How to handle a friend who doesn’t show interest in your life?
#FriendshipAdvice #Relationships #CommunicationSkills
Do you ever feel like your friend isn’t really interested in knowing how you’re doing or what’s going on in your life? It can be tough when you feel like the dynamic is one-sided. So, how do you navigate this situation and maintain a healthy friendship? Here are some tips to consider:
1. Open Communication
Have an honest and open conversation with your friend about your feelings. Let them know that you value their interest in your life and would like more engagement from them.
2. Set Boundaries
Establish boundaries about what you’re willing to share with a friend who doesn’t reciprocate. It’s okay to protect your emotional well-being by limiting certain topics or interactions.
3. Seek Support Elsewhere
If your friend’s lack of interest is affecting your mental health, consider expanding your social circle or seeking support from other friends who are more attentive.
4. Reflect on the Friendship
Take a step back and reflect on the overall dynamics of your friendship. Is this a recurring pattern, or is it a temporary phase? Assess whether the friendship is still fulfilling for you.
5. Practice Self-Care
Focus on self-care and prioritize your well-being regardless of your friend’s behavior. Surround yourself with positivity and engage in activities that bring you joy.
By addressing the situation proactively and focusing on your own well-being, you can navigate the complexities of a friendship where your friend may not show the same level of interest in your life. Remember, healthy relationships involve mutual respect and communication.
I either intentionally work in my life into conversation, intentionally redirect. Or, I start to distance from them. If I am constantly taking on the burden of support for their life, but they are unwilling to do the same for me-it’s not a good friendship.
If we’re close enough I’d tell my friend just like it is. If he’s my new buddy I’d probably just listen to him n later try to move the focus on me. If it happens often I’d consider not getting close with such people
I just don’t talk abt it
Depends on the friend. Old friend I would ask wtf was up and can we work on this
New friend I would ask wtf was up and not invest my energy into them if they didn’t give me a good answer
I don’t really feel bothered when people don’t ask how I am, and I tell people how I feel if I want them to know. As such I basically treat everyone the same. I’ll take you at face value, if you need to tell me something then tell me. If you want me to know something, then tell me.
It doesn’t bother me. I am happy with friends that don’t feel the need to constantly check in like that. If I feel like telling them about what is going on, I do. I usually only ask if I can tell something is bothering them. Most people put their stuff on social media, so if I see something, I comment on it.
I’m not friends with ppl like that .. it’s a relationship. I’m not here for you just to trauma dump on
I just stopped sharing anything about my life. And *she hasn’t asked!*
At this point, I’m keeping my replies short and boring to see when she’ll notice. So our convos now go something like: “I got promoted!” “Good job!” “I have a bf!” “Nice!” “We broke up :(“ “:(“
Totally vapid convos that go nowhere and she hasn’t asked for more. Its still strange and fascinating to me, so I’m not offended as much as I’m just curious to see how this unfolds eventually. Like, will she ever find out that I switched careers? Will this be my longest friendship with absolutely zero substance?
When I realize it happens I create distance. If I lose them, I understand it’s the best thing for me.
My best friend for many years suddenly stopped reaching out first, and I realized I was the only one making effort. I decided to wait for her to reach out first once and it’s been 2 years. Bye 👋🏼
Sounds like my new best friend.
I’m that friend. My friends always come to me when they need anything. I’m always there, but I don’t text them every week and ask them how they are.
We’ve established a healthy dynamic. Not texting does not mean the friendship is over. If you don’t feel like you can depend on your friend because of how little y’all speak then I would rethink your connections with those people.
I don’t get sad when my friends don’t text me because I understand they have lives of their own and so do I. I’m grateful for her ( my closest one) and know I can count on her anytime, but I can deal with my own thoughts, and my own life so I don’t get hurt when she doesn’t stop everything and check up on me for no reason, because frankly I won’t do the same. We’re big girls and we love each other, we just go straight for it if we want to talk, no beating around the bush or counting who texts first.
The his is what I call a surface friend. You don’t go out of your way to see them and when you do see them it’s just small talk. Then when you’re done you just move on until the next encounter. You do it because you have mutual friends who are real friends and you don’t want to cause issues for them by making this a thing.
I had a friend like that for 2 years, and 2 days after my birthday that she (again) “forgot” to send me birthday wishes while she spent all day on Instagram posting selfies and sharing memes I decided to cut her off… permanently! Blocked her everywhere and haven’t looked back every since. I’ll not continue being the only one reaching out, sending holiday good wishes, birthday messages, getting her souvenirs when I travel, etc. If a friend isn’t willing to meet you in the middle you choose yourself, gather your self respect and dignity and walk away. Over 8 billion people in the world. You deserve better!
We just fall out eventually.
I’m that friend hahaha. My friends too lol But the thing is in my culture, we don’t really bother. We are not codependent on others either. we know we care about each other, busy with our own lives, we see each other’s socials, but that’s about it.
They drift away, and I get more time with closer friends.
We have a pair of college friends (who are now married to one another) who are like this. They’re great company, and very generous… but if they were put on some kind of “Newlywed Game” show where the questions were about their friends, they would not be able to win a *single* round.
Our friend in the same circle recently told me that he conducted a test to see whether they listened AT ALL. He just blurted out more and more outlandish “life updates” while talking to them. (“Oh, you guys just redid your floors? That’s crazy because my floor actually gave out last month and I collapsed down into the apartment below mine.”) He said they both had barely any reaction beyond the passive “Oh wow that’s crazy” before immediately steering the conversation back to themselves. So… they’re hopeless. But they always let us stay overnight, cook for us, and take us out to fun evenings when we visit them in California. And I’m sure they would step up and help if any of us were in need. They just… don’t know anything about our lives that’s happened in the past ten years lol.
They are not your friends.
If you have something you want to share, why not just share it? Why wait for someone to ask for it? Maybe they don’t want to pry, and assume that you’ll share if you want to. They still want to see you so I’d assume they are interested in you. Unless they ignore you and change the subject when you try to talk about yourself, then I’d make the conclusion that they are actually not interested in you.
I prefer having few friends but deep connections
It doesn’t mean trauma dumping, but it requires care, quality time, attention to each other
If you open the conversation about your life do they show interest? I don’t ask about friends specific parts of their lives because I know that it can be uncomfortable, either because its a topic they don’t want to talk about or think about, and I don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable, Ive been the shoulder that gets cried on by friends after gatherings when they’ve been asked if they are dating anyone, when they aren’t, or how’s work, when they are struggling to find a job.
But if a friend brings up anything about their lives themselves Im all in, totally happy to listen, ask questions, talk about what ever they are wanting to discuss for as long as they like.
So maybe worth trying out bringing it up yourself and seeing if the support is there when you do?