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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Close friend ghosted me

62 replies

Usuallywearsdungarees · 17/07/2024 18:36

First time poster. I have a close friend in the same town who has been a constant in my life for a decade-ish. We have met most weekends for a run, swim or cycle followed by coffees and chats. We’ve been on loads of holidays and cycling adventures together. We laugh a lot. She was there for me through my divorce, selling my home etc. We have children of similar ages who left home at similar times. In short, a great buddy. About four months ago she stopped making arrangements to meet. My texts were answered with one liners, and then not at all. I left it a month, then put a note through her door, saying I hoped everything was alright, that I noticed she wasn’t responding and I was sad about that, but I hoped it wasn’t anything I’ve said or done. No response. I asked a mutual friend to contact her, and that friend reported she responded to them as normal and made an arrangement to meet. So I figure my friend is actually fine, but has just decided to pull back from our friendship, without telling me why. I have wracked my brains and cannot think of anything that might have sparked this, other than I recently met a new boyfriend and have had a very happy six months after a decade or so of being unhappily married or single. I miss my friend. And I feel bewildered and sad. Does anyone have any advice for me?

OP posts:
Beebumble2 · 22/07/2024 19:34

I’ve been ghosted/ snubbed. I realised that the long term friend (3 decades) was reinventing herself with a new group and I knew too much about her past.
When we meet, alone, it’s as if nothing has changed, but if there are any of the new group there, I’m snubbed.
Its taken time, but I’m just polite and limit contact.

LindorDoubleChoc · 22/07/2024 19:41

I've been ghosted by a friend recently. I'm not certain what my crime was. But just the fact that she ghosted me makes me think "good riddance" . Don't crave friendships with people who act so immaturely.

newbeggins · 22/07/2024 19:44

OP it's shit to be ghosted because you never quite understand what it was exactly that caused the person to have enough.

When it's happened to me, I've taken it as a sign that they weren't going to be the friend I deserved and they've done me a favour checking out now rather than later.

Spottyhorse24 · 22/07/2024 21:09

Beebumble2 · 22/07/2024 19:34

I’ve been ghosted/ snubbed. I realised that the long term friend (3 decades) was reinventing herself with a new group and I knew too much about her past.
When we meet, alone, it’s as if nothing has changed, but if there are any of the new group there, I’m snubbed.
Its taken time, but I’m just polite and limit contact.

This is what my friend is doing. AFAIK she's only seeing one of her old long term friends now. The rest are new people she's met through various interests or folk she's not seen in years who won't know about all the drama with her boyfriend. So she can pretend it's all been perfect.

SukeyBenedict · 22/07/2024 21:20

OP I’m so sorry this has happened to you. I think it is not uncommon. Lots of wise words on this thread… I think you need to get to a place where you don’t need her explanation.

I had a similar situation - invited a very close friend to a birthday party. She replied that she would be on holiday, but posted on social media out at a pub that night. She never spoke to me again. We had been friends for 15 years - I introduced her to her husband! It was so weird. I spent about 2-3 years wondering what I’d done wrong.

Eventually I got myself into a place where I decided that whatever I’d done was so awful that finding it out would destroy me, because it must be such a an awful thing. I was upset with myself. A few months ago I found out that she has estranged herself from almost everyone, to the point where she will not allow her in laws in the house. Her family are devastated. I’m sorry to say I felt only relief. I finally feel free of the guilt of the thing thing that I know I didn’t do.

NewspaperTaxis · 22/07/2024 21:32

Some people who don't feel on top of their lives feel the way they can assert control is to ditch people without explanation should a problem arise, they can suddenly feel in control again, it's like cutting out the deadwood or associations with the past that prevent one from living in the present.
It's not a nice way of doing it, it's kind of huffy and peremptory. A bit like 'blocking' on Twitter.

Sharontheodopolodous · 22/07/2024 21:38

I was ghosted a few years ago by two friends

I was vulnerable (just come out of a violent relationship) and was a single mum,they had partners

They where happy to use me for childcare and money but never gave anything back

They ganged up on me and tried to make decisions about my life-even if I wasn't comfortable about it

Roll on a year or so later and they just didn't show up to my dds birthday with their ds's (the kids where best friends)

Never spoke another word to them

They did start up a smear campaign against me (I ignored it) and a few years ago,one gave a fake apology on sm (and deleted it after not getting enough likes) and the other is still snarling lies about me

Their loss

Desenia86 · 22/07/2024 21:56

being ghosted is awful but I’m pretty sure what’s happened is she noticed that since you have had your new boyfriend you pulled away from her , I get it it’s natural and we can be drunk on love and not really see how much time we are actually making for someone who was there all the time for us … I’m not saying she did well I’m just saying that it’s clear she got hurt , broke up with you in her head and slowly started to ( in her head?) serve you your own medicine . It’s virtually impossibile that the relationship is the same after you meeting someone that suddenly fills your life your heart and your weekend .
and I think you know that’s what happened cause you wrote a whole
post about how hurt you were and about how much effort you had put to get back in touch w her but only mentioned in the last line that you have a new happy relationship and only in a later post admitted that yeh now your weekends are pretty busy . Let’s be honest , you just probably started to hang out less with her she got pissed off for being replaced after a decade and now she ghosted you. It’s not fair but it’s not even this big of a mistery .

Mary46 · 22/07/2024 22:09

Its awful. I had it too. Once you not of use to them I think... I def dont get too invested in people now my guard is up.

ladydeedy · 23/07/2024 22:41

this is tricky as actually if you havent openly "asked" her what is wrong and just said you hope it isnt anything you've said or done,... then you've kind of stated you dont think you may have done something.
I know this sounds harsh but please hear me out...
I've completely dialled down on a friendship that i came to realise was not working - my friend recently told me some things (including the fact she is having an affair with a married man) and displayed some mean behaviours to others which I find unacceptable. I also ahve realised over time she is a complete drain, and constantly negative. I make the conversation, ask questions, and she rarely shows any interest in my life.
I'd kind of like her to ask why I havent been in touch so that I can explain. However if she doesnt ask I am not going to message her/call her and say "I cant keep going with this relationship because I find you completely draining and not a very kind person" etc. because she would be upset and angry.
So I figured the kindest thing is to dial it right down. I'm pleasant when we bump into eachother (as we do, as have some mutual friends and live close by) but that's all.
So perhaps something like that has happened? Just a thought and one to reflect on.

Snowshill · 24/07/2024 16:26

I'm not sure if ghosting is on the rise - maybe it's a "kid in a candy store" mentality where people feel there's always someone else to become friends with.
I've certainly experienced it in recent years.

I structure things a bit differently now. If someone has not got in touch for a while, if they cancel without suggesting an alternative, if I get a funny feeling when we're together, etc., I might send out one feeler after a while, e.g. a text to say, "Hi, how have you been?" and see what the reaction is.

If it's not constructive, i.e. if it doesn't advance the friendship, I just leave it. Life is very short.

BettyBardMacDonald · 24/07/2024 18:27

@Desenia86 nailed it.

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