When afriendship falls apart, it hurts.
Give yourself permission to feel your feelings.
After all, people are going to do what they want, no matter how much it hurts you.
Marie Bertrand/Getty Images
Reach out and check in with other people in your life instead.
That way you dont feed into that cycle ofsomethings wrong with me, Hill says.
Know when its time to end a friendship.
Jaime-Lee Raphael, 22, from Gold Coast, Australia
Be ready to let some people go.
He was born with sickle cell anemia, so he knows firsthand how difficult this can be.
It doesnt have to be about animosity, he says.
Things evolve for a reason.
Youre doing this to grow in a way that prioritizes your health because you have to.
Jaime-Lee Raphael, 22, from Gold Coast, Australia
Raphael learned this lesson the hard way.
She stopped checking in and reaching out.
I would almost beg her to message me, but she would never answer my calls.
I remember asking myself, Why on earth am I begging my best friend to care?
At the end of the day, its about prioritizing quality over quantity, Raphael says.
If you arent sure if its time to end things, keep an eye out forred flags.
Listen for statements like, Your symptoms arent that bad or Other people have it worse, Hill says.
And pay attention to how you feel when you interact with someone: Do you feel anxious?
Do your muscles tense up?
Are the vibes constantly off?
The best red flag is your gut, Willard Virant says.
Our bodies are the real truth-tellers.
Invest in the people who have stuck by you.
Chronic illnesses are a filter for who your true friends are, Raphael says.
Keep busy with activities that bring you joy.
Its normaland perfectly understandable!to feel some self-pity when a friend does you dirty.
But a victim mindset, as logical (and accurate!)
Speaking of dogs, pets can be a great distraction from crappy-friend drama.
They dont care whats going on, and theyre not going anywhere, Hill says.
Be honest with your health care team.
you might search for therapists with unique specialties onPsychology Today.
(One thing to note: Access to the collectives services costs a one-time fee of $65.)
Keep taking care of yourself.
Friendship breakups can take a while to process.
Dont be afraid to ask others for help, Hill says.
I stopped worrying about how I was supposed tomake friends with a chronic illnessand decided to focus on myself.
My advice: Feel what you are feeling and accept it.
Then pour into your own cup.
