Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you were friends with someone, but it turns out your feelings were only one-sided?

Relationships are a tender thing that is difficult to maintain. However, they bear fruit when both parties are on the same page. Some people are honest with their feelings and will let you know if they don’t like you, like an angry girlfriend/boyfriend who wants to break up, but others are not so straightforward.

Finding out a person you have considered dear dislikes you can be heartbreaking, not to mention embarrassing since you did not see it coming. To avoid falling into such a situation here are 7 signs to be aware of when someone dislikes you, even if you don’t think so.

Number 1, curt answers. 

Conversation is an essential part of friendship; it is the method by which two people get to know each other.

When the opposite person is attentive to what you are talking about and is engaged in the conversation the atmosphere will be joyous which would strengthen the friendship bonds. And the opposite is true, when you are talking animatedly with your friend about a subject that you are passionate about but there is no equal response from the opposite party it would be a letdown. You would feel like you are not entertaining them enough and the air around you will turn awkward and difficult.

The reason behind that could be because your friend is not interested in what you are discussing, or they are not interested in you.

Number 2, You always ask about them first.

When a certain time passes and you haven’t seen your friend, usually you would ring them up or send a text asking about what they have been up to. The initiator would vary among friends, sometimes you are the one who reaches out first, and sometimes they would ask about you before you get the chance.

However, if it’s been a long time and they have not stuck a conversation with you and you notice that you are the one who always asks first, then it is likely the other person dislikes you.

Number 3, they make up excuses to avoid meeting you.  

Going out with friends and discovering new places, eating together, and having fun is a fundamental factor in forming relationships. Of course, it is not always possible to meet, one might have a doctor’s appointment or a family matter to attend to. And that’s totally normal, it is part of our everyday life. However, when the reciprocal party always declines your invitations, getting creative with each excuse every time you ask them out then it is highly likely that they are not interested in you and do not wish to continue being your friend.

Just remember a student’s excuse when they forget to do their homework, “my cat ripped off the page,” it’s an obvious lie. When your friend’s excuse sounds the same as the above, it’s a definite red flag.

Number 4, their non-verbal language is closed.

Non-verbal language has been established as an integral part of any conversation. In fact, Albert Mehrabian, a researcher of body language, observed that communication consists of 55% nonverbal, 38% vocal, and 7% words only.

Some non-verbal languages are hard to catch unless you keep an eye out for them, such as the orientation of the torso. But other signs are less difficult to notice, for example when you’re talking to the other person and are avoiding eye contact, or they have their arms crossed.

According to international consultant and best-selling author, Ali Craig said “Crossing arms can be a sign that someone is closed off or not wanting to receive what you are giving to them. Whereas arms that are open or placed in a non-closed-off position say that you are ‘open’ to receiving what they are giving.”

“Many times, people who are not particularly fond of you have a hard time making eye contact,” Craig said. “These individuals often seem distracted or disconnected while speaking and engaging with you. Their eyes may shift to other things happening around you which indicates a lack of respect and attention.”

Number 5, they constantly check the time when they are around you.

You are finally going on that Disney trip with your friends, and you have been planning it for months. You feel happy and excited but then you notice they are constantly checking the time like they have a meeting they are running late to.

When the other person seems too absorbed in their phone and they are constantly looking at the clock and sighing, know that they are counting the minutes until they will stand up and excuse themselves.

Number 6, their actions are forced, polite and brief.

Greeting a work acquaintance in the morning or a neighbor when you both open the door at the same time incidentally is basic manners. These interactions are part of our social life, and we are obliged to be polite. However, when the other party displays forced actions and try to out of their way to avoid meeting with you in the corridor, it’s obvious that they do not like you.

Number 7, they do not joke anymore.

Laughing at random things and enjoying a drink with friends is one of the purest blessings in life. You joke about the silliest things, like “what’s that shirt you are wearing?” and the whole group explodes with laughter.

But when the other person does not like you anymore that joke will turn into an insult. They will be offended and will fight you for it as if you are a stranger. Losing the sense of freedom around the other party will limit your conversation, you would constantly be afraid that if you said something they would take it the wrong way.

In the end, we as humans do not have the ability to read each other’s minds, in fact, sometimes we do not understand our own minds. However, there are some signs when displayed point out that the other person does not like you, even if you do not think so. Such as, they give off curt answers, you always reach out first, they avoid meeting you, their non-verbal language is closed off, they constantly check the time when they are with you, their actions are forced, and they do not joke anymore.

Have you noticed any of these signs in your friend?

References:

Pannell, N. K. (2018, June 27). 10 subtle signs someone doesn’t like you. Insider. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://www.insider.com/body-language-signs-that-someone-doesnt-like-you-2018-6#likewise-their-torsos-are-pointed-away-from-you-6

Brown, L. (2022, February 14). 37 unfortunate signs your friend actually hates you (complete list). Hack Spirit. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://hackspirit.com/signs-your-friend-actually-hates-you/

OptimistMinds , & OptimistMinds. (2022, January 25). 11 secret signs someone hates you. OptimistMinds. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://optimistminds.com/11-secret-signs-someone-hates-you/

How much of communication is nonverbal?: UT permian basin online. UTPB. (2020, November 3). Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://online.utpb.edu/about-us/articles/communication/how-much-of-communication-is-nonverbal/