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kabir22 profile picture
How to Make Friends After Bullying – Yep, It’s Possible! 🫶
by kabir22
Last post
 November 16th, 2024
...See more Hey lovely people! 🌟 Okay, let's be real for a second—making friends after being bullied can feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. 🩴 It’s tough, and sometimes you wonder if you’ll ever reach the top. But guess what? You can, and you will. I’ve got your back with some tips to help you navigate this journey. Let’s dive in, shall we? 1. Start with Self-Acceptance (You’re Amazing, Period) Easier said than done, right? But honestly, you’ve been through something tough, and you owe yourself a bit of love. Take a moment to look in the mirror and say, “I’m worth knowing. I’m worth loving.” Because you are. Spend time doing the things that make you feel you. Whether it’s reading, painting, or watching that same sitcom for the tenth time—do it unapologetically. 2. Find Your Tribe (Safe Spaces, Anyone?) I’m talking about those places where you walk in, and nobody expects you to be anything other than yourself. Maybe it’s a local book club, a hiking group, or an online community where you can geek out about your favorite show. Shared interests make it so much easier to start conversations without all that pressure of impressing someone. Trust me, finding your tribe makes all the difference. 3. Talk About the Little Things (Big Things Come Later) You don't have to start with a TED Talk about your life. Try simple stuff like, “Hey, do you like pineapple on pizza?” 🍍🍕(And if they say yes, well, you’ve just found someone with impeccable taste.) Building friendships can start with these small, light-hearted conversations. 4. Be Honest (But No Need to Spill the Beans Right Away) It’s okay to let people in, but only when you feel comfortable. You don’t owe anyone your whole story, but sharing bits and pieces when you’re ready can help build real connections. It’s like slowly peeling back layers of an onion… except without the tears (hopefully). 5. Set Boundaries Like a Boss 🛑 Listen, you’ve already been through enough. It’s perfectly fine to have boundaries and to stick to them. If you’re not comfortable talking about something, say so. Real friends will respect that, and if they don’t, well, they’re probably not worth the energy. You deserve people who make you feel safe and respected. 6. Explore the Digital Universe (Making Friends Has Never Been So Wi-Fi Friendly) 📱 Online communities can be a lifesaver when meeting people face-to-face feels like scaling Everest. Whether it’s joining a fandom, gaming group, or a forum for your favorite hobby, there’s a whole world out there ready to welcome you with open arms (or, you know, enthusiastic emojis 🤗). 7. Be Kind, Be Yourself, and Be a Little Weird (Seriously, It’s the Best Combo) The most beautiful friendships are built on authenticity. Don’t hide the parts of yourself that you think are “too much” or “too weird.” Love binge-watching cat videos at 2 a.m.? Great. Enjoy talking to your plants? Awesome. The right people will find your quirks endearing, I promise. 8. Remember That Not Everyone’s a Jerk (I Promise) It’s easy to put up walls when you’ve been hurt, but not everyone’s out to break them down. Some people genuinely want to know the real you. Give them a chance—but keep that protective armor handy, just in case. ⚔️ 9. Patience, Grasshopper 🐛 You’re not going to become best friends with someone overnight, and that’s completely okay. Relationships take time to build. Every time you put yourself out there, even if it’s just a little “hello,” you’re making progress. Celebrate those small wins—they matter more than you think. You’ve Got This! 🌈 You’re more than the stuff you’ve been through. You’re resilient, you’re strong, and there’s a world of potential friends out there just waiting to meet you. So take a deep breath, put on that brave face (even if it’s a little wobbly today), and remember—you’re not alone in this journey. We’ve got your back. 💪 Anyone else got tips, stories, or a good pineapple pizza debate to share? 🍍🍕 Let’s hear them! Your voice matters, and who knows, you might just find a friend right here. 💛 ------------------------- Tagging some so this can be used as reference whenever needed - @Hope @ASilentObserver @MelodyoftheOcean @Heartsandrosesandpaws @SparkyGizmo @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @coolvibes @Boon4U
tommy profile picture
Friendship Support Automated Taglist!
by tommy
Last post
 March 19th, 2024
...See more Welcome to the Friendship Support Taglist This thread is an auto-updating list. The list is regularly updated by forum leaders and can be found below. Having issues? Reply below and someone will help you! Why should I join the taglist? ✔ Never miss out on sub-community check-ins, discussions or events ✔ Get tagged and notified by community leaders whenever a new relevant thread has been posted ✔ Become a more active member of the community. What do I need to do? ✅ To add yourself to this taglist, press the Post to Thread button below and write the exact words Please add me. ❌ To remove yourself from this taglist, press the Post to Thread button below and write the exact words Please remove me. ------------------------- Current taglist as of 9 August 2024 (updated by @tommy) @AnimalLover2006 @Bella20 @braveFig6308 @dapperLunch1747 @daydreammemories @Gettingbettertoday @HarmonyBlossom @LucyGray1799 @Ninahdy @OakSerenity @politePeach9642 @raspberry563 @reginalistener18 @spectacularApricot7089 @tidyCurrent1882 @tommy
SoulfullyAButterfly profile picture
Systemic Psychotherapy for Friendship Support
by SoulfullyAButterfly
Last post
 January 23rd, 2024
...See more Are you interested in improving your relationships, understanding yourself better, and developing new skills? If yes, you may be eligible to participate in our study. What is Systemic Therapy? Systemic therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on relationships between people and the patterns of interaction within the systems that impact the well-being of the individuals within the system. Healthy systems are encouraged by seeking balance within the system, as well as working on the roles and relationships involved. What is the Purpose of This Study? The purpose of this study is to explore how systemic psychotherapy-informed growth paths and listener training can help people to achieve personal growth and positive change. We want to understand how participating in the growth path or listener training can affect your relationships, thoughts, behaviour, and feelings, and how your past experiences influence your current patterns, behaviour, and relationships. What Are the Benefits of Participating? By participating in this study, you will: * Learn more about systemic therapy and how it can help you improve your relationships and well-being * Gain insights into your own patterns, behaviour, and feelings, and how they are influenced by your past and present experiences * Develop new skills and techniques * Contribute to research by answering questionnaires How Can You Sign Up? If you are interested in participating in this study, please read the full advertisement and sign-up form here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/SoulfullyAButterflysContentGarden_2136/ResearchParticipationOpportunitySystemicPsychotherapyinformedGrowthPathandListenerTraining_311588/]. We will contact you to confirm your eligibility and provide you with more information. Hurry up, as we have limited time available to participate in this research opportunity!
hopefulencounter profile picture
friendship rarely last for me
by hopefulencounter
Last post
 6 hours ago
...See more I don't know why is it so hard for me to maintain friendship. I always try to be good with my friends, I helped them, I always replied to their messages.. I joke with them, but what usually happened is that that friendship doesn't last for long. And that made me feel like a bad person, weird person 😕.. I feel too scared to trust new bond now, I'm afraid they'll just leave me again in the end when they already feel bored of me. Maybe it's just me who overthinks too much, but maybe it's true. Idk, my negative thoughts win a lot..
sunnyKoala8176 profile picture
FRIENDS
by sunnyKoala8176
Last post
 23 hours ago
...See more As an international student who moved to a whole new country for college, I truly understand the troubles when it comes to making friends. It can be hard adjusting, being open, talking. You might feel judged and not understood beacause you are not like them. But I am here to ask that you join me on the path to confidence and communication.  Join me as I learn to speak my heart out, laugh like I just watched the most hilarious thing, and connect with others on a deeper level. Together, we can overcome the fear of being misunderstood and embrace the beauty of our differences. Let’s build bridges through open conversations, shared experiences, and genuine connections. It’s not just about fitting in—it's about finding your voice and letting it shine. So, let’s take this journey together, one step at a time, toward building friendships that last a lifetime. Are you ready?
determinedSea4370 profile picture
Does anyone have a friend like this?
by determinedSea4370
Last post
 Friday
...See more My best friend finally texted me back after about a month of silence. I have been falling apart without her support, analzying our friendship history and personalities and our last hangout and my last texts- like literally, she has been every other thought in my head. Thinking about her has kept me up at night, made me breakdown, drove me to drink more- part of the reason I am back on meds and in therapy and so active on 7cups is because she means so much to me and then pulls this *** that leaves me reeling and desperate. And I was expecting a text from her that would at least be an apology or some hint as to why she went ghost or asking how I was doing...but it was just this short thing with cute emojis saying 'wow! i didn't realize it's been so long since we talked. I've been in my own little world lol miss youuuuu'  So, she's been off in her world, not giving me a thought while I have been tearing myself apart grieving about her and our relationship almost every day?? Maybe she's ashamed about not contacting me, or she has thought of me this past month but doesn't want to talk about it because she only wants to move on to happy things but I AM FUMING.  There's a part of me that wants to be understanding and forgive her like I always do when she ghosts me (and she ghosts me at least 3 times a year) but this time she caused me SO MUCH PAIN. And she thinks she can just brush it under the rug with some cute emojis?? I know it's petty, but I cannot respond to her because I can't seem to calm down. Has anyone else experienced something like this??
Betterthoughts11 profile picture
My mental health has ruined my friendships; What to do?
by Betterthoughts11
Last post
 Thursday
...See more To make a very long story short; I got out of a very bad relationship last year; which made my pre-exisiting mental health MUCH worse..these friends came and picked me up and helped me SO much through the year. But; I was not consistent in therapy, or other ways to grow, so I've hurt them badly.. I messed up. I was venting and sharing issues about other friends without taking steps to fix it, so it just ended up making them feel pinned against eachother, or like i purposefully tried to ruin the friend group, or like I was talking smack, this ENTIRELY wasn't my intention. But, that doesn't matter, because it happened wether i meant to or not. My mental state is so bad, I really thought/think everyone was out to get me/disliked me, but I didn't actually go address that with the person. There are some true and valid issues in the friend group that I didnt address, so it just looks like I was purposely a jerk. Its a mess of my own making...the guilt and pain feels crushing. My friends snapped at me, and asked for 6 months to a year of space, and then maybe we can try again at friendship. Their reaction is valid; my issues i had are valid, but i didnt handle them correctly. Despite this, I feel really wounded...how do I begin to manage the pain resulting from this?
tryingtosurvive2024 profile picture
I feel like people don't give me enough grace.
by tryingtosurvive2024
Last post
 Wednesday
...See more I kinda know why I'm writing this, and I kinda don't.  Logically speaking, I think it is stupid of me to be writing this.  No amount of information I have ever read has ever been helpful to me.  That stuff makes what should be a joy into something very complicated.  At least too complicated for my brain to process. I can't make friends, and if something starts to happen, it won't be long before it is dead.  I always have a way of stumbling across something I didn't know about.  After that whatever good was going on, gets destroyed.  Why didn't I know about it?  Because the other person never told me about it. Speaking from my own negative experiences.  People are strange.  What makes one person laugh, will horrify another.  I never try to be offensive because I don't desire to lose anyone.  I wish more people would be more understanding and have thicker skin.  If your friend accidentally offense you over something they don't know about, then why get mad and push them away for it? I have met lots of people that have acted this way to me.  Look it takes time to get to know someone and where their individual boundaries are.  I feel like people don't give me enough grace or even enough credit for how hard I work on this.  Usually what destroys these friendships is not anything big.  To another person it might not even make a blip on the radar.  sigh
determinedSea4370 profile picture
I used the enneagram to finally figure out what went wrong!
by determinedSea4370
Last post
 January 14th
...See more Okay, so I basically have a best friend who I have come to realize over the past few years is VERY different from me. Since we both seem to be creative, passionate, and eccentric types, I had assumed she must think and feel just like me- so when I continued to come away from our hangouts feeling anxious and frustrated, I couldn't figure it out.  Our last hangout in early December before she ghosted me went like this: I was in my feels, nostalgic ipod songs playing in my ears as I walked alone through the woods that morning- I walked for hours. I found an abandoned photograph in the woods and was enthralled at the art and mystery of it. I drove to pick her up from her house at noon to take her to her therapy and that felt good- to do something so meaningful for her. We sung along with songs I deeply related to on the way there. I sat and sketched the mysterious photograph in my sketchbook while she got her therapy. I was feeling pretty good and satisfied so far. Then, she wanted to go shopping- she always wanted to go shopping. I agreed and wondered why she was so uninterested in the abandoned photograph. I didn't understand why she was talking about the pink scrunchie she wanted to get for her friend. I didn't understand how she didn't want to talk about the trauma I had helped her through the other week or how the therapy session had just went. It was like she was pretending none of her problems had ever happened and I was confused- as I usually was. We shopped at a makeup shop and then visited a cookie shop and then a perfume shop and then a book shop and then she wanted me to drive her to some crafts stores so she could make more gifts for her friends and I just imploded. I needed realness, I needed pain, I needed something more than glittery optimism and consumerism and distraction. I tried to explain how dystopian the world suddenly seemed to me, but of course she didn't get it- she was confused, but she just rolled with it. She tried to make a point about how she understood me in the car, but she vastly oversimplified and misunderstood me instead all the while trying to keep the mood light with music. I hated how I had failed her and how she had made me feel- because she means so much to me I can hardly stand it- so after a week of no texts from her, I thought maybe I could fix things by being more assertive about what I wanted- I don't like shopping, but I like museums and cafes and galleries and parks. I felt selfish and dumb asserting myself, but I felt like it needed to be done, because I felt like it was obvious that she didn't actually understand my needs as well as she thought she did. She hasn't responded since. This whole incident has been causing my mental health to take an absolute nose dive- it was the whole reason I felt the need to try 7cups in the first place.  But, recently I've been exploring the enneagram. I liked exploring mbti when I was younger and found it helpful, so I decided to try this too- and somehow found the enneagram to be more painfully accurate and insightful than mbti. I typed myself as a 4w5. Then, tonight, I realized that my friend is not actually another type 4, like me, but a type 7w6. As a type 4, I revel in the deep and dramatic. I don't fill the hole inside me, but rather I flaunt it as part of something that makes me unique. 7s, on the other hand, RUN from pain. They get anxious about having to dig down deep and would much rather escape into distraction and optimism and materialism. Instead of glorifying the hole inside them, 7s do the opposite of 4s- they try to stuff it with bright shiny things. They never want to feel bored or in want. So, while I can't help but ruminate, she can't help but run away. I had previously been trying to use enneagram to make sense of her, but holy CRAP, this is ridiculously accurate.  As I learn more about 4s and 7s, I hope to then gain insight into how to better make it work when we are obviously both stressed out. She didn't choose to have the opposite coping mechanism from me and I can't let myself judge her so harshly. I've also got to realize that my obsession with the deep and dark all the time isn't the best coping mechanism either. I desperately want to find a middle ground for us so that we can both be healthy together.  I wish I hadn't sent her that text explaining what my likes and dislikes are, because now I think she took it as a rejection of her. I wish I had instead waited until today and then sent her a text eager to share insights I had about how I understood her in new ways.  Anyways, have any of your tried to use mbti and/or enneagram to better understand yourself and the ones you love?
Fwloop profile picture
Is this normal
by Fwloop
Last post
 January 10th
...See more Me and a few friends made a few jokes, they were not harmful to the person but they were just about finding out who he likes. Then one of the friends went and told him in a group chat, I told her how embarrassing,  uncomfortable, and upset that made me and she just said “it’s really not that serious, it doesn’t matter.” And that made me feel terrible. I said okay well why don’t we just respect each other’s opinions and she said “sure” very sarcastically. I just want to cry at this point and I blew it a little out of proportion but at this point it wasn’t even about the joke anymore. I felt like she didn’t care about my feelings. Idk what to do about this anymore.
4Runnning44AspiringJD profile picture
Friends til the bend mends the end
by 4Runnning44AspiringJD
Last post
 January 4th
...See more Hey yall, I am run. I write ✍🏽  enjoy: eons Ago agonizing pulls the strings of  woah we don’t need nulls please 🙏🏽  so a cien won’t have a beneficial seed, well I guess I’ll just seize because I lost belief  in the reef even In the ocean, becahse That loyalty motion, no longer needs that extra notion or your thoughtful emptiness of potions. 🧪 
maleiaiaia profile picture
I need more friends.
by maleiaiaia
Last post
 January 3rd
...See more I am currently a freshman in high school. I have many friends, but the majority of them are people I just talk to casually, not people I would usually hangout with outside of school or be close with. I only have a few of those close friends I would actually hangout with, but it feels empty because I only have a few. I know a lot of people say it's good to have a few close friends than many, but it doesn't feel like I have many options for people I can be with, and I honestly need more. A lot of the freshmen in my school are immature or just people I would not be close with how I want to be. I want to find a close friend group, to where I don't feel lonely like I do now. 
someoneidk468 profile picture
wtv
by someoneidk468
Last post
 December 27th
...See more Nah cuz i hate how you've been thinking uve got the best friend n wtv, but how it ends up everytime is they change with u js cuz race, religion n wtv. its *** up. as someone been through this all *** before. being judged over n over. it all hurts bad. why not js accept the fact that we aint choosin our race ourselves, we got our own beliefs and at the end we're all the same kind. we're all human. like i aint no other kinda creature cuz this. It makes me feel all diff and i hate myself even more now
Sunisshiningandsoareyou profile picture
Long Distance Friendships!💛
by Sunisshiningandsoareyou
Last post
 December 22nd, 2024
...See more Helloo everyone coming across, I hope this post finds you doing well.💛 I feel there's a lot of compassion and tips to around managing "long distance relationships" which are difficult, of course, but something I find less-talked-about and something that is deserving of more importance are our long-distance-friendships.  Such is adult-hood at times and life getting all lifey, leading us to move farther from our friend(s), people leave and shift to different places for xyz different reasons, for studies, work, better opportunities, circumstances in life etc and it can be an incredibly daunting experience "leaving people behind" or "being the one who's left behind", a lot of these friendships sort of dwindle away with time and gaps in communication or emotional distance along with the physical distance, but there's just some of these friendships and some of these super special people that we want to hold dearly still and try our best to have them in our life, despite the distance, and soooo say hello to the concept of long distance friendship hehe.  Ooh and even the online friendships can be included here, people we haven't met in-person, but still vibe with and find some solace in their presence over the online-medium.💛 Opening space for some reflection and sharing support with one another.💛 Feel free to answer any and all that you feel comfortable with- 💛 Do you have any long distance friends? How do you feel about staying friends despite the distance between y'all?  💛 If at all any, what are your usual struggles in your long-distance friendship? How do you navigate those? 💛 What keeps you and your long distant friend connected still? What are the little ways in which you manage to keep the bond alive? 💛 Any tips to nurture healthy, loving, long-term friendships even through the distance? Would love to hear from you and here's hoping we can all foster a mutually supportive and empathetic space here!💛
Mercer9878 profile picture
Am I The A-Hole?
by Mercer9878
Last post
 December 4th, 2024
...See more So basically, I had this little group of me and three other people which I'll name Rylee, Kirk, and Lorenzo, (Not their real names) and we've become more distant.  About a year back, I knew that Rylee had a crush on Lorenzo because she told me. But just a couple weeks ago, she finally told Lorenzo she likes him. He ended up being a bit weirded out and now he doesn't hang out with us much which really hurt me because Lorenzo had been my closest friend for two years which is the longest I've ever kept a friendship. So now Lorenzo barely talks to me and I genuinely miss him because he was my best friend but now he Dislikes being around me, Rylee, and Kirk. Second of all, when the school year started, me and Rylee really grew close because of our similar mental health problems. Self-harm, (Which I have been clean for about 6 months now 🎉) and just general family issues, but I don't really talk about it anymore with her because when she talks about it, it genuinely annoys me. Like I get that people need to vent, be she just keeps talking about it over and over again and it's starting to frustrate me. I also feel like a lot of it is my fault because I somewhat push her away. It's strange because I've been having these sort of mood swings recently. Whether it be I'm happy one day and depressed/irritable the other, or just in the span of a few hours. I'm not sure if is Bipolar Disorder or whatever. (I hate saying that because it feels like I'm self diagnosing) Anyways, have a good day/evening/night ♥ 

Friendship Support

Welcome to Friendship Support! Friendship is a wonderful thing and here is a place you can celebrate it. Whether you want to share your successful friendships or discuss the relationships which aren’t going so well, this is the place for you. We are a relatively new community so please do not hesitate to reach out to a leader if you have any suggestions or feedback.


What are the different forum topics for Friendship Support?

Community Space: A place for introductions, icebreakers, games, community check-ins and discussions.

Friendship: A place for you to discuss all things related to friendships.


How can I help?

You can help us by simply responding to threads and sharing your story (if you're comfortable). Check-in with us, join a discussion, or start one! Alternatively, you can join us as a Forum Leader. Check out this thread for more information.


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Friendship Support FAQ

Q: Are there any sub-community-specific guidelines that we need to adhere to?

A: You can find Sub-community-specific guidelines below, which you should follow in addition to the general forum guidelines.


Help! I still have a question! 

If you need help, feel free to contact a community leader or post here, and someone will contact you!