Just after school graduation, my a couple of freshman roomies-turned-close friends moved to opposite edges of the country once i lived-in new Midwest. These people were my personal anyone. And then given that lives could have they, a large number of kilometers got truly in the way.
Going from an in-person bond to long distance is like friendship whiplash. If shes not living within a few miles, she might as well be on another planet, right? Its normal to feel out of whack after being physically apart from a bestie. “You no longer have the same commonalities in your day, and may lose naturally occurring catch-up time you always had,” says Andrea Bonior, PhD, clinical psychologist and author of Detox Your thinking and The Friendship Fix.
Companionship is just easier when youre in the same place. A quick text, and youre sharing take-out and a Netflix binge. When this changes, you gotta give your friendship extra TLC to stay close. While its kind of like a long-distance relationship, Marisa G. Franco, PhD, psychologist and friendship expert, says theres also less pressure to be in constant contact. A few months with only a little contact here and there wont hurt, she says.
Franco claims whether or not youre long way or otherwise not, an effective friendship basis sleeps for the five circumstances: communication, help, visibility, and you may positivity.