For example, distance yourself from a friend that treats you poorly since you deserve to be happy and supported around the people you care about. The person may be a little upset that you aren’t responding, but remember that it’s important for your own well-being.
Even seeing other people’s posts about their friends could make you think about the person you need to let go of. We know that it’s tempting to look at someone’s profile after they ghost you, but it could hurt more when you see their posts. Try chatting with your other friends or watching your favorite TV show to distract yourself.
For example, keepsakes from a friend that ghosted you will just make you think of and miss them more if you leave them out. This may mean avoiding places where you and your friend hung out together as well. Remember to look through your social media pages so you can hide or delete posts and pictures with your friends in them.
Tell your friends that you had to end another friendship since they may have gone through something similar and can offer advice.
For example, writing down how a toxic friend treated you in tough situations could help you realize they didn’t have your best interests in mind. If you want, you could even express yourself in a letter to your friend. If the letter feels too personal, just keep it to yourself. Otherwise, you can send it, but you may not get a response back.
For example, if you and your friend always tried something new every week, you might be grateful that you’ve become more adventurous because of them.
For example, you could say something like “I deserve the best,” or “I’ll find someone that I can bond with again. ” If you’re not sure what to say, imagine what you would say if you were helping a friend going through the same situation.
For example, you may have let go of a friend that bad-mouthed people behind their back because you value openness and honesty. It’s normal for friends to move in different life directions and change their values as they get older.
You can also join virtual communities on social media to meet people who have the same interests as you.
For example, you could say something like, “Hey Adam, I know you don’t want to be friends right now, but I was hoping we could chat one more time so we can get some closure. Do you have a few minutes?” Don’t try to change the person’s mind or save the friendship since that might make the conversation messier. If your friendship ended badly, they may not want to speak to you. If you still feel the need to reach out or apologize, you can still send a message, but you might not get a response back.
Remember that both people add their own difficulties to a relationship, so it’s never only your fault. For example, if you think you were being too critical of your friend, they may have not been speaking up or communicating with you enough.
Don’t be hard on yourself even if you’re the one that decided to let your friend go. Know that you did it because it’s what was best for both of you.
