Dealing With Friendship Breakups

We’ve all lost a friend or two and dealing with friendship breakups can be just as tough as navigating a romantic one. Here are some ways you can cope and move forward.

Take time to grieve and mourn your loss. It’s okay to feel sad, angry, confused, or even relieved. Give yourself time and space to process these emotions. Don’t bottle them up, talk about them with someone you trust. Be it a sibling, another friend or parent.

Don’t minimise your own experience. Just because it’s not a romantic relationship doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Your feelings are valid. Take it all in and let the waves of emotions wash over you.

https://twitter.com/quallllaaaaa/status/1762651030578180358

Share your feelings with a close friend, family member, therapist, or professional counsellor. Talking it out can help you gain perspective and release some of the emotional burden.

Friendship breakups are really real, some people take them better than others. But if you’re taking it hard, consider joining a support group for people who have gone through similar experiences. This can be a great way to connect with others who understand what you’re going through.

Focus on your physical and mental well-being.

Eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and engage in activities you enjoy. It’ll help you cope with the break up and also assist in developing your mental and physical health and wellbeing. Often times people start to neglect themselves because of the emotional despair they’re going through and because they’ve lost the zeal to go live life. Charity begins at home, think of your body as your home. Take care of it first.

Be kind to yourself.

Don’t beat yourself for the breakup. Remember, friendships end for many reasons, and it’s not always anyone’s fault. Sometimes people grow apart and that’s okay. Some individuals are meant to be in your life for a certain season. Let’s make reference to the bible as well, in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verse 1-3 which reads, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. If that isn’t enough verse 3 comes in hot with this gem, “a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.” So you’ve got to break down, heal and then build up. It’s not easy but remember Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Avoid triggers, like scrolling through old photos or social media posts that remind you of your friend. Take a break from social media if needed. No good can come from picking and scratching at a wound. There’s no way it can heal nicely if you do that. Take a step back from the memories.

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Now that we’ve dealt with the feelings, this is what you can do moving forward. Reflect on what’s happened and use the experience as a learning curve. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on what you learnt from this friendship and what you’re looking for in future relationships.

Also take the time to reconnect with old friends. In the words of my father, I say this because I first heard the statement from him, “No man is an island.” It didn’t make sense when I was younger but it does now. There are some friendships that might’ve taken a back seat or were neglected, water those and revive them. Spend time with the people who are still in your life and who make you feel good. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and meet new people. Try joining clubs or groups based on your interests.

Hang in there. The friendship break ups bout to be brutal https://t.co/ZiXUrlY6Tw

— Hurricane Z (@ChunkySpyce) February 21, 2024

If you feel comfortable, it might be helpful to talk to your friend directly about the reasons for the breakup. However, don’t force communication if it’s not healthy for you. If you know the interaction will only end badly then I suggest we leave the closure for wigs. However, if you still have contact with your friend, it’s okay to set boundaries to protect your emotional well-being.

In the words of Katy Perry in her chart topping song Unconditionally, “acceptance is the key to be truly free“. So remember, healing takes time. Be patient with yourself and trust that you will eventually feel better.

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