Breaking Up (with a Friend) Is Hard to Do

Breakups are hard. They can be emotionally taxing, stressful and isolating. While we generally attribute the word “break up” to the dissolution of an intimate relationships — a partner, marriage or significant other — breaking up with a friend can be just as hard and lonely. Reasons for a break up with a partner or significant other may be more clear cut — infidelity, conflicts in values and beliefs or mistreatment, but we sometimes have trouble determining whether it makes sense to break up with a friend. Friendships can naturally fizz out — circumstances such as a move and life transitions like marriage or children, can cause friendships to phase out. But how do you know when it’s necessary to break up with a friend? Below are some red flags to help identify whether a particular friend is contributing to your well-being as well as meeting your emotional needs. Your Friend Is Toxic A toxic person is manipulative or controlling and unsupportive.  If you feel that there is constant drama in your relationship, or the other person must have control — for example, always picking the restaurant or deciding on the plans, then they may be causing a relationship imbalance.  This type of friend can contribute to anxiety or dread because any sort of interaction with them may mean that you are putting your emotional needs or interests second.   They Are Up in the Stands and Not in the Arena Brené Brown in her book Daring Greatly talks about tho...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Books Bullying Friends Personal Relationships Self-Esteem Self-Help Stress Betrayal Breach Of Trust Breakups Forgiveness Friendship making new friends Toxic Relationships Source Type: blogs