, well, friends.  However, you might just have a frenemy within your inner circle.  How do you tell if a friend is really an enemy in disguise?

The first step is to realize that a frenemy might not be directly "out to get you."  Instead, they might seem to be merely very selfish, or they might act in a callous manner toward you.  A real friend does not let selfishness rule a friendship, nor do they act callous and cold all of the time.

Another indicator that you might have a frenemy instead of a real friend is if you really don’t like spending time with the person.  What is your first reaction when you are forced to spend time with that person alone, rather than in a group setting?  Do you dread it?  If they called you right now and asked you to go to the cinema with just them alone, would you find excuses to get out of it?  If so, then it is possible that you have a frenemy.

You also need to learn to trust your gut.  Your intuition and first reaction to a person when you initially meet them is often more accurate than what you will think of that person after "getting to know them" a bit more.  Often, your perception of a frenemy will be colored by the opinions of other friends or of fond shared memories. 

Trust your gut and you will be able to avoid dealing with a frenemy in the first place.  With a bit of caution and some observation, you will be able to identify a frenemy within your group of friends.