When a friend betrays you, it can feel hurtful, confusing, and disorienting. It may trigger a sense of self-doubt, reinforcing deeper feelings of shame or inadequacy. Relationship trauma is unquestionably a real thing, and moving forward from any kind of rupture can be challenging. This is especially true if you've endured significant betrayals in the past. However, you can learn...[ read more ]
How many quality friendships do you have? Who are the treasured people who support, validate, and encourage you to live a good life and be a good person? If you're struggling with your answers, you're not alone. Friendships undoubtedly become more challenging as we get older. In fact, research shows that nearly half of adults in middle age report feeling...[ read more ]
Everyone wants to have good friends. We all desire meaningful connections with people who care about us. But have you spent any time reflecting on the kind of friend that you are? A good friend, in many ways, strives to be a good person in their relationships. That means that you treat people well and respect them for who they...[ read more ]
Emotional safety in friendships can be defined as a felt sense of being respected and treated compassionately in a relationship. When we feel emotionally safe with another person, we generally feel free to be who we are. Even if conflict arises, there's a sense of confidence that you can come together to resolve the issue. With that, emotional safety inherently...[ read more ]
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be generous with your time and resources. But healthy relationships entail a mutual sense of take-and-give. If you feel like you're always neglecting your needs or sacrificing what you want to satisfy others, you may be struggling with people-pleasing tendencies. If this resonates with you, it's important to consider making small changes to...[ read more ]
When you know that a friendship is unhealthy, you're faced with a few choices. You can try to set boundaries and change the dynamic. You can focus on accepting your friend and practice more gratitude for what they add to your life. But in some cases, a friendship may feel so unhealthy or toxic that it's no longer serving you....[ read more ]
Friendship is paramount for your mental health, but not all friendships are created equally. While a healthy friend lifts your spirits and helps you enjoy life, a toxic friend often does the exact opposite. Spending time with them often feels frustrating, unproductive, or downright exhausting. 16 Signs of Toxic Friends Maybe you sense that a certain friend isn't good for...[ read more ]