Further, friendships are about improving one another’s lives. At the end of the day, you want your friendships to better your circumstances. However, if there is no benefit in the way of positivity, the stars may not line up.
That’s when you make one of two decisions. You either take a break, or you break up.
Taking a break is similar to a break that couples take in romantic relationships. It means that while you’re not officially ending the friendship, you’re stepping back. You’re giving your bestie room to sort out her issues in hopes that the friendship can be mended in the future.
“This is when you try to set some limits. And when you find a friend who doesn’t respect your boundaries, it’s good to take a break,” says Christopher Holly, a licensed clinical social worker. “You tell them that ‘There’s only so much I can do to maintain this relationship, and I need to let it go for the time being.’”
But breaking up is an entirely different story. This takes place when you are really and truly done and ready to move on. Before you make this life-changing decision, you need to let your friend know that there’s trouble ahead if things don’t change.
“Tell them what you don’t like and what you’re not comfortable with,” Holly says. “You want to be clear about what your expectations are and make sure that your boundaries are well understood.”
If things don’t change, that’s when you might want to take a look at ending the friendship. This is a big decision, so don’t take it lightly.