How to Avoid Drama

You have enough to keep you busy—school, work, extracurricular activities, friends and family. The last thing you need is to deal with drama caused by your classmates. Rise above the situation and avoid drama as much as possible with these suggestions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Support a friend with a flair for the dramatic, but try not to get involved in every crisis. If you know she's just overreacting, allow her to vent, but change the subject to something more positive as soon as you get a chance. If her problem is serious, tell her to discuss it with her parents, a teacher or a school guidance counselor.
2. Divulge your personal problems, fears and desires to only your family members and closest friends. Although it's easy to discuss what's on your mind when someone asks, you run the risk of becoming fodder for the gossip mill if the person isn't trustworthy.
3. Resolve conflicts immediately by having a blunt conversation with all of the parties involved. Using a go-between to solve a problem you're having with a friend will only lead to more miscommunication and stress.
4. Improve your sense of humor. Staying positive and being able to laugh at situations like arriving at prom wearing the same dress as two other girls or hearing a rude comment a classmate made about you will help you rise above potential drama.
5. Start spending less time with friends who thrive on drama. Say you have to spend more time studying or work more hours at an after school job. Join a new club or take classes at a local recreation center to develop new interests and find friends who are positive and spend their time more productively.
6. Stay out of situations that may get you into trouble or earn yourself a "drama queen" reputation. When a friend tells you a secret, for example, keep it in strict confidence. Try not to vent about your relationships with friends or discuss rumors you've heard about other classmates.