“Absolutely Heartbreaking”: 50 Times People Did Something So Awful, Their Friend Turned On Them

To learn more about this topic, we got in touch with psychologist, author and speaker Dr. Therese Mascardo, PsyD. She was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and discuss why going through a friendship breakup is so painful.

"Because we don’t expect it," the expert says. "With romantic relationships, we’re conditioned to the reality they might end, but often believe close friendships are forever."

"Losing a friend feels like losing a piece of yourself. It’s not just about the person; it’s about the memories, the inside jokes, the version of you that only existed with them," Dr. Mascardo continued. "There’s no cultural script for mourning a friend, which makes the grief feel even lonelier. Friendship breakups hurt because no one prepares you for them, and because they often take a piece of your past with them without offering any closure."

So how can we know when it might be time to end a friendship? "Start paying attention to how you feel before, during, and after spending time with them," Dr. Mascardo shared. "If you feel anxious, emotionally drained, or like you have to shrink yourself to keep the peace, those are red flags."

"Friendships should be a safe space, not a performance or a transaction. It might be time to let go when trust has been repeatedly broken, boundaries aren’t respected, or the connection feels more like obligation than joy," the therapist continued. "It's healthy for relationships to have give and take, but when a friendship starts to drain your battery more than charge it, then it may be time to re-evaluate."

We also asked the expert for her advice on how to end a friendship. "There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. If the friendship was deeply meaningful, a compassionate conversation can offer both people clarity and closure," she says. "But in cases where there’s emotional harm, manipulation, or the dynamic has faded naturally, a gradual disengagement can be more appropriate."

"You don’t owe everyone a detailed explanation—especially if doing so would reopen wounds. You can honor the role someone played in your life without inviting them back into it," Dr. Mascardo noted. "Ending a friendship isn’t about trying to hurt the other person, it’s about protecting yourself and your peace."

Finally, the therapist added that it can be hard when a friendship breakup doesn't have closure.

"It's important to keep in mind that these breakups aren’t failures or reflections of our worth. They’re transitions. People evolve and grow, and not always in the same direction," Dr. Mascardo explained.

"It’s okay to grieve, miss them, and still know it was the right decision. Healing doesn’t always look like closure, sometimes it looks like moving forward with self-compassionate acceptance," she continued. "Losing a friend doesn’t mean the bond wasn’t real, it just means your paths are no longer aligned."