theoutsider
Well-known member
I think for me, it was someone I grew up with since we were infants until young adult age pretending to be my close friend but was really a totally different person behind my back. It didn't start off that way but I think he began to have feelings of severe dislike as we reached our early teen years and seemed to be in competition (in his mind) for the same friends. Later, people told me the real meaning of some of the things he would say in front of me that seemed innocent but actually had a double meaning to our peers around us. There were so many things that was orchestrated against me that I began to connect after I found out how this person really detested me. Just little things that probably seemed like good fun to our other friends but had a darker purpose that they weren't aware of. We were both pretty good athletes but he'd convinced our friends to never throw the ball to me whenever we played pick up football no matter how open I was. He convinced them that it was just funny to watch me get angry over being overlooked. He actually preferred to lose games than to have me help them win. Or if I confided in him (because I thought we were that close) he would secretly repeat what I told him to others.
Since then, this has happened on a lesser level with others but I had already learned to detect the warning signs. I guess in a way, this person did me a favor because it made me less vulnerable to the cruelty of others. However, it also may have seriously affected my level of trust with others. I think it may be part of the reason I have trust issues to this day.
If not too painful to talk about please add your experiences.
Since then, this has happened on a lesser level with others but I had already learned to detect the warning signs. I guess in a way, this person did me a favor because it made me less vulnerable to the cruelty of others. However, it also may have seriously affected my level of trust with others. I think it may be part of the reason I have trust issues to this day.
If not too painful to talk about please add your experiences.