Losing a friend can be one of the most painful experiences in life; sometimes it´s even worse than losing a partner. Friends are supposed to be forever, but many of us have been through the shock of a friend we've known since childhood cutting contact. Sadly, losing a friend is sometimes permanent; you can´t always repair the situation. So here´s what to do if your friend dumps you.
1. Ask Why
You always end up wondering what to do if your friend dumps you. Start by trying to talk to them. Have you done anything to offend them? Sometimes you say something without realizing what you've done. We all put our foot in our mouths at times! If they´re truly your friend, they will be willing to talk about what´s upset them – if they don´t, then sadly there is nothing you can do.
2. Apologize
Apologies don´t come easy, for sure. But if you've made a mistake and upset your friend enough for them to stop contact, then be a big person and tell them you are sorry. It might not be easy, but a genuine apology should be accepted – again, if they won´t, well, at least you tried to fix things.
3. Leave Communication Open
Perhaps your friend doesn't want to talk to you right now. You may not know the reason why, and in fact it could be nothing to do with you. So leave them be, don´t pester them to answer your calls, but let them know that you are there if they want to talk.
4. Time Limited
We are brought up with the idea that friendships should last forever. Some do endure, but the reality is that there are many stages in life and some friendships belong to a particular stage. For example, you may be great friends with someone at college, but find that several years later you have nothing in common with them any more.
5. Not Your Fault
Sometimes, losing a friend is not your fault in any way. Maybe they have problems that they need to deal with, and they´re taking those problems out on you. Some people are just angry at the world, or find it hard to maintain relationships with others.
6. Compromise
Like a romantic relationship, friendships need compromise to make them work. If you truly value a friend, then you may have to make concessions to maintain the friendship. So if they dump you, ask yourself if there is anything you can do that you might not really want to, but is worth the effort for your friend´s sake.
7. Acceptance
Sometimes accepting that a friendship is over is the smartest move. It may be painful – after all, who likes being dropped? – but we can´t always repair things. Besides, if someone no longer wants to be friends with you, what is the point of trying to hang on? Better to accept that it´s over and let go.
8. Move on
After losing a friend, it´s hard to move on. As with the end of any relationship, you feel a sense of loss. However, it´s something you have to come to terms with. For whatever reason – and sometimes you never do find out why – your friend no longer wants you in their life. So it has to be dealt with – then you should move on and put it behind you.
Often you have no idea what to do if your friend dumps you. However hard it is to say goodbye to someone who was important to you, it has to be done. Losing a friend can be very painful, but sometimes it can actually be a relief. We´ve all had friends who just take advantage and don´t really know what true friendship is – you are better off without people like that in your life. Have you ever lost a friend and never known why, or for a stupid reason?
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