With billions of people in the world, it is normal to meet different types of them throughout your life. And every now and then you’ll meet someone that is so negative and insufferable that you feel bad simply being in their presence.

Toxic people come in all shapes and sizes: The negative Nancies. The Debbie Downers. The manipulators. The judgmental. The envious – to name just a few. And what they all have in common is their ability to drain your energy and suck the happiness out of you in the blink of an eye.

They can do this since they’re very skilled at manipulating and playing mind games with others. They simply always know how to control their victim and get what they need from them.

So, to prevent yourself from falling prey to toxic individuals, you need to be able to spot them within minutes of meeting them. Following are 7 behaviors toxic people show within 5 minutes of meeting someone:

1. THEY GOSSIP ABOUT OTHERS

While you probably think that gossip is vile and worthless, some people simply don’t agree with you. Toxic individuals love gossiping about other people. They’re not ashamed to spread all kinds of lies about others.

So, next time you find yourself in the presence of a person who talks sh*t about other people, make sure you walk away.

2. THEY EXPECT SPECIAL TREATMENT

Toxic people, especially narcissists, believe they are inherently deserving of special treatment. They consider themselves smarter and better than everyone else and that’s the reason why they’ll expect you to shower them with praise, devote your time to them, and act in ways that suit their needs and desires.

3. THEY COMPLAIN ALL THE TIME

Toxic people always find something to complain about: the meal is too hot, the weather is too cold, the car is too dirty, they’re too skinny, their nose is too big, their house/flat is too small, their job is too boring or too demanding,  their boss is a pain in the *ss, their partner is obsessively jealous, their children are too naughty, blah, blah, blah. Their complaining never stops.

4. THEY EXPECT YOU TO PLEASE THEM

Yes, we all want to be happy, but toxic individuals think that other people exist to please them and make them happy.

If a toxic person notices that you are kind and empathetic, know that they won’t think twice about asking you to do something for them. They can even ask you to do something that’s opposed to your own beliefs and values. And remember – they never take “no” for an answer.

5. THEY BRAG ABOUT THEIR SUCCESSES

While it is okay to boast about your skills, talents, and successes during a job interview, it can be quite irritating to listen to someone bragging about how smart, talented, and successful they are when you meet them for the first time.

But, what you need to know is that when someone is behaving this way, they’re actually trying to hide their own insecurities and flaws and make themselves appear superior to you.

6. THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN YOUR LIFE

A toxic individual will spend hours talking about their worries and problems to you or boasting about their successes, but they won’t ask you a single question about your life. Why?

Because your feelings, your opinions, your worries, and your pains don’t interest them. The only thing or person they care about is themselves.

7. THEY MAKE YOU FEEL DRAINED AND BAD

It is exhausting to be around toxic people. They ooze negativity and they can drain your energy, make you feel stressed out, and suck the happiness out of you in the blink of an eye.

So, if you ever find yourself around a person that makes you feel bad, make sure you walk away. Or even better – run and don’t look back.

Guys, just because you have mothers, sisters, girlfriends, wives, and female friends and co-workers, don’t think that you know everything about women.

Here are 10 things about being a woman which women are usually too embarrassed to share with you themselves:

1. Tired.

Yes, we are tired. We’re tired of hearing men making comments about our breasts or legs while we’re standing right there in front of them. We’re tired of dealing with the humiliation of just being a woman.

We’re tired of hearing that we live in a gender-equal society when we all know that’s not true. We’re tired of fighting for what should have already been given to us.

2. Periods.

Periods- the reason why I’ve said countless times, “I wish I was a man.” Even though we are now 30, our periods are still a traumatic experience. I mean, imagine this: One day, you are just a happy, careless boy and the next, all of a sudden you are feeling like you’re on an emotional roller coaster, crying while you watch Friends, and swallowing Ibuprofen as if they are Tic Tacs.

Did I just hear you say WTF?! Well, that’s exactly what we think and say every month.

3. Talking.

Yes, women love to talk. We enjoy talking about the things that make us happy. We love talking about our partners, children, career.

Yes, we simply enjoy talking and sharing knowledge. That’s why we really hate it when we hear men say things, like: “Women talk all the time,” or “It’s men that are being silenced these days, not women.”

4. Fear.

Yes, we are scared. But, we don’t want to talk about our fears to you because it’s a little annoying and we’d rather talk about things that make us happy than about what makes us feel insecure and scared.

5. Abortion.

You might think that there’s absolutely no reason why we should be embarrassed to talk about abortion, but just imagine that you get pregnant accidentally at 15 and then having to walk past hundreds of anti-abortion protestors shouting and holding up signs and photos of dead fetuses. Is there any way you could deal with this in a civilized, calm, and polite manner? No, not really.

You’d more likely be like, “I assume that your concern  for the welfare of kids turns into a life spent donating your salaries to charities and care homes and volunteering in hospitals for children while you don’t give a f*ck about women that have been harassed and raped and that are now just trying to get a safe medical procedure so that they don’t ruin the rest of their lives!!!

6. “The Man.”

What we need you to understand is that when we talk with our BFF about “The Man,” we are not actually talking about you.  You are just … John, Marc, Nick, or you name it.

When we are talking about “The Man,” we are simply singling out the cause of the problem.

7. Saying the word “feminism.”

I’m certainly not going to explain what feminism is or try to convince every guy out there that feminists DON’T hate men.

All I’m trying to say is that we feel a little embarrassed about saying the word “feminism” since it has this slight implication, “Now I am going to talk about what an amazing person I am” – and that’s certainly not what we want to talk about when we say this word.

8. Clothes.

What we wear is extremely important to us. That’s why you shouldn’t go crazy when you see us standing in front of a wardrobe full of clothes and complaining that, “I don’t have anything to wear.” Because what we actually mean is, “I have nothing to wear for who I want and need to be today.”

And another reason why it takes us so much time to choose what clothes to buy or wear is that we know that appearance TRULY MATTERS.

9. Carbs.

Carbs. Carbs. Carbs. Enough with them. You know what? Low-carb diet actually sucks. When it comes to guys and dating, our ultimate goal is to find a partner we can lie on the couch with, watching 6 episodes of GOT in a row and eating French fries. Who cares about the carbs?

10. Trainers.

Do you remember when I told you the other night that someone had broken into our apartment and stolen your old trainers? Well, that was actually me. I threw those awful dirty trainers away. I could no longer stand seeing you wearing them.

If you are an introvert, then I’m sure you know that you have somewhat different needs from an extroverted person. You don’t perceive the world around you the way extroverts do and you don’t have the same interests in life as extroverts.

For example, you don’t need to be surrounded by a lot of people so as to feel fulfilled and energetic. You enjoy your own company and you don’t bother to be the center of attention at social gatherings. 

Undoubtedly, being an introvert in a highly extroverted world is not easy at all. Being an introvert in a world which favors extroverts is being misunderstood by others and perceived as antisocial, distant, cold, and even weird.

So, this goes to all extroverted people out there who don’t really understand but would like to know why introverts behave the way they do. Here are 10 things every introvert needs to be happy:

1. Meaningful, stimulating conversations.

Introverts can’t stand gossip and small talk. They want to have meaningful and intellectually stimulating conversations. They want to have conversations which help them broaden their knowledge of the world and offer them new perspectives on life.

2. A huge amount of time to recharge their batteries.

Introverts need to spend some time alone after attending big, loud parties and all kinds of social events in order to rest and recharge their batteries.

But, introverts need to spend some time alone after the “small” things as well. They can feel drained and stressed out after having a hard day at work, arguing with someone, or shopping in a mall. Spending time alone allows them to process their experiences and feelings and recharge their energy.

3. Spending time in silence.

While most extroverts find spending time in silence scary and awful, introverts simply love it. Whether it’s for 2 minutes or 2 hours – it doesn’t matter – introverts enjoy spending time in silence. Silence helps them get rid of stress, anxiety, and negative energy. It helps them relax and recharge their batteries.

4. Enough space to focus on their interests and hobbies.

Having enough time and space to focus on their interests and hobbies helps introverts relax and fills them with positive energy. So, whether it’s reading, listening to music, watching movies, cooking, cycling, or walking in nature, introverts need enough space to dive deep into it.

5. Time to think.

It takes an introvert some time to process and reflect on their thoughts before they put them into words. They think twice before they speak and act, too. They behave this way so as to avoid saying the wrong thing, hurting someone’s feelings unintentionally, and making wrong decisions.

6. A quiet space which is only theirs.

Introverts need a quiet, private space to retreat to when the world around them is too noisy to endure. Ideally, this is a room which they can organize and decorate themselves and in which they can enjoy their own company knowing that no one will interrupt them.

7. Permission to stay quiet.

Sometimes introverts don’t have the energy to talk to others. That’s why they need others to simply let them remain quiet when they don’t feel like talking. And they absolutely hate it when someone tells them: “Oh, don’t be so quiet! Let’s talk about something.”

8. A real purpose in life.

Yes, we all need to pay our bills, and sadly, for many of us, that is the only reason we go to work. But, introverts are not content with this kind of “arrangement.” They want to have a job that is meaningful and that brings a sense of fulfillment and happiness into their lives.

9. Independence.

Introverts live their lives in accordance with their own beliefs, principles, and values. What those around them deem popular does not interest them. That’s why they never bother to please others and fit in with the popular crowd.

10. Friends and family who accept and love them for who they are.

Introverts need to be surrounded by family and friends who accept them just the way they are. They need their loved ones to embrace their annoying habits, quirks, insecurities, and fears.

They need to feel free to be themselves when they are around the people they hold dear. They need to know that those who mean the world to them love and appreciate them just the way they are.

While everyone makes snarky and sarcastic remarks here and there, for sarcastic individuals, sarcasm is as natural and essential as breathing.

Making sarcastic remarks is a fast way to get misunderstood. But, what many people, (obviously those who don’t have a sarcastic mind), fail to understand is that sarcasm is not necessarily a negative characteristic to possess. This means that not every sarcastic person you know uses snarky remarks to criticize you and hurt your feelings.

Here are 10 reasons why you need to have a sarcastic best friend in your life:

1. They are always honest.

Sarcastic people are brutally honest. They don’t beat around the bush and they don’t sugarcoat ugly and harsh truths so as to make them appear more positive or pleasant than they really are.

So, if you are acting like a fool, they’ll be quick to give you a verbal slap. And if they notice that someone is trying to manipulate you or lie to you, they won’t think twice about revealing that person’s intentions and protecting you from them.

2. They never get offended.

A sarcastic best friend will always tell you the harsh truth, and they’re always ready to receive and handle feedback from you, too. So, if you get mad with them for something and even start shouting at them and criticizing them, know that they’ll handle your reaction with grace and dignity. They’ll never get offended by anything you say to them.

3. They can make you laugh even when you’re down in the dumps.

Having a sarcastic best friend means having a friend who will always remind you to find humor in everything. Even in the things you would be terribly afraid to joke about with other people.

So, whether they’ll tell you funny or dirty jokes or make a joke out of serious, difficult situations, know that they’ll always be there to brighten your day.

4. They make you become bolder and more confident.

Having a sarcastic best friend means having a friend who will make sure you maintain high self-esteem. They’ll help you become tougher and bolder. They’ll help you become more aware of your qualities and you’ll never ever care about what other people think about you.

Additionally, don’t be surprised if you start catching yourself making snarky remarks and witty comments because when you spend a lot of time with a sarcastic person, their sarcasm can become really contagious.

5. They are fiercely loyal to you.

If you already have or if you ever have the privilege of having a sarcastic best friend, know that they’ll never break your trust in them or hurt you. And most importantly, know that they’ll always be there for you when you need them.

6. They teach you how to handle a**holes.

How? Of course – by using sarcasm.  Shallow, conceited, deceitful people don’t get sarcasm. This means that you can make fun of them as much as you want and they won’t even understand a thing you say. By showering them with snarky remarks, you’ll leave them to rot in their own toxicity.

7. They always have your back.

Having a sarcastic BFF means having a friend who will dislike the same people you’re not really fond of and who will always take your side when you argue with someone. They won’t think twice about using their sarcasm to put the person trying to mess with you in their place.

8. They express their love for you in their own way.

Terms of endearment, such as “sweetie,” “dear,” or “honey” simply don’t exist in a sarcastic person’s vocabulary. But, words, such as “bitch,” “stupid,” and “weirdo” surely do.

But what you need to always bear in mind is that every time they call you a weirdo or bitch, that is actually a code word for “I love you so much,” or “you’re the most important person in my life.”

9. They know when they need to be serious.

You might find this hard to believe, but a sarcastic person knows when it’s time to act serious. When you try to share your problems and worries with them or complain about something, don’t doubt that they’ll listen to you attentively without making any snarky remarks. Indeed, sarcastic people can be very compassionate and caring and that’s why you can always rely on them.

10. Last but not least, who wouldn’t want to have a friend like Chandler Bing in their life?

I’d definitely want. What about you?