For most of my adult life I've usually had only one friend, it just seemed the right way to do it, show them they're special or something. Over time I have developed quite a dark view of friends, manipulative, abusive, competitive, because that's how these characters always eventually seem to become.

I was just reading a psychology book recommending that in relationships "strength comes from connection" predatory people try to isolate you from everyone else in order to be effective.

I was thinking maybe I've been getting all this nonsense from my friends because they think (probably unconciously) I am vulnerable because I'm alone. I don't recall much best-friend abuse when I've had lots of friends, maybe people usually (unconciously) avoid being abusive when they know you'll tell everyone else.

Any thoughts, similar/different experiences? Obviously there are other factors to good friendship like choosing carefully.