Which friends are constantly dragging you into trouble? Which friends cause you to give in to doing things you’d rather not do? How do you feel when spending time with each of these friends, both individually, and as part of the group? Do you feel supported?[1] X Expert Source Alicia OglesbyProfessional School Counselor Expert Interview. 29 October 2020. Can you voice your own preferences, opinions, likes and dislikes without being laughed at, told you’re being stupid or shouted down?
In many cases, family can be a real help in seeing what you can’t see. They usually mean well for you and don’t want to see you get hurt. In some cases, family may not be seeing the right things or understand. In that case, you are the best judge of the situation.
Talk to the friends you trust––if you can absolutely trust them. Tell them about your intentions to split from the group. Don’t force them to make the same decision; instead, suggest that they might like to think about doing the same as you and if they do, to leave at the same time you do. How do you know if a friend can be trusted? You never do one hundred percent. But it starts with your own gut feelings, with knowing what you’ve been through and how much this person has stuck by your side in the past and not let your down. Go from those things and make your decision as to their trustworthiness.
Talk openly. Do your potential friends respect your views, opinions, and ideas? Do they respect you even when they disagree?
