How To End A Friendship (Without Ghosting)

Have you ever wondered why friendship breakups feel so brutal? Like, worse than a romantic break-up?

In this episode of But Are You Happy, clinical psychologist Dr. Anastasia Hronis tells us how to end a friendship without ghosting someone and leaving them wondering what just happened.

You'll also learn:
How you know it's time to end a friendship
When you should reconsider a breakup and set a boundary instead
What is ghosting and is it all that bad?
How to have a break up conversation that's respectful

Remember while Dr Anastasia Hronis is a psychologist - this podcast isn’t a diagnostic tool, and the advice and ideas presented here should always take into account your personal medical history.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Both services are available 24/7 for free, confidential mental health support.

00:00 Introduction to Friendship Breakups
01:10 Signs of an Unhealthy Friendship
02:13 The Importance of Patterns Over Single Incidents
03:02 Misalignment in Values as a Sign
04:06 Red Flags in a Friendship
04:50 Why Friendship Breakups are so Hard
06:44 Redefining a Friendship vs. Ending It
07:08 Friends Serving Different Purposes in Your Life
09:54 The Guilt of Ending a Friendship
11:28 The "Great Scattering" and Natural Drifting
14:06 What is Ghosting?
16:09 The Role of Capacity in Communication
18:36 What to Do If You've Been Ghosted
19:53 The CARE Framework for a Breakup Conversation
23:40 Example of the CARE Framework
28:03 Aftercare for a Friendship Breakup
30:58 Dealing with an Ex-Friend Who is "Shit-Talking"
35:06 Main Takeaways