4 of 11

Write now Article Tools

Friendships are like ice cream; sometimes they bring you joy, and sometimes they just give you a headache. These headaches, if frequent enough, can result in the breakup of a friendship. Like any other kind of relationship, friendships are complicated and don't always work out.

Several factors can contribute to the break up of a friendship. One factor is that some people simply drift apart. Lives change, people go in different directions, and quite often friendships are lost because of it. Some people choose to start a family, while others choose to put their heart and soul into a career, or travel all over the world. As we branch off into our own lives, we often make new friends and let old friendships fade away.

Another factor in the demise of some people's friendships is that people change. Values and beliefs may change, hobbies and interests may change, and suddenly the glue holding a friendship together dries up and the friendship falls apart. This happens most often when people go through a major life change, such as death of a loved one, marriage, or divorce. These stressful situations can change who a person is, and often times the person they have become isn't compatible with the friends they had.

A much more disturbing factor in the ending of a friendship is betrayal. Sometimes, someone who you think is a friend to you actually shows you that they are nothing more than a backstabbing, lying jerk. They'll lure you into a false sense of comfort, get you to trust and respect them, and then turn around and do or say things that will destroy your life or your career. They use information obtained during the friendship to make your life more complicated, and in some cases, even to blackmail you. They put up barriers, which are nearly impossible to overcome and start to interfere with your success and happiness in other areas of your life. A person like this deserves nothing less than to end up with no friends and a miserable life, all because they just had to cause problems for people who don't deserve it. These people are the lowest of the low and they will become ruthless in their quest to destroy your life. A friendship ended by betrayal is truly a sad occasion.

Jealousy is another possible factor in the breakup of a friendship. This is more common in friendships between two women than between two men, or between a man and a woman. One reason why is that some women have earned themselves the reputation of being catty. Many a female friendship has ended because one was jealous of the other's career, love life, or even looks. In some cases, a woman will steal her friend's job or boyfriend. This causes tension between the two females and usually leads to them deciding to terminate the friendship. This is a very common cause of broken friendships among women.

Friendships should be highly valued and treated with kindness and mutual respect. However, too often, a friendship is broken up due to any of the above reasons, or even a combination of these reasons. There is nothing worse than a break up, whether it be between friends or lovers.

Learn more about this author, Julie A. Wein.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Things that can break up a friendship?
We want to hear your view. Write now!