Alex's Answer

Hi, 

Welcome to Ask Alex. We are glad that you have brought your question and feelings to us, it is so important to share what is going on for us and although it can be very hard and scary, this is a good starting point to moving forward.  

You have said you feel like none of your friends like you, that sounds very tough on you having to carry that feeling around. What is it that makes you think that this is the case? Have your friends said or done something to you? As you probably know it can be very hard for one person to understand and know what is going on in another person’s head. However, it is very easy for our own mind and thoughts to go to the most negative place and assume the worst of the little things around us. We can think if a person looks at us in a specific way that they have a certain view of us, or if someone doesn’t message back straight away, after we messaged them, that they are annoyed with us and didn’t like what we said. We all do it, we can build up things in our own heads that couldn’t be further from the truth. So, communication is the key here, talk to your friends, let them know how you are feeling. If they are the kind of people that should be in your life, then they will understand and listen to what you have to say and reassure you that they won’t do things to make you feel like this again.  

Friendships are a two-way path, so if you stay thinking about this and don’t say anything you are not holding up your side of the relationship and carrying those thoughts will only cause you to feel bad and possibly do things that you wouldn’t normally do, just to try and please your friends. Don’t lose yourself, be true to yourself and speak out if it doesn’t feel right. If the people you call your friends don’t listen to you, then as hard as it may seem, they might be people you should move away from and find others who will be true friends. Again, talk; as you won’t know anything until you challenge it and see what is. Perhaps these articles on friendships will be helpful www.childline.ie/what-to-do-if-you-are-lonely-or-feel-like-you-have-no-friends/ and www.childline.ie/how-to-build-healthy-friendships-and-relationships/ . There are many more articles on the Childline websites around friendships if you would like to take a look. 

Having a trusted adult in your life to bounce things like this off, can be very helpful, someone you have a good positive relationship with. They will want to help you through the different stages of life and the different phases you are going through. You never know, they may have gone through phases like this themselves. 

If you feel you would like to discuss things more and that you are not ready to talk to or feel you don’t have a trusted adult in your life, you can always contact our Childline Team by phone on 1800 66 66 66 or through our web chat on www.childline.ie. You can start a chat by clicking on the Orange Tab on the right-hand side of your screen. Childline services are free and confidential, and are available 24 hours a day, every day.  We are here for you always, whether you are going through something big or something small. 

We hope that some of the above information is of use to you.    

Look after yourself, please reach out to somebody soon. 

Alex