The warmest welcome to you. 🙂
I think there can be basic friends, people who seem like friends but aren't really and then there are really good friends. Sometimes it can be hard to spot what kind of a 'friendship' circle we're actually in. My 18yo son, who's on the high end of the spectrum has faced all 3 types over the years. Looking back, he's able to see things more clearly. In years 11 and 12 he ended up with a couple of really good groups of friends. It took all that time to find them. Btw, he still has a couple of good friends from primary school who he sees.
Sometimes it can be easier looking back, as opposed to being in a situation. Looking back, my son can say 'That group of people was definitely toxic and not at all good for my mental health or self esteem'. He can also look back and say 'That group of friends had some good points when it came to what I needed to develop in me or change about me. The way they phrased those points wasn't always done well. Some of the changes I made have actually come to serve me well in a lot of ways'.
If the people who are a part of your circle make no good points and they're just critical, degrading and depressing, they're definitely toxic and not the best people to be around. Wondering whether there are any school activities you might enjoy which have people in them who you could relate to. Math club, chess club or some other kind of club or group.
