How do I cope with knowing that my old friends say bad things about me?
24 Answers
Moderated by Danielle Johnson, MSED, Community mental Health Counseling, LMHC
Updated: Mar 9, 2021
Anonymous
on
Aug 25, 2015
...read more
Gossip will always be out of our control. Do you believe what they're saying to be true? It's going to be tough because you trusted them, but if you know you're not what they say, then let their words bounce off. You don't need friends who bring you down. But if some of what they're saying is true, then talk it out with them. Maybe there's something you need to change for the better. Maybe you just need a current friend to talk to, ask if those bad things said have some truth. Good luck
Dealing with bullying?
Takes less than a minute. Keeps 7 Cups free for someone else.
A small contribution goes straight to keeping the community running.
yoojin21
on
Mar 16, 2015
...read more
In my personal opinion, you don't have to care about what ANYONE says about you, unless it comes from a good place and is meant to correct your mistakes. I once lived with the dogma of people saying things about me but later on I realized that if you keep living with that dogma you will only stress yourself, make yourself depressed, and achieve nothing. But once you step out of the fear of being talked about you will achieve great things in life. For example, people also commented about my appearance and how "fat" I was when I was in middle school. Once I was in high school I lost the weight and became more confident than ever. Looking back, I just think "who was that person? So insecure and sad." The same people who commented about my appearance in middle school suddenly were nice to me (shows how much everyone only cares about your appearance) but I stuck to my non-judgmental friends. If your old "friends" say bad things about you, don't bother cause they're not truly your friends. If you think you won't meet someone who doesn't say bad things about you, trust me, you will :) And those friends are worth treasuring forever.
simran14
on
Aug 1, 2016
...read more
Make new friends who wont say such things...who are actually real...every one has a past but dealings with it matters...you have grown since then just let them be and fly into the present
Anonymous
on
Jul 6, 2015
...read more
This is some of the hardest things to deal with. Maybe It's best to confront them and burn some old bridges so you won't have to worry about them anymore. And make sure they don't have to worry about you either!
onyxmichie
on
May 23, 2015
...read more
ignore them, i have lots of people who were my friends before and well they're saying bad things about me and im ignoring it, it hurt before but now i dont really care. learn not to care
Anonymous
on
Dec 15, 2015
...read more
I would not let it get to you, you are a strong person and the things they say are not true. Just keep your head up high and be yourself because you are amazing and special in your own way. Nobody is perfect.
Anonymous
on
Mar 24, 2015
...read more
I understand this, if you're coping badly with this, talk to your other friends about it. Just remember that regardless of what they say, the only person who can judge you is yourself. They're saying bad things because you're not friends anymore, and they know where your weakness is. Don't let them get to you.
Bipolarity
on
May 14, 2015
...read more
I run away from friends and friendship. I always leave people in my rear view mirror when I move on to another section of my life. I can't care about what they say if I'm running away.
Anonymous
on
Apr 1, 2015
...read more
Move on, they obviously care about you if they talk about you behind your back. they are the sort of friends that need to stay aaway from you.
GirlInGlasses23
on
Jul 20, 2015
...read more
I personally won't think much about it. If I offended them in some way, I would try to apologize just to make them know that I regretted what I did to them until they said bad things about me. But after that, I wouldn't mind anymore. I have apologized and admitted things I did wrong. I am in the right position and they are in the wrong one. That goes the same if I did nothing wrong with them
Matt5698
on
Jul 21, 2015
...read more
The brilliant thing about old friends, is they don't matter. The only people that matter are your close friends, and your close friends would know whats true, and whats not. If you leave them to it, they would soon get bored of no response. Thats how bullies work.
cheerfulUnicorn23
on
Mar 21, 2016
...read more
I know is hard,but just know that what they say doesn't mean a think because you are amazing. :)....
Anonymous
on
Apr 12, 2016
...read more
Don't worry about those who talk behind your back. They are behind you for a good reason. New and better friends are out there!
MonicaAlyce
on
Jul 9, 2019
...read more
Work hard to focus on being the best human you can be. There will be times where people will not like you "just because". I believe "other peoples opinions of me are not my business", I work to be the best me I can be on a daily and that is the best I can do. You will not be like by everyone and that is okay too. If this bothers you a lot and it is someone close, I would speak to my friends and let them know how it made me feel. It is okay to feel upset or saddened by this as well.
Anonymous
on
Mar 25, 2015
...read more
It's not easy feeling like our so called friends have betrayed us. However, this can be considered a type of bullying. Tell someone of authority, like a parent, trusted adult, or someone else what is happening. And know that what they are doing is wrong and you don't have to be a victim.
Flags
on
May 17, 2015
...read more
The way out of this is to confront them directly. Know about the root cause of their problems with you. Ask them what the matter is and in the most courteous way possible, tell them that next time they notice a bad habit of yours, they should tell you directly for the sake of the friendship you once had.
MaxObie22
on
May 17, 2015
...read more
If they say bad things about you and you know about it, they obviously aren't worthwhile. You should approach them about it and tell them how it makes you feel, if they still continue, dump them and find some friends that are nicer than them.
patientLight88
on
May 30, 2015
...read more
Just know that these hurtful things that this person might have said to you are not who you really are! You know they are not true and this person also knows that they are not true either
KaylaBella
on
Aug 25, 2015
...read more
Well, they aren't really true friends if they are talking about you. If they are, don't listen to what they say because they are not worth your time. They don't deserve you if they are talking behind your back.
heidimarie123
on
Jan 18, 2016
...read more
They're your old friends. What they say doesn't matter. If they talk about you behind your back, you know what, they're behind you for a reason. Don't let them get to you.