Listen if your friend needs to talk. He or she may feel stressed, sad, or otherwise upset about the coming move. Be a good friend and offer a listening ear. Allow your friend to vent his or her frustrations to you. While it’s okay to tell your friend you’re going to miss him or her, avoid stressing your friend out further. Even if you’re sad your friend is moving, try to express genuine happiness for him or her. Wish your friend good luck on his or her big move. Like anything he or she posts on Facebook regarding the move. Try to help your friend get excited. Look up new things for your friend to do in his or her new home.
Ask someone if you can talk to them first, explaining you need to sort out your feelings about your friend’s coming move. Ask them if they can simply listen to you talk for a bit, and then let them know how you’re feeling. Choose someone who’s empathetic, like a kind older relative or close mutual friend. Select someone who’s listened to you in the past when you’ve been going through difficult times.
Make sure you ask your parents before hosting a goodbye party. [5] X Expert Source Katie StyzekProfessional School Counselor Expert Interview. 25 November 2020. Consider planning some party events that help promote closure. For example, you could all give a brief speech saying goodbye. You could also all sign a goodbye card for your friend. Do not expect a goodbye party to be all fun and games. You should expect there will be some tears and sadness as well. This is normal. Do not try to force your friend or your guests to only experience feelings of happiness.
You do not have to spend a lot of money on a goodbye gift. It can be something sentimental that reflects your relationship. For example, if you and your friend loved a particular coffee shop, buy him or her a cheap mug from that shop. You can also make a creative gift for your friend. Write him or her a poem commemorating your friendship. Make a collage of photos of the two of you.
It’s normal to feel sad when a friend is gone, especially if you were particularly close. While you’ll still stay in touch, you can’t simply go over to your friend’s house at the end of a long day anymore. It’s normal to feel disappointed and frustrated with this transition. You also may feel some anxiety. Your friend is going to meet new people in his or her new location. You may worry about being replaced or forgotten. Such anxieties are also very normal. If your friend moved away for positive reasons, such as a new job or getting into a great college, you may feel guilty for feeling sad. You may feel as if you should be happy for your friend and his or her great new life. However, it’s okay to feel sad. Any transition is bound to result in mixed emotions. You can be happy for your friend, but still feel sad as you’ll miss him or her.
Try to see both the positive and negatives. You will have some regrets when a friend moves. There’s probably a lot the two of you never got a chance to do together, for example. However, you should also be grateful for the time you did have.
If you had a certain day of the week you typically spent with your friend, find ways to fill your time on that day. For example, maybe you always had dinner with your friend on a Friday night. Make regular plans with another friend on that night or join a club that meets on Fridays. Reach out to other friends. While you may miss your friend who moved away, you should work on strengthening your relationships with your friends who still live near you. These friends are probably missing the friend who moved away as well, and will appreciate you wanting to reach out. Find new hobbies. If you’re unsure what to do with yourself in your friend’s absence, finding new ways to pass the time can help. Explore your interests. If you’ve always been interested in cooking, for example, try enrolling in a cooking class.
You can find a therapist by asking your regular doctor for a referral. You can also find a therapist through your insurance provider. If you are a college student, you may be entitled to free counseling through your college or university.
You can also play games from a distance via outlets like Facebook and your smart phone. Trivia games, and games like Words With Friends, can make you feel like your friend is right there with you hanging out.
This is not necessarily a bad thing and it does not have to mean the two of your are growing apart. Many people have long distance friends who they feel very close with, even if they only communicate on occasion. You may find that, when you and your friend do talk, you feel like no time has passed at all, even if it’s been months.
