Breaking up with someone you care about is a complicated process. What is more difficult to comprehend is the end of a friendship. When you contemplate how much history you have, you may be persuaded to stay in a toxic relationship.
This may entail putting up with a lot of drama, toxic events, and unneeded competitiveness.
You may believe that is a little price to pay for not knowing how your friend would react.
Worse, you may be concerned that they may reveal your innermost secrets to the world.
Regardless of your emotions and anxieties, quitting a toxic friendship that is not working is feasible.
So, how can you get out of a toxic friendship? Try the following strategies:
1. Begin by Gradually Fading Them Out
Don’t abruptly discontinue a friendship if you are in a toxic relationship. Instead, establish realistic but firm boundaries.
For example, you may opt to only communicate with your friend via email and limit phone talks to topics that do not evoke upsetting emotions.
You may decide to limit the amount of time you spend conversing with them.
Reduce the frequency to once or twice a month from three times a week.
Some of your most painful feelings will surface when your friendship deteriorates. This is a normal and expected reaction.
You may let go of such emotions after recognizing and accepting them without judgment or opposition.
2. Put an Official End to it When the Slow Fade Fails.
You could try to let your friend go gradually, but it might not work. You may try a more direct approach.
Meet with your friend and explain that you require more time and energy for other aspects of your life.
Then, offer them one last warning, and discontinue the friendship if they do not respectfully accept your decision.
The direct approach may feel unsettling initially, but don’t let yourself be intimidated.
The good news is that you allow yourselves to talk things out first and come to an agreement. You’ll soon discover how liberating it is.
3. Remove any Traces of Emotion from the Circumstance.
You want to discontinue a friendship since you’ve realized it’s no longer advantageous to you.
But don’t let that spoil your message. You must continue to convey your case objectively.
Throughout your chat, maintain a professional and respectful demeanor. Nostalgia can inspire you to reflect on the good times you shared.
Those memories, however, do not excuse their behavior. Maintain as much calm and composure as possible throughout the chat.
4. Be Truthful to Yourself.
You might not want to become involved in a lengthy discussion. However, it would be best to express your feelings to your friend. Remember, you have good reasons to call it quits on your friendship.
If you don’t, you might be able to work things out. However, if you recognize that things aren’t going to work out, it may be best to call it quits.
Be truthful to yourself and your friend. The sooner you realize it’s time to leave, the sooner you can quit the toxic relationship.
When It’s Time to Leave a Toxic Relationship
Toxic relationships are difficult to break, especially if you’ve known them for a long period.
But when you understand that your friendship is no longer beneficial to you, it’s time to let go.
Consider why the people around you negatively impact your life and whether you want to continue associating with them.
Then tell them it’s over and explain respectfully why things aren’t working out anymore.
The bad emotions connected with toxic relationships will not go away immediately.
However, you will begin to recover and grow stronger over time.
