Sometimes, there comes a point in our lives where we have to cut ties with a close friend. Maybe it’s because they always steal your crush, maybe it’s because they put you down more than they lift you up or maybe it’s because you two just consistently never see eye-to-eye. Whatever the reason, ending a friendship is definitely not easy and, as we’ve said before, can be even more heartbreaking than a boyfriend breakup.

Doing it can be tricky also. You can’t exactly just walk up to your friend and be like, “Hi, I’m breaking up with you.” But you have to do something. Before you do, though, make sure you’ve really thought about it. Can the friendship really not be turned around? Are you sure you want this person out of your life? If so, that’s fine. But make sure it’s something you really want and not just the result of one or two small fights.

So, wondering how to end a friendship? I’m here to help. Here are seven tips on breaking up with a friend the right way:

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Let Things Fade Slowly

Before you decide to flat-out tell your pal you don't want to be friends anymore, try starting slow. Let things fade away on their own - by that I mean, don't like everything is fine when it's not, just to ultimately drop a bomb on her. Stop making plans to hang out, don't always answer her calls, cut conversations short, etc. Do all of this without being super mean about it... she should start to get the hint that something's going on.

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Don't Tell Other People About It Before You Tell Her

If you plan on ending a friendship with someone, you should at least give your friend the courtesy of telling her rather than having her hear it from someone else. I'm not saying you can't tell anyone - in fact, you should discuss this decision with a good, trusted friend before you make it - but don't run around telling anyone who will listen. That hurts.

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Be Honest And Up-Front

When the time comes for you to actually talk to your friend about things, the important thing is to be honest with her. If you're ending your friendship because she's flirting with your BF, tell her. Don't give a lame excuse because you don't want to talk about the real issue. Who knows, she could even end up feeling terrible and maybe you guys can fix the problem. Either way, it's always better to be honest in these kinds of situations. It seems harder, but it makes things easier in the end.

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Talk About It In Person

Ready to tell your buddy that your friendship is over? Okay - just don't do it through texting, Facebook messaging or anything similar. Actually speaking about these things may be uncomfortable, but it's the easiest way to get your point across. If you're really freaked out by the idea of doing this in person, at least do it over the phone.

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Be Nice, But Firm

When telling this girl you don't want to be friends anymore, you don't have to be all like, "You suck, bye." Try to be nice about things while still being firm about what you're trying to say. Unless something crazy bad happened between you two, there's no reason to have a huge dramatic fight over something this sad happening. Try to be the bigger person, because in a few years, you'll be glad you did.

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Expect Some Backlash

Okay, so it's done - friendship over. Now you should probably expect a little backlash. Your old friend may not take things well and if she's angry enough, she could try to get some sort of revenge or just try to make you look really bad. Maybe some of your mutual friends will pick sides and that stinks, but if they're going to do that, don't sink to their level. Just ignore all the drama and move on with your life.

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Avoid Awkward Situations

If you two have a lot of the same friends, things might be awkward. Try to be cordial if you see each other in public. You don't have to say hi or anything like that, but you also don't have to be glaring at each other from across the room. If you're really uncomfortable, avoid her for the beginning, but eventually you guys will have to get used to seeing each other around.

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Do you have a friendship you want to end? Why? Have you ever ended a friendship? How did you do it? Tell me in the comments.

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