Write a letter to your former friend, but do not send it. Instead, keep or burn the letter. The idea is only to allow you a chance to say what you need to say, not for them to read it. Talk to someone you trust. Avoid talking to mutual friends, or talking badly about your former friend. Focus on how you feel about losing the friendship. Meditate to clear your mind and focus on your emotions. The sooner you know what you feel, the sooner you can acknowledge your feelings, and move on.
For example, if you were hurt and said mean things to a friend because they stood you up, you should accept that you didn’t act as maturely as possible. It is also fair to note that your friend stood you up, and that they share blame in the situation.
If you find that you are having trouble focusing on the present, make it a point to relax your mind and do things you enjoy. For example, you could spend time listening to music and hanging out with your friends to keep your mind on the present. Keep in mind that closer and longer lasting friendships may take more time to get over, and that every person grieves at their own pace. There is no set time limit for this.
Some ideas might be for you to join a book club, go shopping, have dinner with friends, do something creative, or play a sport.
Avoid being clingy or overly demanding of your other friends. This can overwhelm someone quickly. If you are initiating a new friendship, just saying ‘Hi’ to someone you don’t know is often enough to spark a good conversation.
For example, you could spend time focusing on your school work or your hobbies so that you can have more success in those areas of your life. Becoming more physically active can help if you are having a lot of anger.
Avoid putting unreasonable expectations on your friendship. Talking once a week or once a month might be realistic, while talking every day is likely to end quickly.
This should not be done in an attempt to make your friend jealous. Just stay connected with them by talking about the things you do now.
You can even join online groups if you struggle to find something fun in your area, or just want to start online.
If you ignore your need to make new local friends, you might end up demanding too much of your long distance friendship and draining your old friend. This could lead to losing touch completely.
Celebrating your friend is different from mourning them. It should not be about the pain of your loss, but about the joy of having had them in your life.
The time it takes a person to mourn will be different depending on the person and the relationship they had with their friend. You are not on any specific timetable. For example, you could try activities like exercise, going out with friends, trying new foods, or travelling to new places. Make sure to be gentle with yourself if you find that your grief comes in waves over time.
Look in your newspaper, ask around town, or check online to find support groups that are a good fit.
If you are suffering from severe depression, having thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or cannot move past the loss of your friend, you may need to seek professional help. Your doctor can help you manage your emotions or recommend you to a mental health professional. If you are considering hurting yourself, then call or text 988 to talk to someone any time. [18] X Trustworthy Source National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Suicide prevention network operating a toll-free 24/7 hotline for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress Go to source
