{"id":22866,"date":"2021-01-19T19:21:53","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T19:21:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=22866"},"modified":"2023-01-06T17:18:10","modified_gmt":"2023-01-06T17:18:10","slug":"reasons-to-end-a-friendship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/reasons-to-end-a-friendship\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons to Break Up With a Friend (And How to Do It Nicely)"},"content":{"rendered":"

With help from two psychologists, learn how to end a friendship gracefully and without hurting feelings. Plus: the 5 reasons why you should consider a friendship breakup.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

Good, healthy friendships are among the greatest things that make life worth living. After all, the quality and depth of friendships aren’t only associated with life satisfaction<\/a>, but can also impact your physical health and longevity<\/a>. And after the pandemic, staying connected with friends has taken on a new meaning, given the universal increased levels of loneliness<\/a> due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n

But what happens when friendships are outgrown, one-sided, or even toxic? Further, how can you effectively notice the signs of a bad friendship, and understand when and how to end it?<\/p>\n\n\n

To get to the heart of the matter, we asked two mental health experts how to end a friendship\u2014and what the reasons to end a friendship are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Does a Healthy Friendship Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n

Before we get to the major reasons to end a friendship, understanding what a good, healthy friendship looks like may give you a better perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n

So, what exactly makes a healthy friendship?<\/p>\n\n\n

Trust<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n

“A healthy friendship is borne out of trust and experience,” begins Sanam Hafeez, PsyD<\/a>, a psychologist based in New York. “Both are\u00a0 built over a few months or even a couple of years unless you\u2019re very young.”<\/p>\n\n\n

As you share more experiences together, you build trust with your friends. But what exactly is trust? Marisa G. Franco, PhD<\/a>, a psychologist and friendship expert based in Washington, D.C., says that trust means that a person is reliable and will hold what you say in confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n

Open, Honest Communication<\/h3>\n\n\n

\u201dWith open, honest communication and mutual respect, friendships can thrive in a safe space,\u201d says Dr. Hafeez. \u201cSafe space can be freedom to be who you are, express your vulnerabilities, and not feel judged or condemned.”<\/p>\n\n\n

Such grounds for open communication and vulnerability don’t appear overnight. Instead, it takes time, effort, and subtle shifts through successive interactions for both parties, in which you show up to support each other. When you don’t need to censor yourself\u2014whether for personal, social, or political reasons\u2014the freedom and safety attached to putting yourself out there “ends up carrying a lot of weight in a growing, healthy relationship<\/a>,” she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Friends<\/figure>\n\n\n

Respect and Reciprocity<\/h3>\n\n\n

“Earning your friends\u2019 respect and being able to respect them is a large part of [the friendship] equation,” says Dr. Hafeez.<\/p>\n\n\n

Additionally, Dr. Franco emphasizes respect in regards to reciprocity by way of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n