Bustle - The Ultimate Guide To Friendship

We’ve all seen that picture-perfect image of a tight-knit, inseparable friend group on TV (think: Friends, Sex and the City, New Girl), and it can be a bummer when you look around and realize you don’t have that sort of crew. But that’s not always realistic—or necessary! Expecting the perfect, made-for-HBO squad “can create a discrepancy between what our relationships involve and what we want them to look like, leading to dissatisfaction, anxiety, and constantly comparing how our social circles measure up to other people,” says psychologist Miriam Kirmayer, PhD. Rather than spinning your wheels about what you think your friendships should look like, you can use that energy to make deeper connections with the people around you using

A healthy relationship is all about balance, and that’s especially important in friendships. If things start to feel one-sided, it has the potential to unravel. “Without boundaries, it is difficult to trust others, to take care of yourself, and to make sure the relationship is mutually beneficial,” says therapist Amanda White, LPC, LMHC. “Boundaries allow us to maintain our relationships long term.” Do you and your friends respect each other’s time? Are you comfortable telling each other no? Experts gave us a list of 9 boundaries you should have in your friendship.