LIFE

When you’re growing up, it’s inevitable that your friend groups will change tons of different times before you find your squad. Before you find those friends, you might be faced with some internal drama. Noticing that your friends are starting to drift away can be hard for anyone. You might wonder what you did wrong, or why they don’t want to be friends with you anymore. You might feel alone, but you’re definitely not. This happens to everyone at some point! Here are some tips on how to deal with it. 

Have a mature discussion: Confronting your friends can seem really scary and intimidating. However, this might be the key to solving the problem. When you notice your friends start to drift away, you might start to question what went wrong. Constantly worrying about what you did wrong will leave you feeling depressed and stressed out. It is important to be the bigger person, and have a mature conversation with your friends. Asking them what has been going on will help them know that their actions are hurtful and are affecting you. If they are willing to talk about what’s been happening, you might be able to come up with a solution to the problem. 

Make new friends: If your friends aren’t willing to work it out, you’re better off without them. Making new friends doesn’t have to be as hard as it seems. Joining a new club at school can expose you to a lot of people that you don’t interact with on a daily basis. You could also talk to the girl who you sit next to in math class or sit next to someone new at lunch. The key to making new friends is putting yourself out there and taking a chance! 

Keep yourself distracted: Sitting and sulking about the hard things that you’re dealing with can make the situation even worse. You will feel more depressed and alone. Keeping yourself distracted can make you feel so much better, because you’re not forced to think about the things that are upsetting you. Doing things you love like going shopping with your family or playing a sport will keep you distracted and allow you to have fun and stay positive. 

Drifting away from your friends can definitely be hard. It’s important to remember that everything happens for a reason, and that it will get better with time. Do what you can in the moment to stay positive and happy! 

Have you ever had to deal with a situation like this?

by Molly Beidleman | 6/2/2018