Friendships fading depression

[Nukey12345]

Over the past couple of years, I've felt myself withdrawing from all of my closest friends because my priorities have changed. The problem being their priorities have not. At least to the point where any one of them will reach out more than me. I've felt entirely too depressed while this is happening because I can't will myself to respond let alone hang out again. Most of my friendships have either faded or are fading. I need a friend and it can't be them.

[Dolphin14]

Nukey12345

Unfortunately we think our friendships will last a life time and that's not always the case.

People grow and people change. Maybe in time these friends will come back

You may have to set these friendships aside and begin new relationships.

🐬

[Nukey12345 in reply to Dolphin14]

What's making it difficult is me wanting to communicate to some of my closest friends that I simply don't want to be friends anymore. It feels like I can more easily move on, but people keep saying that's unempathetic and I'm not leaving room for the future. To me waiting for them to stop reaching out may never happen so I feel stuck in this depression until I know it's over.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Nukey12345]

I think you have to follow your own gut with things like this. Maybe just leave it and things will just fade out?

I wouldn't let someone else tell you what you should and shouldn't do. They don't live in your head and your heart so they don't understand where you are coming from.

[Nukey12345]

My gut says to communicate it's over, but I mean what do you even say to a childhood friend of 20 years? I mean I'm not trying to hurt his feelings, but this has to be the end.

[Nukey12345]

My decision to tell him over everyone else plagues me too. Like why did I have to tell him it's over and not everyone else? Like why do I need to get this off my chest?