If your best friend has mood swings, but they only seem to occur when they are around you, it can be a challenging and delicate situation to handle. Here are some steps you can consider taking:
Communicate openly: Initiate an honest and non-confrontational conversation with your friend about their mood swings. Express your concern for their well-being and the impact their mood swings have on your friendship. Make sure to use "I" statements to avoid sounding accusatory.
Listen empathetically: Give your friend a chance to explain their feelings and emotions without interrupting or passing judgment. Sometimes, there may be underlying issues or stressors that they are dealing with, which could be influencing their behavior.
Offer support: Let your friend know that you are there to support them through their ups and downs. Showing empathy and understanding can help them feel more comfortable discussing what's bothering them.
Check your own behavior: Reflect on your actions and interactions with your friend. Ensure that you are being a supportive and understanding friend. Sometimes, our behavior can unintentionally contribute to the way others feel around us.
Give space if needed: If your friend needs some space to work through their emotions, respect their boundaries and give them time alone if they ask for it.
Encourage seeking professional help: If the mood swings seem severe, prolonged, or significantly impacting their daily life, gently suggest that they consider seeking support from a mental health professional. Offer to help them find resources or accompany them if they're open to it.
Consider your own well-being: It's essential to take care of yourself too. If the mood swings become emotionally draining for you, seek support from other friends or a therapist to process your feelings and concerns.
Avoid taking it personally: Understand that their mood swings may not be directly related to you. There could be various reasons for their behavior, and it's essential not to internalize it as a reflection of your worth as a friend.
Maintain boundaries: While being supportive, it's important to establish healthy boundaries. Make sure you're not enabling any negative behavior or allowing the mood swings to affect your own emotional well-being.
Be patient: Changing behavioral patterns takes time. Be patient with your friend and with the process of improving communication and understanding between the two of you.
Ultimately, every situation is unique, and the best approach may vary. If you find that the mood swings persist or are becoming increasingly difficult to handle, seeking guidance from a counselor or therapist may be beneficial for both you and your friend.