When Friendships Hurt: How Teens Can Navigate Toxic Friendships and Social Anxiety

Friendships should feel safe, fun, and supportive—but sometimes they don’t. If your teen constantly feels anxious after hanging out with friends, gets left out, or is afraid to speak up, they may be dealing with a toxic friendship or social anxiety. And they’re not alone.

Teen friendships are complicated. But learning how to recognize red flags and build confidence in social situations can be life-changing, and therapy can help.

What Does a Toxic Friendship Look Like?

Not all bad friendships are obvious. Some signs a friendship might be harmful include:

• Constant teasing that feels more hurtful than funny

• Being left out, ghosted, or talked about behind your back

• Feeling drained, anxious, or “less than” after time together

• Being pressured to change or hide who you are

• Giving more than you get, and still feeling not good enough

These patterns are common in middle and high school. But they don’t have to be accepted as “normal.”

The Link Between Friendship Struggles and Social Anxiety

Toxic friendships can make teens:

• Question their worth or likability

• Avoid social settings out of fear of judgment

• Overthink every text, post, or conversation

• Feel stuck between wanting connection and fearing rejection

Over time, this erodes self-esteem and makes it harder to trust new relationships, even the good ones.

How Therapy Can Help Teens Build Healthier Friendships

In therapy, teens can:

• Identify what a safe, respectful friendship actually looks like

• Learn how to express boundaries and say no confidently

• Practice social skills in a judgment-free space

• Build emotional regulation tools for awkward or triggering moments

• Reconnect with their voice, self-worth, and values

The goal isn’t to have more friends. It’s to have the right ones, and to feel safe being your full self in them.

Work With Jennifer Anyaugo, RMHCI

Jennifer works with teens and young adults to build confidence, navigate friendship challenges, and develop strong emotional boundaries. With a warm, relatable approach, she creates a safe space for teens to talk about what’s really going on, and learn how to show up as themselves with clarity and self-respect.

Jennifer is currently accepting virtual clients across Florida.

Friendships Shouldn’t Hurt. Therapy Can Help Them Heal.

If your teen is struggling with social anxiety or toxic relationships, they don’t have to figure it out alone.

Book a consultation with Jennifer today.