Hi again and welcome back to the savvy psychologist. I'm Dr. Ellen Hendrickson and every

Friday I'll help you meet life's challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

All right, so what happens when your BFF's behavior makes you say WTF?

When do you stay loyal and when do you call it quits?

By request from listener Alyssa, this week we'll tackle when to stick it out in a troubled friendship and when to walk away.

All right, so despite what the Spice Girls would have us believe, it's not true that friendship never ends.

Research actually confirms what we've all experienced. it's not true that friendship never ends.

Research actually confirms what we've all experienced.

Most middle school friendships don't even last a year.

And while some adult friendships last throughout life,

some make us feel like we've been sentenced for life.

So how do you know when to make a break for freedom?

Sometimes it's obvious.

A so-called friend steals your money or your partner, or in the case of Taylor Swift,

your backup dancers.

Now we've got bad blood indeed.

But sometimes it's not so obvious.

Do you tough it out with a friend struggling with addiction? Can you stay friends

with someone whose values undergo a radical change? Do you leave behind a boring friend or remind

yourself that true friendship isn't about entertainment.

And of course, what to do when a friendship starts off strong and then just fizzles.

Nothing happened, but there's just nothing there anymore.

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