You got rid of your old sofa when you got hitched…should you consider doing the same with some of your friends?

How to ID Toxic Friends

When you’re single, it’s easy to ID the toxic people in your life—the jobless wonder always crashing on your couch, the pretty college pal who always hits on guys you like. (Bitch.) But once you’re married, things get a little foggier. you’re preoccupied with your new best friend (that would be the person snoring next to you, fyi) and may not notice that other connections have become…kind of strained. Bonds with single friends that used to be so strong can spark weird feelings—jealousy, resentment, annoyance. Friendships with married couples can creep into competitive, even flirtatious territory and become unhealthy for your relationship.

It’s no one’s fault—it’s just pure chemical combustion. Put you + them in a room, shake, and release—you’ve got a toxic combination that gets under your skin and can cause bad feelings to bubble to the surface. So how do you know who might be polluting your life? We’ve pinpointed some possible culprits with tips on how to deal with them. And you thought detox was just for celebrities.

Illustration by Sean Sims for New Division