8 Signs You’re Secretly Disliked By Others
Do you have a nagging feeling that some of the people
who say that they’re your friends don’t really mean it?
Perhaps you feel as if they don’t really want the best for you
or secretly want you out of their group
but just won’t come out and say it.
A lot of the time, when you dislike someone,
you won’t dare tell them directly for fear of confrontation.
Instead, you may just let your actions speak for you
and hope they get the hint. If you’ve been wondering
if the red flags you’ve been seeing in some of your friends
mean something serious, these telltale signs can help you figure it out.
Closed and Negative Body Language
Have you noticed non-verbal cues they send whenever you’re together?
As much as you try to keep your true feelings a secret,
there are plenty of subconscious things you do with your body
that speak volumes about how you really feel
about the people you’re with.
Some examples to keep a close eye on include
crossed arms and legs, minimal eye contact, physical distance,
and using bags, pillows, desks, or doors to hide behind
while you’re talking.
Faking Smiles
Do their smiles reach their eyes?
Another telltale sign that someone doesn’t like you as much
as they’re letting on is if they’re constantly
faking their smiles around you.
Most of the time, when people fake their smiles,
their eyes don’t crinkle, and the rest of their face stays still
while they do it.
While it can be difficult to tell if this is just
because they’re tired, shy, or feeling a little awkward,
if this person is more than an acquaintance to you already
and you notice they’re still faking their smiles around you,
it might be because they secretly dislike you.
Short and Impersonal Conversations
Think back on the last few times you’ve spoken to this person.
Did they seem in a hurry to leave?
Were their replies short and devoid of emotion?
When people secretly dislike you, they’ll most likely try
to avoid you and cut your conversation short by either giving
you very vague answers like “I’m fine,” “not much going on,”
or “it’s all good,” or rushing off with a flimsy excuse
and an empty promise of the next time that never comes true.
Lack of Physical Touch
While it’s certainly true that some people aren’t
as comfortable being touchy or physically affectionate
around even their closest friends and loved ones,
it’s another thing entirely when they’re comfortable doing it
around everyone except you.
The distinct lack of any kind of friendly physical touch—be it
a hug, handshake, or pat on the back—is very telling that they
do not feel comfortable letting you into their personal space.
No Plans with You
Can you remember the last time this particular person made plans
with you or invited you somewhere?
If the answer is never, then it’s probably time to take a good look
at your friendship with this person and ask yourself why.
Do you invite them to places and events they just end up
canceling or postponing indefinitely?
Do they often blow you off for the next cooler,
more exciting thing or exclude you from their plans
with other friends?
It might sting a little to admit it, but if so, there’s a good chance
it’s because this person secretly dislikes you.
Rarely Reaching Out
If the communication between you and this person
is mostly one-sided, then it’s a red flag already.
Whether it’s leaving you on read, not bothering to return your calls,
or never checking up on you every now
and then to make sure you’re okay
and see how you’re doing, all of these behaviors show
indifference, apathy, and a definite lack of concern usually
reserved for the people we don’t like.
Breaking Promises and Letting You Down
As cliché as it might sound, a common adage in family
and couples therapy is: if we don’t have trust,
we don’t have anything.
Mutual trust is really the foundation for every healthy
and lasting relationship.
So if someone is constantly letting you down,
breaking their promises, and not being there when you need them to be,
as painful as it might be to admit,
all of these signs are telling you that this person does
not respect you nor care about your feelings.
Ignoring Your Opinions
If someone can’t be bothered to listen to what you have to say,
such as when they make decisions that affect you
without asking you first or insist on doing something you’ve
made very clear you don’t agree with, it’s safe to say that
this person is probably harboring some ill will against you.
This can manifest in other little passive-aggressive ways too,
like never asking you what you feel like doing
or always being on their phone while you’re talking.
All these little things show that this person is only pretending to like
you and that they don’t actually value or respect your opinion.
