…Have you ever wondered if someone likes you for real or if they only pretend to?

I’m guilty of that. It might be a bit of anxiety or a lack of confidence, but I always tend to overthink what I’ve done or the way I behave during a certain time. I know it’s not healthy, but sometimes it’s hard to tell for sure if someone likes me for who I am or if they only pretend to.

I’m also sure that I’m not the only one who is in doubt, especially when you don’t know these people for a long time. Let’s be honest for a second: some people are really hard to read, so it takes a little time and practice to get to understand them properly.

So if you want to know for sure if someone’s feelings toward you are sincere or not, you have come to the right place. Are you ready to discover all the hidden signs that someone is only pretending to like you? Let’s begin!

1. They only contact you to vent

It’s hard to believe that people would do something like this when they’re a bit older and more mature, but the thing is that for some, age doesn’t have an effect on them.

The first way to tell if a person calls you because they’re genuine about their friendship with you or not is by paying attention to the moment they contact you.

If they only call you or text you when there’s something they don’t like and want to rant or complain about, it’s clear that there’s something missing there. It’s not always easy to recognize something like this because of how common it is for friends to share their problems with one another.

“Uh-huh,” “Really,” it seems like the only thing they can say when it’s your turn to talk is, “Oh, well, that’s too terrible.” That, and they’re probably just clearing their throat in preparation for yet another pity party about their gloomy existence.

2. They want something from you

…This might sound like high school drama, but it’s definitely a thing that doesn’t have an age!

When someone uses you for their own gain while seeming as if they care about you, that’s one of the subtle signals they’re faking to like you. For example, they might say that they will call you soon, but they never do.

If you help them with something, for instance, such as taking care of their pet while they go on vacation or helping them carry the furniture to their new home, they won’t do the same for you.

They will surely appreciate your help, and they will also tell you how grateful they are and how they’re going to help you when you need it, but they won’t. That’s when you know that they don’t really appreciate your friendship.

3. They don’t care what you say

You can tell if someone likes you or not by simply looking at them when you talk. When someone likes or even loves you, they will give you certain feedback when you talk. You’ll understand that they really listen to your words by simply looking at them.

On the other hand, when we refer to someone who pretends to like you, things are a bit different. Even though they might give you a reassuring nod and grin, it’s possible that they don’t really pay attention to what you’re saying behind all that fake friendliness.

In a case like this, they won’t remember what you’ve told them, they’ll fail to recall important details you’ve explained to them, and they don’t care about your point of view or prefer to share their opinions and why you’re wrong.

Long story short, they choose to disregard what you have to say, or they can’t wait for you to finish talking so they can vent to you about different things that go on in their lives.

4. They aren’t loyal

…I’m sure you already know what this means, but here’s a more detailed approach!

When things are bad, this person might disappear like the sun in winter, in spite of the good moments you’ve had together. When things in your life get rough, they will offer a few comforting words and then depart.

Let’s say that you work in an office and have had a really hard time lately. You have a deadline to meet and things are crazy with your colleagues and your boss. Of course, you’re more likely to be upset and stressed and maybe not on your best behavior.

However, a good friend will stay with you and will try to make you feel better or encourage you to gather all your power and push through. When someone cares about you, they will support you when you have no idea what to do. If they don’t do it, they’ve never really been your friends, have they?

5. They gaslight you

When someone pretends to like you, they want to be sure that you’ll believe them, so they will do all sorts of normal things with you. However, sooner or later, their true colors will show up.

You’ll soon notice that their feelings towards you aren’t sincere and they use different tactics on you. If they don’t feel well and have a problem, they are more likely to project their thoughts, shortcomings, and negative emotions onto you. They have high expectations of you and will punish you severely if you fail to meet those needs.

Of course, you can have a conversation with them and tell them exactly how they make you feel and why you think there’s something missing in your friendship. However, when someone pretends to like you, you’ll be able to tell, sooner or later, so it’s always best to pay attention to the people you surround yourself with.

…Speaking of that, do you know how to tell if someone is talking about you behind your back? I have the article you need! Check it out: 6 Signs Someone Is Talking About You Behind Your Back!