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brilee

471d

i have this friend who i love so much but lately she’s been pretty toxic and i’ve been beginning to notice loads of red flags. whenever she’s upset she completely shuts down and ignores me, which i understand it’s her way of coping but it still hurts me and makes me wonder if it’s my fault that she’s like this. she could be upset because her stomach hurts but won’t end up telling me that until after she’s been silent for a few classes or something. my other friend has noticed this too and it also upsets her when she does that. another thing is that we usually are rude to each other jokingly but it’s been going on for so long so now it’s just flat out draining and i’m not sure how to tell her. i want to save our friendship but things have only been going downhill and i’m not sure how to communicate it with her when she’ll just end up ignoring me

Top reply
    • TaetaeRyn

      471d

      I see that the first comment has a downvote, but unfortunately I’m going to have to say I agree. If your friendship is worth saving, taking some time to distance yourself will help you both to reevaluate the situation and understand how to approach those issues better. And if it’s not, taking some time will allow you to start feeling comfortable without the friendship, and you can make the decision to end it with an unbiased heart and a clear head. When you’re wrapped up in situations like this it’s almost impossible to know what the right answer is, and distance is required in order to see it objectively. I think you should let yourself be distant for a while and see how you feel with the friendship taking up less of your life. Seeing what it’s like when you’re not stuck in the drama can make making the right decision, whatever that is, easier. So if you find that you feel light and free without having to worry about your friend all the time, you might consider at least demoting the friendship to be a lower priority to you, but if that’s not the case and you still felt happier when you were closer, you can rekindle your bond, now with a better understanding of how you feel and what you want. This will also allow your friend to do the same. I don’t know your friend well enough to know whether or not her silence is a true desire to distance herself or a way of asking for help, but even if it is a cry for help, allowing her the space to understand what’s leading her to do that may help your relationship if/once you become close again. Communication is key, and knowing what needs to be communicated is needed before good communication is possible.

    • SunInAugust

      471d

      All relationships will have conflicts and trouble communicating. It sounds like a great opportunity practice communicating your needs here. I think its understandable that your friends silence hurts you. I also think its understandable she goes silent and it might be unreasonable to expect her to change that behavior that is probably keeping her emotionally regulated and safe. It is reasonable you want to connect with her. Approach the subject on a good day with gentleness and kindness with the intention of connection and hoping to understand eachother better

    • outcastrogue

      471d

      😥

    • TaetaeRyn

      471d

      I see that the first comment has a downvote, but unfortunately I’m going to have to say I agree. If your friendship is worth saving, taking some time to distance yourself will help you both to reevaluate the situation and understand how to approach those issues better. And if it’s not, taking some time will allow you to start feeling comfortable without the friendship, and you can make the decision to end it with an unbiased heart and a clear head. When you’re wrapped up in situations like this it’s almost impossible to know what the right answer is, and distance is required in order to see it objectively. I think you should let yourself be distant for a while and see how you feel with the friendship taking up less of your life. Seeing what it’s like when you’re not stuck in the drama can make making the right decision, whatever that is, easier. So if you find that you feel light and free without having to worry about your friend all the time, you might consider at least demoting the friendship to be a lower priority to you, but if that’s not the case and you still felt happier when you were closer, you can rekindle your bond, now with a better understanding of how you feel and what you want. This will also allow your friend to do the same. I don’t know your friend well enough to know whether or not her silence is a true desire to distance herself or a way of asking for help, but even if it is a cry for help, allowing her the space to understand what’s leading her to do that may help your relationship if/once you become close again. Communication is key, and knowing what needs to be communicated is needed before good communication is possible.

    • Charlie_17

      471d

      I think communicating these feelings with her could be beneficial to both of you. If you let her know how you're feeling and that you want to be there for her that opens up doors for her to do the same for you. I don't know about your friends circumstances, but if she distances and isolates herself as her main coping mechanism that could be trauma related. It's important to keep that in mind moving forward because you never want to force someone to confront their traumas but you do want to be able to lend support. That being said, being open and telling her how you want to be there if she needs help and maybe ease up on the teasing and try more positive banter might be your best bet for preserving and strengthening your friendship

    • Neverlandgirl

      471d

      Unfortunately this may not be something you want to hear but if you want to see some changes try distancing yourself. I was in a similar situation and it made me feel a lot better(however to be completely honest with my experience is that the friendship has now ended)

☝ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision

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