Avoiding being alone with someone who tries to isolate me

How do I keep a safe distance from a toxic friend if encountering her regularly is unavoidable due to a shared workplace or neighborhood?

Most importantly, how do I avoid being alone with her? After seeing how she isolates and manipulates, I started to avoid one-on-one time with her. However, even when we are at a crowded public place, she tries to find an opportunity to isolate me. And I can't ask someone to be by my side all the time.

Examples:

1). I would be talking with someone else at a function. As soon as that person steps away (to get something to drink, etc.) she comes approaching me. I actually caught her staring at me when I turned my head, like she was waiting for me to become available.

2). Another time, I stepped out to go to the restroom, and I came out and saw her in the hallway (I would see this as just a coincidence if I was dealing with a healthy person).

3). When I am sitting with other people, she never asks to join and gives me an angry stare (a sign that she doesn't want to just conversate casually with me), that is unless...the people sitting around me are the ones close to me. In that case, she tries to friend-poach, which is really a form of isolation and control.

Here are possible ways to handle:

1. “I’m going to mingle, please excuse me.”

2. “I’m going back into the main room, please excuse me.”

3. If I understand you correctly, she starts to speak with another person in your group, and not you. Well if this is a social function what if you say to yourself “Good, she has someone else to speak with.”

I agree with Bill, I hope you'll be able to avoid her

“Sorry I have to run to the bathroom/make phone calls/get food etc” that’s what yuh can say and then move on

If she talks to others and not you is good because you don’t want to talk to her anyways

First off I wouldn't call her a friend.....she is really just a toxic nuisance ACQUAINTANCE. When involved in things whete she is also at, just go about your OWN experience & don't give her the time of day.

If she approaches you after someone left who was talking to you just say excuse me I was heading to talk with someone.

If she is in the hallway after you get out of the bathroom just walk past & go where you were planning on heading in the first place. You can nod to acknowledge her but just keep walking & if she tries to stop & talk to you just say excuse me I need to get back to the people I was talking with.

Avoiding her by constantly excusing yourself from her company when she shows up.....it may actually sink in to her if it keeps happening consistently.