I am sure we can all relate to being the most phenomenal friend in the group, an outstanding friend that everyone naturally clings to. There is probably, though, that one friend who seems to think that they are your Siamese twin. They want to expect to be a part of all of your plans, they show up at your house unannounced, they may even try to be like you and mimic the things you do…they just won’t leave you alone. While we all love our friends and are extremely blessed to have people who love, support, and cherish us, at times this clingy behavior can get annoying. As annoying as it can get, we would never want to hurt our friend’s feelings by straight up calling them annoying. Here are five ways to peel off a clingy friend.
- Make sure this is only temporary behavior. Sometimes friends will latch onto you during stressful times in their life for extra support and then back off when life is normal. Make sure you notice what’s going on in their life before freaking out on them.
- Once you realize that your friend is actually clingy, try becoming less available. Since they assume they’re always apart of your plans, don’t talk about plans in front of them unless you actually want them there. Also, take longer to respond to texts and phone calls, which might get across the message that you are not in any sort of rush to speak with them.
- Make sure they know how you feel. Let your friend know that you need some time alone. They might not even be aware that they are being clingy, they probably think the friendship is completely mutual. The most important aspects of healthy relationships of any kind are honesty and communication. Being open with your friend will help the both of you in the long run.
- Introduce them to new people and places. One reason for clingy behavior might be that they just don’t have that many other friends. Bringing your clingy friend around new people may open them up to the possibility that they are capable of having other friendships.
- Do not feel bad about turning them down. In the end, your feelings are more important than anyone else’s. If you need time to yourself and space, that is perfectly okay. Never feel bad for prioritizing your feelings.
In the end, any friendship that is not mutual could potentially be toxic. If these tips do not work, you could have an unhealthy friendship that should probably end soon. Don’t waste any energy on relationships that are not give and take.
