Have you been betrayed by your best friend? Here is how you can deal with that trauma

Every friendship or a friendly relation is based on trust, shared memories and understanding. People ‘pinky promise’ to each other to never drift away, never break trust, stay close forever and what not! But unfortunately, sometimes things take a turn for the worst, and even the closest friendships can turn into a betrayal. They could ditch a major plan, out your secret to a third person, or it could be something bigger. After a betrayal, no friendship can remain the same. A betrayal of trust is a painful experience and incite strong emotions. Anger, disbelief, feeling low and dejected and what not. And so, if you have been a victim of this betrayal, here we list a few ways to deal with it.

The betrayal could lead to the end of your friendship. And if it was a close one, the end could be very sad for you if not for the other person. And thus, it is important to give yourself the space and time to heal from it. It is important to understand that the other person wronged you and you do not just have to be angry about it, but also feel the sadness that accompanies it. Allow your emotions to surface, whether it's through talking to a family member, another person or just doing activities that can comfort you. Recognizing and processing the pain is the first step towards healing.

While many would tell you or advise you to seek closure, to call them and ask why they did so, understand that it is not worth it. If a person has betrayed you, they do not deserve your mental energy or emotional peace, and that phone call to talk about ‘why they did this’ can be a rather overwhelming one. Instead, try to introspect. Take the time to reflect on the type of relationship you had with the other person and try to identify if there were other instances that you turned a blind-eye to. If you self-reflect, you might find new pieces of information and open your mind to signs and behaviours that will protect you in future.

You do not have to be alone in your healing from the betrayal. The more alone you stay, the more the thought may consume you. So, try not to deal with it alone, instead, reach out to others. They could be friends, family or maybe even a counsellor. It is best if you have a listening ear during this time when you want to vent your feelings out. Sharing your experience with others lifts the weight off your shoulders but will also invite advice and perspectives that will help you understand and move on from the situation.

Betrayal is sad and traumatic and you do not have to rush or put yourself into situations immediately. Thus, for sometime, set some boundaries with people to prevent yourself from running into emotions and vulnerability. And this is not just for regular, normal interaction, but also applies to other friends. Try not to reveal everything to them, about the situation or in future, to prevent such problems. Plus, setting clear boundaries lets other people know where the boundaries to your space and life are.

Betrayal is a rather powerful action and emotion and can easily take a toll on your mental and physical health. You might become a skeptic, would not want to interact with people and can just have a fear of the same thing happening again. During this time, it is important to engage in activities that will bring you joy and relaxation. It could be anything! Go to a rage room, practice some meditation, exercise, go out to your favourite cafe to have a good time, whatever you need to keep your mind off it. Taking care of your physical and mental health enables you to move on from the situation and forgive the person who did you wrong.