Friendship break-up? How?

Friendship makes lifeworthwhile. Everything is good, when you have a friend to share it with. When you have a friend to confide in, suffering seems more bearable, and pleasures are more intense. When a friendship breaks, whether or not it is for the best, there is a degree of pain and mourning that an individual goes through. There were things that you may have done only with that person and you feel a void in your life. Take some time to let yourself mourn before moving on to other relationships.

If you’re struggling with a friendship break-up, here are 5 ways to move on…

1. Write down how you feel:Never underestimate the power of pouring words onto a page. You may feel angry and confused, and writing it down can help you vent and make sense of things.

You may be tempted to fire off an angry email (or indeed release a song) – but don’t. Give yourself a few days to calm down first. If the friendship is definitely over for you, end it graciously. It’s better to be cool and polite than walk away simmering with bitterness, particularly if you are likely to cross paths in future.

2. Allow yourself to mourn:Don’t be surprised if the man in your life doesn’t understand why you are so upset about losing a friend. True, you weren’t planning to buy a house, have children and build a life together – but you did always expect her to be in it.  Give yourself permission to feel upset. Allow yourself to mourn, and then move on

3. Get physical:Thump the pillows. Jump up and down. Go for a run. Physical activity will help discharge feelings of anger, as well as releasing feel-good endorphins and help ward off depression. Don’t keep things bottled up – talk to a trusted family member or friend.

4. Pick yourself up:When a sexual partner rejects us it’s natural to feel insecure about our physical attraction. Likewise, when a good friend (who we thought knew us better than anyone) rejects us, it’s easy to question our worth as a person.  Losing a friend can be a huge knock to your confidence. Rather than dwell on the negatives, focus on the positive qualities you have and the good things in your life.

5. Don’t over-analyse:Women have a habit of over-analysing (often with friends and usually about men), but sometimes you have to accept that you will never understand what happened.