Do You Ever Feel Like You’re Always the One Making an Effort?
@septabchips (2102)
United Kingdom
October 8, 2026 6:57pm CST
Have you ever noticed that you are usually the one checking up on people, starting conversations, remembering birthdays, or making plans?
Then, when you stop making the effort, everything suddenly goes quiet. Nobody checks in, nobody asks how you are doing, and you begin to wonder whether the relationship would even exist if you stopped trying.
I know people have busy lives and not everyone expresses care in the same way. But surely, relationships should not feel like a one-person job?
Have you ever stopped reaching out to see who would notice? What happened when you did?
8 people like this
9 responses
@AmbiePam (130543)
• United States
9 Oct
Yes, that has happened before. I eventually quit reaching out to them, and we ceased our friendship. Which actually ended up being a weight off my shoulders I did not expect. I hadn’t realized how existing carrying a one sided friendship had been.
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (14292)
• United Kingdom
9 Oct
There is one friend that I don’t see anymore ….she was a real `Debbie Downer …..she moaned about everything and everyone. She found fault all the time. In the end I found I was not telling her things as I knew she would find fault. Our texts became less and less ….
@valherma00 (5754)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
10 Oct
after high school and college, i did and you're right, it's suddenly silence again or when i reached out one last time, they ignored my text or email so, that felt very obvious.
@JudyEv (389257)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Oct
I probably don't reach out as much as I should but I'm better at it than I once was. I always reply to people, send cards, stuff like that but I don't always initiate a first contact.
@nawala123 (24090)
• Indonesia
9 Oct
Sometimes i feel so in my workplace. But now i don't want to do some extra tasks anymore
