Romantic breakups are difficult but, the pain of friendship breakups can sometimes be underrated.

Friendships are often built on love, trust, and mutual support. When these foundations crumble, it can be a devastating experience. Friendship breakups leave us feeling hurt, alone and confused.

Here are some tips to help you deal with a friendship breakup:

Reflect on what went wrong:

A lot of reasons can cause a friendship to end. Whether it’s a disagreement, a change in life circumstances, or that you just grew apart. Try to think about what caused the breakup and whether there’s anything you could have done differently. If there is something you and your friend can talk through and fix, don’t feel afraid to reach out.

It’s important to take responsibility for your part in the situation and to learn from it for future friendships. However, friendships sometimes end because of toxic behaviour or unhealthy dynamics; in those cases, it might be necessary to step away.

Acknowledge and accept the loss:

It’s natural to feel a range of emotions when a friendship ends. Allow yourself to feel your emotions and grieve the friendship. This can be difficult, especially if you’ve been friends for a long time. Remember that it’s okay to feel sad and it’s a normal part of the healing process.

Set boundaries:

It’s important to set boundaries to help your healing process. This could mean taking some time off social media or limiting contact with the person who was your friend. It’s okay to take some time out to heal and move on.

Focus on self-care:

Breakups can take a toll on your emotional and mental well-being. It’s important to focus on self-care to help you heal. Surround yourself with positivity. Spend more time with people who care about you and make you feel good. Focus on your hobbies, interests, and goals. Do more of the things that make you happy and help you feel good about yourself.

Find new friends:

After taking the time to grieve and reflect on the friendship, it’s time to make new friends. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make new connections. With a little bit of time and effort, you can move on and create new, fulfilling relationships.

Remember that time heals all wounds. It might be hard to see this through the hurt and sense of loss you are feeling, but you will eventually heal and be able to move on from the breakup. Although friendship breakups are painful, they are a natural part of life. Acknowledge the loss and reflect on what went wrong because every life experience can teach us valuable lessons, even the difficult ones.

If you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact me here on Ask Choma, send me a Facebook Message, a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).