Dear Year 7 student,

I am a Year 9 student, and I’m writing this letter about a situation I have been through with my best friend. We used to be almost inseparable, but now we barely talk anymore.

We first became close friends in Year 7, and by Year 8 we were very close. However, something suddenly changed. She no longer talks to me or even looks at me the same way. Some time ago, she began acting strange with me.

I have tried everything to understand what I might have done wrong and what I should do to fix it. What worries me the most is not knowing why she is treating me this way. Recently, she is starting to act like my friend again, and I pretend as if nothing happened before. But inside, I still feel devastated and heartbroken.

I would greatly appreciate any advice you could give me about this situation, and I truly hope you can help me find the best way to handle it.

Sincerely,

Anonymous.

Dear Y9 student,

I know it can be really hard when a best friend suddenly acts differently. Feeling sad or confused is normal. And I’m here to help you with that. In my experience, honest communication works really well.

 It must feel really sad when your best friend stops talking to you or seems distant. This can make you feel lonely and upset, and it might be hard to focus on school.It is usually a good idea to talk to someone you trust, like our mom or, if you find appropriate, you can talk to a friend about how you feel, this person can help you understand what happened. Sometimes the perspectives of people outside the conflict can help. If you talked to your friend, you would understand why they became distant. 

It’s hard not knowing why your friend changed. You might feel confused, overthink every little thing, and wonder if you did something wrong. It hurts when someone who used to be close starts acting differently, and you’re left with questions that have no answers. If you don’t know what happens, you will be confused.My suggestion is try to stay calm and talk to your friend when you feel ready. It’s okay to take your time to process how you feel. Sometimes an honest conversation can clear things up, help you understand each other better, and maybe even bring back the connection you had before.If you have an honest conversation

Sometimes friendships change because of a misunderstanding. Maybe something was said or done that was taken the wrong way, and neither person knew how to fix it. Small things can grow into distance when no one talks about them, and what used to feel easy suddenly feels confusing or tense.Have you tried to talk calmly and explain how you feel? Try to express your thoughts without blaming or getting angry, so your friend can really understand your side. When you speak honestly but kindly, it’s easier to clear up misunderstandings and rebuild trust.If you talk calmly and explain how you feel, people listen and understand you better. If you express your thoughts kindly instead of with anger, it’s easier to clear up misunderstandings and rebuild trust.

To summarize, you should talk to someone you trust, also you should stay calm and talk to your friend when you feel comfortable, so you could have an honest conversation.

Sincerely,

Y7 - Isabela. M. Calabria