Tag: shared history
When A Friend Becomes A Frenemy
Even when a friend becomes a frenemy, it can be hard to know when it’s time to let go because it invariably comes with some losses.
Is a less-than-perfect friend better than no friend at all?
It’s so easy to become attached to the idea of "having a best friend" that we ignore the reality of a flawed friendship. QUESTION Dear Irene, There’s a girl who I thought was my best friend forever whom I’ve grown to dislike. I feel guilty for wanting to dump her, but I don’t know […]
Different strokes: Can this friendship survive?
QUESTION Hi, I’ve had the same best friend for more than 20 years. We were so close that we even have matching tattoos. We don’t live near each other, but have maintained contact and been through school, marriage, kids, etc together. She’s been a huge part of my life. Things started getting tough a […]
It’s hard to say goodbye to a BFF, even if she’s a narcissist
QUESTION Dear Irene, I met my former BFF on the first day of college almost nine years ago. A year later, I went to a party she was throwing and met my now fiancé, who is great friends with her brothers. She was always a high maintenance friend; she was more concerned with having tons […]
A breakdown of trust: When long-time friends fight over a guy
QUESTION Dear Dr. Levine, For the past six to eight months I’ve had two friendships deteriorate. Jillian had been my friend for about 15 years. We never partied or saw much of each other due to distance and her ten-year relationship with a guy yet we always kept in touch. When her relationship was over, […]
Friendship by the Book: I’m So Happy for You
You may not be able to picture yourself in a relationship like that of Wendy and her college friend Daphne but in the larger-than-life caricatures of two quintessential New Yorkers, novelist Lucinda Rosenfeld captures the essence of many close female friendships. Daphne Uberoff is stunningly beautiful and has all the trappings of material success; Wendy […]
A ‘best friend’ who is always critical
QUESTION Dear Irene, I am 24 and my best friend is the same age as well. We used to enjoy hanging out together but she acts like she doesn’t enjoy being around me anymore. She always says things like, "Why do you do this or that?" and "Grow up" or “Why did you….” I haven’t […]
Downgrading a disappointing friendship
QUESTION Hello, I have been struggling over this issue for so long and do not know what to do. I am 37 years old and have had a close friendship with a girl since second grade. Since then, we have been BFFs. After 7th grade I moved away, but we stayed connected and visited each […]
Reader Q & A: Is my childhood friendship worth saving?
QUESTION: Dear Irene: My best friend, well ex-best friend and I grew up as next door neighbors…destined to be best friends forever. We were those girls who were inseparable and would laugh at the most silly things no matter how silly we would look. After 19 years, we were still the best of friends and […]
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