Alex's Answer

Hi, and welcome to Ask Alex.

 

Thanks for sending your question. We understand that it can be difficult to share what’s going on for you.

 

So you’re asking what to do if you’ve got fake friends, and they follow you everywhere, is that right?

 

First of all, we’d like to ask you what you mean by fake friends. It sounds like they are people you don’t like to spend time with and whom you don’t trust, would that be right? We wonder what kind of things you do together, or where you spend time together.

 

Navigating friendships can be difficult for both adults and young people. Try asking yourself what things you like about these friends, what you do together, and if the friendships are worth having. You could try speaking to some of the people you’re closest to in the group to let them know how you feel.

 

It’s really important that we set healthy boundaries in our relationships, with our family members, friends, and partners. Boundaries help us define what we are willing to give and take within a relationship, especially in terms of how we spend our time. You can find out more about setting boundaries and building healthy friendships in these articles:

www.childline.ie/how-to-build-healthy-friendships-and-relationships/) and www.childline.ie/how-to-set-boundaries-in-different-areas-of-your-life/.

 

Have you spoken to anyone about how you are feeling at the moment? It’s important to speak to an adult you trust about what’s going on for you, as they can offer support and advice—and maybe have even been in a similar situation themselves before.

 

You can also reach out to us here at Childline if you want to talk a bit more about how you’re feeling. We offer a free, non-judgemental listening service and are available 24/7. Our freephone number is 1800 66 66 66, or you can chat with us through our webchat service by clicking on the purple Messenger circle at www.childline.ie. We would love to hear from you!

 

Thanks again for reaching out to Ask Alex, and take care of yourself,

 

Alex