The latest season of TV show The White Lotus has a storyline that many people are finding 'painfully relatable' - the toxic friendship between long-time friends Kate, Jaclyn, and Laurie.

Their backhanded compliments, passive-aggressive jabs and gossip behind one another's backs have sparked real-life conversations about how to navigate unhealthy dynamics in friendship groups.

Why do we find it so hard to end long-standing friendships, even if they don't serve us well?