How to Get Rid of an Unhealthy Friendship
True friends, those that you love and know you can trust, make you feel better about yourself and are always there when you need them. Toxic, unhealthy friends, though, seem to sap your energy and make you feel worse. If you are involved in an unhealthy friendship, you may not know how to end it, especially if you promised the person that you would be friends forever. It is important to end any friendship that causes you to feel pain, anger or embarrassment on a regular basis. There are several ways to distance yourself from a person if you no longer wish to be her friend.
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Instructions
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Determine if you are in an unhealthy friendship. You have a toxic friend if she regularly breaks promises, pressures you to do things you would rather not do or generally makes you feel bad most of the time.
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Commit to ending the unhealthy friendship. Promise yourself that you will let your friend know about your decision. Do not lead him on or make him think that you still want a friendship.
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Tell your friend the reasons why you want to end the friendship. You may choose to do this in person, over the telephone or through a letter, depending on what is comfortable for you. Let him know, as tactfully as possible, that you believe the two of you have drifted apart. If he gets angry or makes accusations, politely end the conversation.
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Refuse to make contact with the person once you inform her that you no longer want to be friends. She may continue to call or email you. If you respond, you may make the ex-friend believe that she still have a chance to be friends with you. If you work or go to school with the person and must make contact, keep conversations as short as possible.
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Allow yourself to grieve for the friendship you lost. You may feel sad or guilty for ending the friendship. This grieving is a normal part of letting go of a relationship that has been part of your life for a long time. It can help to write your feelings down in a journal or speak to someone who supports your decision.
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References
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