Expressions That Can Break Friendships

Friendship is a kind of relationship that you can hold on with any circumstances in life. It gives a positive impact on your mental state. Friends are the groups of people you can lean on in times of stress and happiness. They function as your only companion to stay aloof in times of loneliness. Having ‘a strong built friendship’ can improve your social belongingness and decrease societal issues. Thus, being impulsive with our actions can deteriorate friendships and it is imperative to be aware of the possibilities. Here are some instances that damage the sense of friendship:

“Resentment can grow in relationships where one person is constantly having to reassure another person ― that type of emotional labor can be exhausting.” – Anna Poss (Chicago-based Therapist and Owner of Modern Solutions Counseling)

Overthinking ‘silence’ can negatively change, or worse, can ruin the phase of friendship. Avoid bothering with things that are unnecessary to attend to. You need to bear in mind that friends have their own lives that they need to attend to for them to suffice their needs. Being silent or not having any communication in just a small bit in a week is never a wrong thing. Do not overthink – this can create problems you never had.

“Life can sometimes get the best of us, especially during these challenging times.” – Kristin Davin (Therapist and Host of  Ask Dr. D)

The best could turn out to be the worst. In these times of pandemic, we might get caught up in everything in life and the best things such as friends and family could vanish in no time. We need to remember that life right now is far different from the environment we are used to. If we keep on holding on to social anxiety disorder, a single remark about a friend’s lack of connection is already an animosity and can distort perceptions of how we view ourselves as a friend. We need to overcome such struggles in order for us to still perceive a positive outlook on social relationships. 

“Assuming that a person’s changed behavior is your fault is personalizing something that potentially has nothing to do with you.” – Anna Poss (Chicago-based Therapist and Owner of Modern Solutions Counseling) 

The main key to having stronger friendships is trust and support. As a friend, we need to understand the needs of our friends. Stop being a narcissist, you are not the whole life of your friend. They have careers that need to uplift, they have goals for them to be satisfied, and they built those things to mold their reputation in society. If you think your friend is changing in a different way without any evident notions, it can deteriorate its essence. True friends will always be there no matter what but we also need to build space within the relationship to add more time for ourselves.