Omg you are so right, people tend to underestimate the effect that abuse from friends or an entourage can cause.
I have noticed something as well, there's a saying, "You become the people that you hang out with", so lot's of us try to befriend people that could be considered more successful than us, in the hope of becoming like them. and even if at first it could sound like a great idea, i've observed so many times , no real mentor/pupil relationship developping but more of an alpha/omega mentality as people feel threatened by talent and hard work, which can backfire and prevent growth.
So obviously there's some good people out there too, but it takes years to find them :)

Great post @nmalove, you on fire at the moment!