Ive got a real good friend that has become increasingly negative about everything.i talked to him last night and every subject we talked about he was negative about.this has been going on for awhile but getting to the point I almost don't want to answer the phone when he calls.i don't want to lose a friendship but it's hard to try and talk to someone who's so negative about everything at least for me.

If he's a good enough friend that you don't want to lose him, then he ought to be a good enough friend to talk to him about the situation.

It’s very draining to be around that kind of toxicity. If it is already affecting you, you have every right to at least limit interactions with him. You can still help him, but cannot be responsible for his happiness.

My one friend stops by occasionally and always reminds me of how long it took for the conversation to go south. Usually within 5 minutes. I find fault like theres some kind of reward in it.

Had a friend like that, always negative. I try to change things around to a more positive tone/ If that doesn;t work I just shorten the conversation, life is too short to spend it in misery

I spent years with one of the gripingest ( if that’s a word) good friends, that actually worked for me..he grumbled about everything on the planet.. sometimes I would just make up excuses to go pick up something just to get away… but he was my friend, so I put up with it..

My sona nd his wife have become this way about everything. Distance is the only thing that has helped my wife and me as difficult as it is.

Don't overlook the possibility that he may have medical issues that are affecting his outlook. He may not even be aware of a recent change in his health. A thorough physical is a good place to start if he hasn't had one recently.

you can confront it , maybe even record the next conversation so you have a way to play it back when he says no I don't

or you can let him go

confronting him about it might send him away , but then it was his choice and one he should be able to understand why.

I have an aunt who is getting like this when she starts on a rant I change topics.

Bear Tracker , that's a real shame but they feed on their anger or negativity for everything and they can't see anything good anywhere.

Good luck.

He could be having issues with un diagnosed depression or health issues.

Very draining being around people like that.I would tell him and simply ask him to try and be more positive.

I used to be like that. One of my clients actually nicknamed me "Mr. Angry" after a local DJ using that persona. One day I realized that we are in a position that most of the things I was angry about were things that don't personally affect me and I couldn't do much about them anyway. It helps to not have children to worry about. I still get irritated but now am more of an informed observer and if I feel upset I just move on. Life is too short to live it PO'd all the time.

Good luck. I had a friend like that. Me and wife were driving along and he calls and I put him on truck speaker. He ended up cussing me like a yard dog over absolutely nothing. When conversation was over, and I had hung up, my wife said I dont know why you still answer to phone when he call. I told her the past 40 years of good friendship. deserved something. It got so bad my wife told me to go outside and talk on the phone when he called. I tried for five years to fix this. My advice - let him know what you think - give it a few months - if it doesnt change, cut that person out of your life. There is something wrong with them, dont waste much time on them.

Worse than that. I have two, one my neighbor, was great guy always doing something. Some deep mechanicing in the cars, changing timing belts and cam shafts and stuff. We hunted together but he did not trap (ok with me). But he retired 5 or 6 years ago and does NOTHING absolutely nothing but complains constantly. I almost can not stand to be around him. If I do anything outside and he comes over he always tells me I am doing it wrong or he would have done it this other way. He enters my house with out knocking and just stands there--startles me and he answers my telephone and says that they have the wrong number. I now hide my car keys too, he is an awful driver, the slowest on the road---Well on back streets so am I but interstates look out here i come, not him 5 mph under the speed limit all the time. Oh well after all these year together I do owe him but it is hard......jk

Comes in your house without knocking and then answers your phone and tells people they have the wrong number?? No way I would put up with all that. You need to start locking your doors.

You become like the top 5 people you are around most. You dont want that rubbing off. I have had people like that at work and flat out told them the sky is not falling pointed out good possibilities of stuff they were complaining about. It won't change the behavior pattern even if they agree with you at the time.

Life is to short to wast it on these people.

A lot of people get a bad shake, sick or disabled kids, spouse or themselves. Job loss or other financial hardships, Death of loved ones ect. some will get bitter and few would blaim them. Others seem to find the positive and stay positive.

We can't control what happens in life to a large extent but we can control how we respond to it.

I have a young man in work with just started about a year ago. His first week i advised him to increase his 401 contribution up to 15% minimum preferable 20% . he was going from $14 an hour to over $30. He would still get a larger pay check than he had in his life and would never miss the money he had never had. But let lifestyle creep in and....

He didn't. He was really geting down on himself yesterday. Bought 2 new vehicle and big new house. It was not just the $ per hour increase but ability to work crazy overtime$$$. Example I increased income over 100% due to over time last year. And he and his wife got a taste If that income and started spending it like drunk sailors.

Now he is covered up with bills and has to work OT to get by. He woke up to it and seemed really down about his mistakes and he should have listened to me. I just smiled and told him thats just part of the cost of education. Everything cost money, education is expensive. Learn from it. If you went to a university for education its going to cost you. Mistakes on the stock market will cost you, ect.. Make a plan to fix/overcome the mistake and stick to it. Geting down on yourself is unproductive wast of energy spent the effort comeing up with a plan to get where you want to be.

Lol …. This guy sounds hilarious

That guy sounds like he wants a scab put on his nose.

If he is a good friend to and for you, it may be helpful for you to listen to his negative look at life and the world. It may help him to move on and get past this phase.

Bryce