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kabir22 profile picture
How to Make Friends After Bullying – Yep, It’s Possible! 🫶
by kabir22
Last post
 September 1st
...See more Hey lovely people! 🌟 Okay, let's be real for a second—making friends after being bullied can feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. 🩴 It’s tough, and sometimes you wonder if you’ll ever reach the top. But guess what? You can, and you will. I’ve got your back with some tips to help you navigate this journey. Let’s dive in, shall we? 1. Start with Self-Acceptance (You’re Amazing, Period) Easier said than done, right? But honestly, you’ve been through something tough, and you owe yourself a bit of love. Take a moment to look in the mirror and say, “I’m worth knowing. I’m worth loving.” Because you are. Spend time doing the things that make you feel you. Whether it’s reading, painting, or watching that same sitcom for the tenth time—do it unapologetically. 2. Find Your Tribe (Safe Spaces, Anyone?) I’m talking about those places where you walk in, and nobody expects you to be anything other than yourself. Maybe it’s a local book club, a hiking group, or an online community where you can geek out about your favorite show. Shared interests make it so much easier to start conversations without all that pressure of impressing someone. Trust me, finding your tribe makes all the difference. 3. Talk About the Little Things (Big Things Come Later) You don't have to start with a TED Talk about your life. Try simple stuff like, “Hey, do you like pineapple on pizza?” 🍍🍕(And if they say yes, well, you’ve just found someone with impeccable taste.) Building friendships can start with these small, light-hearted conversations. 4. Be Honest (But No Need to Spill the Beans Right Away) It’s okay to let people in, but only when you feel comfortable. You don’t owe anyone your whole story, but sharing bits and pieces when you’re ready can help build real connections. It’s like slowly peeling back layers of an onion… except without the tears (hopefully). 5. Set Boundaries Like a Boss 🛑 Listen, you’ve already been through enough. It’s perfectly fine to have boundaries and to stick to them. If you’re not comfortable talking about something, say so. Real friends will respect that, and if they don’t, well, they’re probably not worth the energy. You deserve people who make you feel safe and respected. 6. Explore the Digital Universe (Making Friends Has Never Been So Wi-Fi Friendly) 📱 Online communities can be a lifesaver when meeting people face-to-face feels like scaling Everest. Whether it’s joining a fandom, gaming group, or a forum for your favorite hobby, there’s a whole world out there ready to welcome you with open arms (or, you know, enthusiastic emojis 🤗). 7. Be Kind, Be Yourself, and Be a Little Weird (Seriously, It’s the Best Combo) The most beautiful friendships are built on authenticity. Don’t hide the parts of yourself that you think are “too much” or “too weird.” Love binge-watching cat videos at 2 a.m.? Great. Enjoy talking to your plants? Awesome. The right people will find your quirks endearing, I promise. 8. Remember That Not Everyone’s a Jerk (I Promise) It’s easy to put up walls when you’ve been hurt, but not everyone’s out to break them down. Some people genuinely want to know the real you. Give them a chance—but keep that protective armor handy, just in case. ⚔️ 9. Patience, Grasshopper 🐛 You’re not going to become best friends with someone overnight, and that’s completely okay. Relationships take time to build. Every time you put yourself out there, even if it’s just a little “hello,” you’re making progress. Celebrate those small wins—they matter more than you think. You’ve Got This! 🌈 You’re more than the stuff you’ve been through. You’re resilient, you’re strong, and there’s a world of potential friends out there just waiting to meet you. So take a deep breath, put on that brave face (even if it’s a little wobbly today), and remember—you’re not alone in this journey. We’ve got your back. 💪 Anyone else got tips, stories, or a good pineapple pizza debate to share? 🍍🍕 Let’s hear them! Your voice matters, and who knows, you might just find a friend right here. 💛 ------------------------- Tagging some so this can be used as reference whenever needed - @Hope @ASilentObserver @MelodyoftheOcean @Heartsandrosesandpaws @SparkyGizmo @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @coolvibes @Boon4U
SoulfullyAButterfly profile picture
Systemic Psychotherapy for Friendship Support
by SoulfullyAButterfly
Last post
 September 1st
...See more Are you interested in improving your relationships, understanding yourself better, and developing new skills? If yes, you may be eligible to participate in our study. What is Systemic Therapy? Systemic therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on relationships between people and the patterns of interaction within the systems that impact the well-being of the individuals within the system. Healthy systems are encouraged by seeking balance within the system, as well as working on the roles and relationships involved. What is the Purpose of This Study? The purpose of this study is to explore how systemic psychotherapy-informed growth paths and listener training can help people to achieve personal growth and positive change. We want to understand how participating in the growth path or listener training can affect your relationships, thoughts, behaviour, and feelings, and how your past experiences influence your current patterns, behaviour, and relationships. What Are the Benefits of Participating? By participating in this study, you will: * Learn more about systemic therapy and how it can help you improve your relationships and well-being * Gain insights into your own patterns, behaviour, and feelings, and how they are influenced by your past and present experiences * Develop new skills and techniques * Contribute to research by answering questionnaires How Can You Sign Up? If you are interested in participating in this study, please read the full advertisement and sign-up form here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/siteupdates/SoulfullyAButterflysContentGarden_2136/ResearchParticipationOpportunitySystemicPsychotherapyinformedGrowthPathandListenerTraining_311588/]. We will contact you to confirm your eligibility and provide you with more information. Hurry up, as we have limited time available to participate in this research opportunity!
tommy profile picture
Friendship Support Automated Taglist!
by tommy
Last post
 August 1st
...See more Welcome to the Friendship Support Taglist This thread is an auto-updating list. The list is regularly updated by forum leaders and can be found below. Having issues? Reply below and someone will help you! Why should I join the taglist? ✔ Never miss out on sub-community check-ins, discussions or events ✔ Get tagged and notified by community leaders whenever a new relevant thread has been posted ✔ Become a more active member of the community. What do I need to do? ✅ To add yourself to this taglist, press the Post to Thread button below and write the exact words Please add me. ❌ To remove yourself from this taglist, press the Post to Thread button below and write the exact words Please remove me. ------------------------- Current taglist as of 9 August 2024 (updated by @tommy) @AnimalLover2006 @Bella20 @braveFig6308 @dapperLunch1747 @daydreammemories @Gettingbettertoday @HarmonyBlossom @LucyGray1799 @Ninahdy @OakSerenity @politePeach9642 @raspberry563 @reginalistener18 @spectacularApricot7089 @tidyCurrent1882 @tommy
Twizzly profile picture
Found a better bestfriend than my ex bestfriend!!!!
by Twizzly
Last post
 2 days ago
...See more I call them lucky, and they give me the good side of my ex bestfriend(Shana) vibes, the good side of Shana who's there for me, kind, and appreciates me alot... Lucky does the stuff good side of shana does, and that's what makes me appreciate lucky alot, because I thought I would've never found a bestfriend as kind as the good side of shana again.
y111 profile picture
padrão de afastamento afetivo
by y111
Last post
 September 5th
...See more Tenho sérios problemas para manter amizades, estabelecer confiança e criar vínculos. Quando começo a me aproximar de alguém, acabo me afastando; toda amizade acaba se transformando em desprezo e esquiva. Na faculdade, consigo, no máximo, manter relações de coleguismo, sem permitir nenhuma aproximação mais pessoal, pois me esquivo completamente. Alguém mais passa por esse problema?
weirdoJo1234 profile picture
Advice please
by weirdoJo1234
Last post
 September 2nd
...See more Hi 7cups community, I need advice Take this as a trigger warning: mentions of horror movies and horror elements I have some friends in a grade older than me who all want to go see the horror movie "Buddy". me and my fellow junior friends don't like horror and are all skeptical. We expressed that together to them and they were supportive, saying they don't want us to be uncomfortable, but then also tried to convince us that it isn't that bad. All the reviews I saw said that it is gore and rated R. Given the fact that I'm the 2nd youngest in the group, I'm technically not allowed to see rated r movies, but they want us to sneak around. Normally I wouldn't have an issue with it normally except for the contents in the actual movie we would be seeing. the whole situation is weird to me and I don't entirely want to see this movie. They said they want to hang out with us and we have plans for dinner after as well, but that would be 2 hours of me being alone waiting for them. Should I go see it and walk out if it becomes to much or just wait for 2 hours and feel like a loser for not going?
kabir22 profile picture
How to Make Friends After Bullying – Yep, It’s Possible! 🫶
by kabir22
Last post
 September 1st
...See more Hey lovely people! 🌟 Okay, let's be real for a second—making friends after being bullied can feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. 🩴 It’s tough, and sometimes you wonder if you’ll ever reach the top. But guess what? You can, and you will. I’ve got your back with some tips to help you navigate this journey. Let’s dive in, shall we? 1. Start with Self-Acceptance (You’re Amazing, Period) Easier said than done, right? But honestly, you’ve been through something tough, and you owe yourself a bit of love. Take a moment to look in the mirror and say, “I’m worth knowing. I’m worth loving.” Because you are. Spend time doing the things that make you feel you. Whether it’s reading, painting, or watching that same sitcom for the tenth time—do it unapologetically. 2. Find Your Tribe (Safe Spaces, Anyone?) I’m talking about those places where you walk in, and nobody expects you to be anything other than yourself. Maybe it’s a local book club, a hiking group, or an online community where you can geek out about your favorite show. Shared interests make it so much easier to start conversations without all that pressure of impressing someone. Trust me, finding your tribe makes all the difference. 3. Talk About the Little Things (Big Things Come Later) You don't have to start with a TED Talk about your life. Try simple stuff like, “Hey, do you like pineapple on pizza?” 🍍🍕(And if they say yes, well, you’ve just found someone with impeccable taste.) Building friendships can start with these small, light-hearted conversations. 4. Be Honest (But No Need to Spill the Beans Right Away) It’s okay to let people in, but only when you feel comfortable. You don’t owe anyone your whole story, but sharing bits and pieces when you’re ready can help build real connections. It’s like slowly peeling back layers of an onion… except without the tears (hopefully). 5. Set Boundaries Like a Boss 🛑 Listen, you’ve already been through enough. It’s perfectly fine to have boundaries and to stick to them. If you’re not comfortable talking about something, say so. Real friends will respect that, and if they don’t, well, they’re probably not worth the energy. You deserve people who make you feel safe and respected. 6. Explore the Digital Universe (Making Friends Has Never Been So Wi-Fi Friendly) 📱 Online communities can be a lifesaver when meeting people face-to-face feels like scaling Everest. Whether it’s joining a fandom, gaming group, or a forum for your favorite hobby, there’s a whole world out there ready to welcome you with open arms (or, you know, enthusiastic emojis 🤗). 7. Be Kind, Be Yourself, and Be a Little Weird (Seriously, It’s the Best Combo) The most beautiful friendships are built on authenticity. Don’t hide the parts of yourself that you think are “too much” or “too weird.” Love binge-watching cat videos at 2 a.m.? Great. Enjoy talking to your plants? Awesome. The right people will find your quirks endearing, I promise. 8. Remember That Not Everyone’s a Jerk (I Promise) It’s easy to put up walls when you’ve been hurt, but not everyone’s out to break them down. Some people genuinely want to know the real you. Give them a chance—but keep that protective armor handy, just in case. ⚔️ 9. Patience, Grasshopper 🐛 You’re not going to become best friends with someone overnight, and that’s completely okay. Relationships take time to build. Every time you put yourself out there, even if it’s just a little “hello,” you’re making progress. Celebrate those small wins—they matter more than you think. You’ve Got This! 🌈 You’re more than the stuff you’ve been through. You’re resilient, you’re strong, and there’s a world of potential friends out there just waiting to meet you. So take a deep breath, put on that brave face (even if it’s a little wobbly today), and remember—you’re not alone in this journey. We’ve got your back. 💪 Anyone else got tips, stories, or a good pineapple pizza debate to share? 🍍🍕 Let’s hear them! Your voice matters, and who knows, you might just find a friend right here. 💛 ------------------------- Tagging some so this can be used as reference whenever needed - @Hope @ASilentObserver @MelodyoftheOcean @Heartsandrosesandpaws @SparkyGizmo @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @coolvibes @Boon4U
friendlyMaple8 profile picture
hello hello
by friendlyMaple8
Last post
 August 28th
...See more Looking for some new friends
intuitiveEast6300 profile picture
Relational Trauma Requires Relational Healing; Help!
by intuitiveEast6300
Last post
 August 28th
...See more Hello! For context, I dealt with someone I thought I could trust 3.5 years ago, and it didn't end well. The person's cowardice to not tell me they wanted to be done with me, and instead blabbed personal information about me and ghosted/avoided me and excluded me, really shook me up. Throughout these last 3.5 years, I have been healing. I started grad school 3 years ago, where I met some great people; between my autism and my trauma, I mainly started to feel normal around people I saw 5 days a week for 2 years. My first year was all about transitioning into grad school; I wanted my second year to be about really connecting with people I wanted to get to know, but I ended up having imposter syndrome instead. So much for having the perfect last school year of my life. After a friend helped me get over imposter syndrome, I got diagnosed with autism and graduated with my master's degree. Since then, I have been slowly trying to make a name for myself. My friend who saved my career, let's just call them "K" for the sake of briefness, is someone, among a lot of other people, who I have wanted to get to know when I started grad school. K knows about my autism and the trauma that happened to me before I met them. They were very helpful with career things throughout my time in grad school, so I learned to trust them with career stuff, which is why I asked them for help getting over imposter syndrome; the act of helping me with that is nice, but it also just shows what kind of person they are. I am well aware K didn't have to do that; I had visualized asking them for help with that so many times, and the interaction went so much better than the nightmares I was envisioning (thanks, trauma). Since I graduated, I had sent them some memes I thought they might like, and I've been looking for career opportunities for them, too. K didn't tell me to; I just want to be a good friend and help them like they helped me. After 3.5 years, I am finally thinking about telling them how I've been wanting to get to know them since the timing has never really lined up. I am absolutely terrified; I haven't intentionally wanted to get to know someone in years, and I am honestly not sure how they'd react. I'm seeing them on Friday for something, and I'm hoping to get an opportunity to tell them (I would like to not do this over text). I'm absolutely terrified, but I know I would regret not telling them. Do I have a chance at all? If you were K, what would you say?
aguywiththousandsregrets profile picture
Lonely
by aguywiththousandsregrets
Last post
 August 24th
...See more Hi i dont have friends not irl nor online so if anyone is interested my *** vmp1re.shi i would appreciate thx.
Twizzly profile picture
I don't like my bestfriend now
by Twizzly
Last post
 August 24th
...See more She decided to leave me to focus on herself yesterday (she sent me a paragraph why), i have abandonment issues so that's why it left me paranoid, she probably thinks it's so easy for me to move on, I struggle to move on because of the harm she did to me, we had a healthy friendship before all this, she has made me overthink,I thought she cared for me but she left me in the end, I know nothing lasts forever, but she literally promised multiple times she wouldn't leave me when I was at my lowest weeks ago, now she left me at my lowest yesterday without even giving me a chance to reply, I am incredibly frustrated by what she did, she caused me harm, and I thought she was there for me even until the end, and I also had worried that she will eventually leave me weeks ago and it just became true, I can't stop thinking about it since yesterday I saw it.
intuitiveEast6300 profile picture
Deepening Friendships
by intuitiveEast6300
Last post
 August 4th
...See more Hello! I have gone through so many instances of being bullied, rejected, excluded, betrayed, and many more things that left me feeling alone, abandoned, isolated, and neglected. Unfortunately for me, I got degrees in an industry where networking is everything (I know...that doesn't really narrow it down, but still), and double unfortunately for me, I met someone really important to me within 6 months of the most traumatic experience with people I've ever gone through. But since I graduated with my master's degree in May 2025 and slowly been getting my feet wet in my career, I have been growing a lot as a person, too-to the point where I'm ready to start thinking about this. Neither of us are college students anymore, so this will make this harder, but the hope is that any advice I get about this can be applied to every friendship I have. One thing I want is the ride-or-die mentality: someone who can support me through good times and bad and who will let me support them the same way. Someone I can laugh with-possibly have inside jokes with while maintaining something deeper (see other points below). I also want someone to check in on me. Unfortunately with a lot of my existing friendships, especially from college, I'm super scared that I'll get rejected. In my undergrad, I had this friend who I (thought I) was really close to and checked in on them occasionally. Turns out, they didn't want to be checked in at all; they actually ghosted me for an entire summer. So in grad school and beyond, I've kept my distance both in proximity and technologically until I really thought I liked a person's character (no matter how much potential I see). Finally, I want depth in friendships. Back to my friend I met when I started grad school (a whole summer after I dealt with really horrible people): it's great that they've helped me professionally throughout those two years (and even saved my career by helping me get over imposter syndrome), and it's great that I am (sort of) keeping an eye out for good career opportunities for them in my local area. But, with them and others, I want something more than that. I want to know what they like/dislike, things that make them who they are, and encourage them to grow and for all that to be reciprocate back to me. This friend who saved my career has helped me grow so much over the past year without them even knowing-the amount of career things I am in because I stayed in the industry because they helped me get over imposter syndrome is pretty good for someone who graduated from college a little over a year ago. Unfortunately, after my undergraduate trauma, I went from "proceed with caution" to having my walls be up all the time. I went from "innocent until proven guilty" mentality" to "guilty until proven innocent" mentality. Maybe that's good in some ways-considering how fake people are and the number of spam everything that's happening nowadays. I'm keeping my standards high. Unfortunately, dealing with life on my own and people not wanting connections with me has been a lifelong issue; I've just handled it differently over the last few years after seeing someone I thought I could trust betray me and abandon me and let people assume things about me and spread untrue rumors about me.  I would prefer if these friendships were long-distance (the only exception being if I can find something local for my friend who saved my career), and I know it's hard to do this that way, but it's what I got. What do you guys think I can do to improve? (Sorry this was so long. TL; DR: I have a lot of truamas I went through. I care about people, and I suck at showing it bc I cannot go through another heartbreak. How do I improve?)
funnyThinker77 profile picture
Looking for some guidance on what to do
by funnyThinker77
Last post
 August 4th
...See more I know this is very long, and I'm sorry for that, but if you wouldn't mind reading it, I could really use some help. I am going into my senior year of high school. I don't have very many friends, just two other girls, let's call them Mary and Ava, who are my age. We all do choir, show choir, band, etc. Mary and Ava have another friend, let's call her Ruth, who absolutely hates me. She never gives a real reason why, just says it's because I'm "annoying". Last year at Homecoming, when I got there, Ruth was in a VERY bad mood. Like, pouting at the tables not even touching the dance floor. I asked Mary and Ava who were sitting with her if they wanted to dance, and they agreed, and Ruth came too because she didn't want to sit alone, which is fine. But we weren't on the floor for more than five minutes before Ruth started complaining, and then she blew up at me. She called me the b-word and screamed about how we were not friends and stormed off. The others followed her and they all left the dance within a half hour of me getting there, so I was all alone. After that happened I talked to Mary and Ava about it and how it really hurt me, and so I said we should make prom plans, the three of us, and they agreed. So last spring, I found out that Mary and Ava were planning on going to prom with Ruth and a few others for plans that Ruth made, and it was clear I wasn't going to be invited. So I told Mary and Ava how upset it made me privately and they both claimed that I never discussed prom plans and that they were going to hang out with me at the dance, but I wouldn't have been there for dinner or pre-prom plans. This was not the first incident like this, and so I told them I wasn't going to be their friend anymore and cut them all off. A few months later I apologized to Mary because I was super lonely and missed my friends, and she went back to acting like nothing happened. So a few days ago, Ava texts me about how confused she is that we never discussed the situation before and were just ignoring it, so we called and talked. She told me that it would take time for her to build trust in me again that I wouldn't have another "episode" with her and Mary, and told me about how Ruth has a very hard home life and so her and Mary were not going to stand up for me when Ruth is being mean. She said that it's the Christian thing to do, for her and Mary to not get involved and just show Ruth love. I am a Christian too, but I would say I'm not as well versed as they would be. Mary is very religious and Ava's father is a pastor. I guess I don't get it, because if one of my friends was treating someone as bad as Ruth treats me, I would never stay friends with them. Im supposed to meet Mary and Ava for coffee to talk about all this. Ive had some people say I should just let Ruth be mean to me, because it's only another year, but a lot of people also say I should cut all of them off. I'm also scared to cut them off because they are my only friends and I was really lonely when I cut them off before. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do in this situation?
Psynan7 profile picture
Newbie thoughts!
by Psynan7
Last post
 August 2nd
...See more I want you all to know that I’ll always be here to listen whenever you need someone to talk to. I’ll be here to support you, hear you without judgment, and stand beside you through the good days and the difficult ones. 🤗 You don’t have to be okay all the time, and you never have to pretend that you are. Sometimes, having someone who simply listens can make a world of difference. Wishing everyone here a very Happy Friendship Day! From India 🫂💐 I’m really glad to have you all as part of this community. 💛
loyalChestnut4252 profile picture
I have friends, but don’t feel like I can talk to them about my personal life
by loyalChestnut4252
Last post
 July 29th
...See more Hi everyone! I just wanted to vent a little on here. I’m noticing that I have a problem where I have plenty of friends, but none that I feel comfortable sharing personal details of my life with (i.e. my relationship). I’m not sure why I feel this way, but it feels impossible to talk to them. Just wanted to get that off my chest because it’s a big problem I’ve noticed lately and I was wondering if anyone had any advice or anything at all. Thank you all!

Friendship Support

Welcome to Friendship Support! Friendship is a wonderful thing and here is a place you can celebrate it. Whether you want to share your successful friendships or discuss the relationships which aren’t going so well, this is the place for you. We are a relatively new community so please do not hesitate to reach out to a leader if you have any suggestions or feedback.


What are the different forum topics for Friendship Support?

Community Space: A place for introductions, icebreakers, games, community check-ins and discussions.

Friendship: A place for you to discuss all things related to friendships.


How can I help?

You can help us by simply responding to threads and sharing your story (if you're comfortable). Check-in with us, join a discussion, or start one! Alternatively, you can join us as a Forum Leader. Check out this thread for more information.


Helpful Threads

Taglist: Do you want to stay up to date with our community? Then join our tag list to be notified whenever there is a new discussion or update within the community!


Friendship Support FAQ

Q: Are there any sub-community-specific guidelines that we need to adhere to?

A: You can find Sub-community-specific guidelines below, which you should follow in addition to the general forum guidelines.


Help! I still have a question! 

If you need help, feel free to contact a community leader or post here, and someone will contact you!