LIFE

All of us have been through rough patches with our friends—and it sucks. But you never deserve to be treated in a rude way by anyone. None of us need Regina George in our lives, and we for sure don’t need anyone like her. It’s tough dealing with mean girls, especially if they're in your friend group. Here are a few ways you can stand up for yourself and let them know who the real girl boss is:

Offer suggestions on how they can correct their behavior.
If you feel too intimidated to directly call out this “friend” of yours, try helping them correct their behavior, rather than forcing them to change it. When you find your friend starts to act rude, tell them so they know how you feel. Be open with them. If they refuse to correct their behavior, then they're not worth fighting for.

Think before you act.
Sometimes it’s worrisome to confront a friend. What if you lose their friendship forever? What if they just fire back at you? Organize all of your thoughts and ideas on paper and think about what you would tell them if you decide to approach them. Being prepared and knowing what to say will make you feel and look more confident when you’re fighting for your friendship.

Try ignoring them.
Block out the haters! You don’t need to hear things that hurt your feelings. The more you ignore all of the hateful comments, the more you’ll learn to just forget about them. And if that doesn't work, it may be time to reconsider the friendship.

Seek support in someone you trust.
Don’t keep all of your feelings inside. Whether you talk to your parents, friends or school counselor, tell them what has been going on and ask for their honest advice. Talking to someone who has been through a similar situation is also a great thing to consider. They’ll be able to let you know what they did when they were in your shoes and help you take down that bully like a pro.

How do you deal with mean friends? Let us know in the comments!

Photo credit: The Odyssey.

by Yasmeena Fakhouri | 3/26/2018