FRIENDS AND WOES
Friendships are an integral part of the human experience, we need our friends and we love them. Long-term friendships, in particular, hold a special place in our hearts. The years and sometimes decades of friendship define moments of our lives - support, understanding, and shared memories are what truly make a friendship. The positive aspects of long-term friendships are widely acknowledged, it's essential to recognize the impact of a friendship breakup.
Long-term friendships create a sense of comfort and security. Knowing that there is someone who has been a constant presence in your life can provide a profound emotional anchor. This stability can be a source of solace during challenging times. Over the years, long-term friends accumulate a rich tapestry of shared experiences. The nostalgia associated with reminiscing about past adventures, inside jokes, and pivotal life moments fosters a deep emotional connection and a sense of being understood.
Our friends play a crucial role in shaping our identities. Long-term friendships provide a space for self-discovery, self-expression, and personal growth. As individuals evolve over time, friends become witnesses to each other's journeys, offering acceptance and encouragement.
Despite the strength of long-term friendships, they are not immune to challenges and conflicts. Disagreements or misunderstandings can lead to emotional turbulence. Navigating these challenges can deepen the emotional bond if approached with communication, understanding, and a commitment to resolution. The thought of losing a long-term friend, whether due to distance, evolving life circumstances, or conflicts, can evoke a profound sense of grief. The fear of losing someone who has been a constant presence may trigger complex emotions, underscoring the importance of addressing conflicts and maintaining open communication.
Long-term friendships evolve as individuals grow and change. Recognizing and adapting to these shifts is crucial for the health of your friendship. Embracing the ebb and flow of friendship dynamics allows for continued emotional connection and mutual support. We are all busy running our daily lives and friendship requires patience and grace.
NOT FRIENDS, NOT ENEMIES JUST PEOPLE WITH MEMORIES
What do we do when we have exhausted the grace and patience, the friendship is fractured and you can no longer manage being friends?
The loss of a friendship can be uncomfortable, but the loss of a best friend creates a different level of pain. They’ve existed in your life for so long it’s hard to imagine life without them. Whether your friend died or you’re no longer part of the friend group it’s only normal to feel grief and the sadness might be complicated by the fact that society doesn’t always acknowledge the significance of platonic friendships in the way it does romantic relationships or familial bonds.
Friendship loss, much like any form of grief, can be a complex and challenging experience. It's crucial to acknowledge and address the emotions that arise during this process. While the five stages of grief are now considered an outdated model, the journey through friendship loss involves coming to terms with your feelings and taking care of your well-being.
Come to terms with your feelings, denial is a common initial response to loss, but it can persist throughout the grieving process. Emotions such as anger, frustration, sadness, confusion, and regret may accompany friendship loss, especially when it results from choices rather than death. Ignoring these emotions hinders the healing process and be honest with yourself. Consider the role you may have played and how this relationship breakdown can help you improve some of the other relationships in your life.
Friendship loss, much like any form of grief, can be a complex and challenging experience.
Try journaling to express your feelings. Your journal is a safe space where you can be open and honest. Written words give shape to emotions, making them more tangible and easier to process. Whether it's sadness, disappointment, or rage, a journal allows you to freely explore and acknowledge your emotions. It also serves as a platform to recall happier memories, contributing to the healing process. For those less inclined towards writing, an art journal offers a creative outlet. It allows you to express yourself visually, providing an alternative way to cope with and process emotions.
Allow yourself time to heal. Research suggests that grief can impact physical and mental health for up to four years after a close friend loss. Coping mechanisms, such as turning to loved ones or friends in a different friend circle for support. The immediate aftermath of friendship loss can disrupt daily activities and leave you feeling overwhelmed. Creating a sense of normalcy becomes crucial in regaining control over your grief.
Adequate sleep contributes to improved mood and resilience in facing grief. Nutrient-rich foods can positively impact your well-being. If preparing meals feels overwhelming, allow yourself the flexibility of takeout or easy snacks. If the emotions become too overwhelming, long walks can also offer a sense of calm, which might also invigorate your appetite and support better sleep. If you're unfamiliar with processing emotions, starting a meditation practice can help you explore and accept your feelings. Meditation provides a space for self-reflection and relaxation.
The emotional effects of these relationships are multifaceted, encompassing comfort, support, challenges, and personal growth. Navigating the complexities of long-term friendships requires emotional intelligence, communication, and a willingness to embrace the evolutions of each other’s lives and sometimes without the other. In life, long-term friends are the threads that weave a story of enduring connection and emotional richness sometimes the friendships endure a lifetime other friendships are there for the season.