When your friends begin to confront you too often about perceived conflict? Connection experts like Dr. Miriam Kirmayer have advice to share.

Have you ever felt overwhelmingly alone even when you were physically surrounded by people? Turns out, you’re very much not alone in feeling that way.

Because Gen Z has not had the “experience of making new friends at work that they really can draw on and leverage to keep them feeling socially connected”, says Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, young people are fundamentally changing their approaches to how they connect.

“When we feel chosen, that is, that the people we choose are choosing us in return, this is paramount. Healthy close friendships are based on balance and reciprocity,” Dr. Miriam Kirmayer says.

Social skills, like any other, take continuous effort. “It’s common for people to feel out of practice and uncomfortable,” says Dr. Miriam Kirmayer.

Connection experts like Dr. Miriam Kirmayer suggest ways to cope with your relationships after lost pregnancies.

“When we turn toward avoidance, we turn away from healthier connections,” says Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, PhD, clinical psychologist and friendship expert.

“It’s often less about these kinds of grand overtures that we can make in our relationships and more about the small moments of letting a friend know that we’re thinking of them,” said Dr. Miriam Kirmayer.

“We talk a lot about how challenging long-distance romantic relationships can be, and we don't do enough to normalize how difficult it can be to maintain a long-distance friendship, both practically and emotionally,” Dr. Miriam Kirmayer says.

“The past year and a half has really been a time of meaningful closeness for our friendships,” says Dr. Miriam Kirmayer. “We're asking, ‘Who do we feel safe around? Who are we really wanting to connect with?’”

“When we feel lonely, but then we judge ourselves over that, it makes it even harder to put ourselves out there and to be vulnerable,” says Dr. Miriam Kirmayer.

Research suggests social media can have negative effects on our sleep, can increase feelings of depression and anxiety, and may actually be contributing to loneliness, says Dr. Miriam Kirmayer.

Everyone feels left out sometimes. It’s how you handle it that matters, according to experts like Dr. Miriam Kirmayer.

Ottawa-based clinical psychologist Dr. Miriam Kirmayer said the pandemic has highlighted unforeseen differences in people's perspectives and values.

A “toxic friendship” typically indicates that a function or expectation of the relationship has been challenged, says Dr Miriam Kirmayer. But can it be salvaged?

“We’re capable of working through this,” Dr. Miriam Kirmayer says. “It’s not a sign that anything’s inherently wrong with us or anything’s changed as far as who we are in our friendships.”

“Sometimes our friendships end because they no longer fit into our lives or routines,” said clinical psychologist and friendship expert Dr. Miriam Kirmayer.

Anxiety about friend-making isn’t so uncommon, according to clinical psychologist and friendship researcher Dr. Miriam Kirmayer.