• Malica@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    24
    ·
    2 days ago

    If I push through it and ignore my needs, I will have a meltdown and that’s no fun for anybody. That being said, my friends are a priority and I’ll always be there for them as long as I’m physically able.

  • Triasha@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    1 day ago

    We all have to thread the needle between showing up and maintaining our relationships and caring for ourself and not overdoing it.

    That balance is unique to each of us. Do your best.

  • Scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    72
    ·
    2 days ago

    I know some people like that, and it’s exhausting. They want support and want to vent, but when it’s time to do the reverse they will have an excuse. Then they wonder why they rotate through friends quickly.

    • LeftReddit2@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 day ago

      This is when comes the part everybody likes talking about but nobody likes doing, you gotta set boundaries. I had a ton of friends like that who would vent to me and then never do the inverse, so one time I just straight up told a friend who did this to me to not talk about her problems with me if she didn’t want to solve them. Saying I was sick of hearing her complain to me and if she did, then I’d turn my brain off and become a wall.

      You gotta do that. Friendships can be difficult like any relationship and these are going to be needed. You can’t have a relationship with no boundaries. I’ve tried. They don’t work ever. So long as your friends are willing to respect them or at least try to, you might have something good. Have these difficult and awkward talks with your friends. It’ll honestly make your friendships stronger and better.

      • proudblond@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 day ago

        You’re not wrong, necessarily, but how did it work out for that relationship afterward? Did she become a better friend? Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the effort. It doesn’t feel like a lot but many of us are problematically conflict-averse so it is a lot of effort in that way. If the “friend” in question isn’t presenting much value to me as a friend, I’m probably not going to invest a lot of effort into improving the relationship, especially if I have other, better options. Maybe that’s mean in its own way but then again, it’s just a different kind of setting boundaries, I suppose.

        • LeftReddit2@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 day ago

          Yeah, it worked out good. I’m not gonna say it easn’t a rocky road to get there. It did take a lot of awkward conversations, but I feel we’re better off now.

  • ShutUpWesley@piefed.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    44
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 days ago

    This is why I avoid friendships with most people, they seemingly come with such long list of expectations that are completely unmanageable for me.

  • jtrek@startrek.website
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    17
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 days ago

    I don’t think the reasons why matter all that much. If someone’s not coming to the shared experiences (a party, a get together, a nice chat, whatever) then they’re not paying into the relationship.

  • Beth@piefed.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    36
    ·
    2 days ago

    You have to nurture friendships with care. That looks different for everyone. But if you don’t ever show up, don’t reciprocate energy etc…the other person is going to feel that. It is a hurtful and draining experience for the other person over the long term. I’ve heard the term “energy vampire” which is one way these kinds of paradigms end up. I’ll always pivot for a friend because Ive made that kind of relationship a priority.

  • trslim@pawb.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    1 day ago

    i do, i like being a friend most the time. I get excited when my friends talk to me or invite me out. And if they need to talk, I will always lend an ear.

  • rustydrd@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    2 days ago

    Whether or not I’m a good friend also depends on the friend’s needs. If their needs are like mine, then they’ll probably be content with what I’m ready to offer. If not, that’s okay. Can’t be everyone’s friend anyway.