{"id":679,"date":"2021-11-06T17:22:19","date_gmt":"2021-11-06T17:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/?p=679"},"modified":"2022-01-13T12:11:44","modified_gmt":"2022-01-13T12:11:44","slug":"when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Things That Happen When Friends Distance Themselves from You"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Do you feel that someone you have a friendly relationship with is trying to cut ties? There are some specific things that happen when friends distance themselves from you. All it takes is to recognize these behaviors.<\/p>\n<p>No one likes to feel unwelcome, neglected, or <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/feeling-left-out-friends-family\/\">left out by their friends<\/a>. But at the same time, it\u2019s easy to misinterpret other people\u2019s behaviors.<\/p>\n<p>To make sure you have a clear idea about what\u2019s happening in your friendship, check the signs below.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_64 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #222222;color:#222222\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #222222;color:#222222\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#What_Happens_When_Friends_Distance_Themselves_from_You\" title=\"What Happens When Friends Distance Themselves from You?\">What Happens When Friends Distance Themselves from You?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#1_They_dont_seem_interested_in_spending_time_together\" title=\"1. They don\u2019t seem interested in spending time together\">1. They don\u2019t seem interested in spending time together<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#2_They_turn_down_your_invitations\" title=\"2. They turn down your invitations\">2. They turn down your invitations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#3_When_you_meet_they_try_to_dodge_the_conversation\" title=\"3. When you meet, they try to dodge the conversation\">3. When you meet, they try to dodge the conversation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#4_They_show_no_interest_in_your_life\" title=\"4. They show no interest in your life\">4. They show no interest in your life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#5_They_dont_share_anything_personal_with_you_anymore\" title=\"5. They don\u2019t share anything personal with you anymore\">5. They don\u2019t share anything personal with you anymore<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#6_They_give_you_excuses\" title=\"6. They give you excuses\">6. They give you excuses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#7_They_dont_want_you_to_be_a_part_of_their_life\" title=\"7. They don\u2019t want you to be a part of their life\">7. They don\u2019t want you to be a part of their life<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#What_to_Do_When_Friends_Distance_Themselves_from_You\" title=\"What to Do When Friends Distance Themselves from You?\">What to Do When Friends Distance Themselves from You?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#1_Make_sure_its_not_a_made-up_situation\" title=\"1. Make sure it\u2019s not a made-up situation\">1. Make sure it\u2019s not a made-up situation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#2_Analyze_your_behavior\" title=\"2. Analyze your behavior\">2. Analyze your behavior<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#3_Talk_to_them\" title=\"3. Talk to them\">3. Talk to them<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/#4_Let_them_go\" title=\"4. Let them go\">4. Let them go<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Happens_When_Friends_Distance_Themselves_from_You\"><\/span>What Happens When Friends Distance Themselves from You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_They_dont_seem_interested_in_spending_time_together\"><\/span>1. They don\u2019t seem interested in spending time together<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In the modern age and world, it\u2019s easy to get too busy to find time for social activities. But you can always tell a friend who is just buried in responsibilities from someone who doesn\u2019t want to see you.<\/p>\n<p>The difference is that a real friend will show interest and willingness to be a part of your life, no matter how busy they are.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, they may turn down your invitations from time to time or cancel some activities you planned together. But they will be willing to arrange something new and interested to know how you are doing.<\/p>\n<p>A friend who is trying to keep their distance won\u2019t seem interested in maintaining any contact with you. Instead of using every opportunity to see you and find a free minute to talk to you, they will just disappear from your life for long periods of time.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_They_turn_down_your_invitations\"><\/span>2. They turn down your invitations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Maybe you get sad because your friend doesn\u2019t invite you anywhere anymore. It could be that they are too busy at work or are going through a hard time in life.<\/p>\n<p>So you decide to take the lead and invite them instead. But even when you offer them something to do together, <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/mind\/feeling-invisible-causes\/\">they ignore it<\/a> or give you some kind of excuse.<\/p>\n<p>If it happens on a regular basis, then they simply don\u2019t want to spend time with you. This is what happens when your friend distances themselves from you.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_When_you_meet_they_try_to_dodge_the_conversation\"><\/span>3. When you meet, they try to dodge the conversation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You may stumble upon your friend at a social event or somewhere outside. But when it happens, they don\u2019t look very excited about seeing you.<\/p>\n<p>You can tell it from their facial expression and overall attitude. For example, they might make little eye contact and exhibit closed body language cues such as crossed arms or turning away from you.<\/p>\n<p>Your friend may look tense, bored, or uncomfortable in general. They will barely <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/questions-to-ask-someone-you-just-met\/\">ask you any questions<\/a> and the conversation will probably center around small talk topics.<\/p>\n<p>But the most surefire sign that your friend is trying to distance themselves from you is that they will make attempts to escape the conversation. They will give you one-word answers or shift their attention onto someone else at the social gathering in order to stop talking to you.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_They_show_no_interest_in_your_life\"><\/span>4. They show no interest in your life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-700\" src=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/body-language-no-smile.jpg\" alt=\"no fun\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/body-language-no-smile.jpg 800w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/body-language-no-smile-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/body-language-no-smile-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As we said above, a busy friend will still show interest in you and your life. Someone who wants to stay away from you won\u2019t do this.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you want to share a personal problem with a friend or just tell them about your news, they won\u2019t look interested. Their responses will be short and indifferent and the conversation just won\u2019t flow.<\/p>\n<p>It may be quite disappointing to see such a difference in your friend\u2019s behavior, especially if you used to <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/i-have-no-one-to-talk-to\/\">talk about everything<\/a>. But a lack of interest is a huge sign someone no longer wants to be your friend.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_They_dont_share_anything_personal_with_you_anymore\"><\/span>5. They don\u2019t share anything personal with you anymore<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Another frustrating sign that your friendship is fading is that someone no longer shares personal things with you. You used to tell them about your most intimate problems, and so did your friend. But they no longer do.<\/p>\n<p>Your conversations have shifted to small talk topics and day-to-day happenings. It means that they no longer consider you to be a person they could confide in.<\/p>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t always happen on purpose \u2013 sometimes it\u2019s the life that distances us from other people.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you may have moved to a different city, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1080\/13691180701658046\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">it&#8217;s difficult to maintain<\/a> the same level of emotional intimacy in a long-distance friendship. Maybe your friend started a family and you no longer have common interests and topics to talk about.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_They_give_you_excuses\"><\/span>6. They give you excuses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you want to spend time with your friend, you may be the one to offer them things to do. But they always seem to have a good excuse to give, even when you invite them to your birthday party.<\/p>\n<p>For example, your friend used to invite you to social gatherings and offer to spend time together regularly. Now he barely returns your calls. Whenever you try to reach him out and suggest an activity or event, he says he is busy or has family issues.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, this may happen once, twice, or even a few times. But if your friend sticks with giving you excuses for not showing up after multiple invitations from your side, then they are most likely intentionally distancing themselves from you.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_They_dont_want_you_to_be_a_part_of_their_life\"><\/span>7. They don\u2019t want you to be a part of their life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Finally, a key thing that happens when friends distance themselves from you is that they don\u2019t care to let you know about important changes and events in their lives.<\/p>\n<p>For example, your friend didn\u2019t tell you about her engagement and you learned it from a Facebook post or your common acquaintance. It could also be that your college buddy didn\u2019t invite you to his birthday party.<\/p>\n<p>All these situations leave you feeling excluded and ignored, but they reveal a lot about your friend\u2019s real attitude. Most likely, they just no longer want you to be a part of their life.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Do_When_Friends_Distance_Themselves_from_You\"><\/span>What to Do When Friends Distance Themselves from You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-459\" src=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/how-to-stop-comparing-yourself-to-others.jpg\" alt=\"how to stop comparing yourself to others\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/how-to-stop-comparing-yourself-to-others.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/how-to-stop-comparing-yourself-to-others-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/how-to-stop-comparing-yourself-to-others-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/how-to-stop-comparing-yourself-to-others-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you recognize your situation in the signs above, you may want to know what to do next.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Make_sure_its_not_a_made-up_situation\"><\/span>1. Make sure it\u2019s not a made-up situation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As we said, people don\u2019t always make a conscious decision to distance themselves from you. So the first step is to make sure that your friend is indeed not interested in maintaining contact with you.<\/p>\n<p>If they turned down your invitation a couple of times, then probably it\u2019s too soon to draw conclusions. In this case, look for other indicators such as a lack of interest and desire to talk to you.<\/p>\n<p>If you are sure that they are trying to stay away from you, then decide for yourself whether this friendship means a lot for you. Do you want to continue to be their friend? Do you believe that you two have a genuine connection that should not be wasted?<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Analyze_your_behavior\"><\/span>2. Analyze your behavior<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When friends distance themselves from you, there could indeed be reasons for that. They could find some of your behaviors annoying or be bothered with something you recently did.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if you are too pushy or intrusive with <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/personality\/signs-of-an-introvert\/\">your quiet friend<\/a>, they may find your behavior too overwhelming. They may finally decide to cut ties.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe you talk about yourself all the time and don\u2019t show interest in the other person. What if your friend is facing adversity and you offer them no support? It could also be that you are too negative and complain a lot.<\/p>\n<p>There are multiple examples of annoying behaviors that push people away. Sometimes we wonder <a href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/why-do-i-have-no-friends\/\">why we lose friends<\/a> because we don\u2019t even realize that the things we do or say bother other people.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Talk_to_them\"><\/span>3. Talk to them<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you really value this friendship, talking to the other person would be a good idea. But make sure to not sound demanding or angry. You don\u2019t want to call them out; you just want to make sense of your friend\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n<p>Expressing your concerns in an open and calm manner will help you avoid misunderstandings.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe your friend is having a hard time at work and is not in a mood for social activities. It could be that he is indeed annoyed by some of your behaviors. Finally, they could feel like you no longer resonate together and they have a better time in other people\u2019s company.<\/p>\n<p>Having an honest talk with your friend will help you figure it all out and realize whether your fading friendship can be saved.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Let_them_go\"><\/span>4. Let them go<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes friends don\u2019t distance themselves from you intentionally. It just happens. The person who was your best friend in college is no longer the same easy-going guy. He now has a family to support and a business to run. He is overwhelmed with obligations.<\/p>\n<p>People change, life circumstances change, and it doesn\u2019t always have to do with us. Sometimes people just drift apart. It\u2019s sad and disappointing, but it happens a lot in life &#8211; not only in friendly connections but also in romantic and family unions.<\/p>\n<p>So ask yourself if you are genuinely interested in maintaining this friendship. What if it has become more of a social obligation? Do you gain things from each other emotionally and intellectually?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-795\" src=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/distancing-yourself.jpg\" alt=\"distancing yourself\" width=\"1000\" height=\"656\" srcset=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/distancing-yourself.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/distancing-yourself-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/distancing-yourself-768x504.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A fading friendship could be a natural consequence of a change in your or the other person&#8217;s life. Maybe you are no longer the right company for your friend, and neither are they for you. Perhaps they have already realized it and so they are trying to cut ties. In this case, the best solution would be to let them go.<\/p>\n<p>Be grateful for the great time you used to have together and move on with your life. After all, not all friendships are meant to last for a lifetime, and it\u2019s fine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you feel that someone you have a friendly relationship with is trying to cut ties? There are some specific things that happen when friends distance themselves from you. All it takes is to recognize these behaviors. No one likes to feel unwelcome, neglected, or left out by their friends. But at the same time, &#8230; <a title=\"7 Things That Happen When Friends Distance Themselves from You\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/communication\/when-friends-distance-themselves-from-you\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about 7 Things That Happen When Friends Distance Themselves from You\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":683,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[16,29],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=679"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":800,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/679\/revisions\/800"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/powerofmisfits.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}