I always feel really scared when my best friend talks to new people...I feel like I'm really clingy and I don't know how to be confident about our friendship. What should I do?

I used to be like this with a very good friend of mine. It stemmed from me being heavily dependent on her. She was the only friend I had and I was very possessive of her, bordering onto unhealthy obsession. I felt like the friends she had, new or not, were a threat to our relationship and if I had my way, I would've isolated her and tried to make her just as dependent on me. If your best friend is the only friend you have or the only person you truly feel connected to, it could because you are realizing how much that person means to you and you're worried that new people might take their attention away, or worse, leave you entirely. If you've gone through a major life change, like leaving a toxic relationship, it could be that you're relying on that person for support and them interacting with others feels like a personal attack on you. I would suggest that you try to see why you feel that way and try to remind yourself that people need breathing space and/or boundaries. If it is because you wish you were just as social as your best friend but are scared of interacting with others, then maybe take baby steps to being more social or interactive with others. You could try talking to your friend and explain what you're feeling and offer ways to make it easier for you. However, be aware that any solutions that you come up with should also be fair for your friend so that you aren't making them choose between their own social lives and you.

Based on personal experience I have found the best way to achieve confidence in a friendship is to focus on yourself and build strong friendships outside of this one. For example attempt new things which provide opportunities to meet new people whilst developing new hobbies and interests. This will boost you own confidence therefore giving you confidence within a friendship. I think it’s also important to try to talk to the new people as well as your friend as there is no reason you both can’t make new friends together. Most importantly remember to prioritise maintaining a healthy relationship with your friend, even if this entails giving your friend distance to meet new people.