Will dating ruin a friendship?

Asked by Anonymous
Answered
05/03/2021

This can be difficult to answer, and it depends solely on the two individuals involved in the friendship and the new relationship. This triangle can also become quite messy, or it has the possibility of turning out fine. It is important to go into the question without bias or judgement. It can ultimately go both ways. Some individuals do well with dating and having friends. However, the opposite can be true as well. Some individuals do not do well with dating, and it can absolutely ruin a friendship. For example, if the individual that someone is dating tends to exhibit gaslighting behaviors of narcissistic behaviors, friends of the individual in the relationship quickly pick up on the relationship's red flags. Once friends pick out or see red flags in their friend’s relationship, they usually tell their friend how they feel. In most cases, if their friend does not respond, they are aware of the same concerns, problems, and issues about their new partner. Friends can sometimes lose touch and or lose their friendship because they cannot see eye to eye on their friend's new partner.

However, the situation could also play out in reverse where the new partner sees the same gaslighting behaviors of narcissistic behaviors in the friend of their partner. The partner could discuss his or her issues, concerns, and problems about seeing red flags about their partner's friend, which could again go unnoticed by the partner, which could, in turn, cause problems in the relationship. Therefore, it truly depends on the specific situation at hand in determining if dating will truly ruin a friendship. Many factors must be looked at and researched because they can be unique. Each situation is processed thoroughly before a final answer or decision on whether dating can ruin a friendship. Again, this is not a yes or no answer; this question is based solely on i. It depends on the situation after all the information is gathered and processed without judgment, bias, or making anyone feel ridiculed.

(EdS, LPC-S, NCC, BC-TMH)