Resentment

People so quickly grow to resent their more successful or even happier friends. There is this need in us to pounce and maul a friend who shows up elated about their new success or source of happiness. This bitter envy, preventing people to rise in the world without losing their friends.

Of course this is dressed up in 'growing apart', 'losing touch', ' different interests' and so on, and yet, is it really so hard to be a friend with someone you share no common ground? I believe not, as long as there is understanding and tolerance you can empathize with your friend's motives and interests, appreciating them not for themselves but for the influence they have on your friend.

This is distressingly common among addicts, as they see anyone who gives up the addiction as 'trying to be better than them' and they often do a lot to try and reel them back in, it is easy to be bad in company of bad people, but when someone shows you that you do not have to be bad, it is much easier to drag them back down than to pull yourself up.

So be prepared that, when you make major changes or advances in your life, there is a possibility that you will lose a few friends, even those really close who seem like they will be a fixture in your life until you die.

This desire to hurt someone happier/better than you is actually a cry for help, a lonely shriek of a hurt beast, striving for (spot)light and attention. Such impulses should be considered seriously, as they are most often a sign of low self esteem and a sense of valuelessness.