![]() Zerehi notes your friend could be uncomfortable by the change of your feelings toward them, so be prepared for anything to happen. That said, it's inevitable things will be awkward for a while while you work on returning the friendship back to how it used to be-if that's what you're both wanting to do. Your reaction may play a part in how things proceed next. Privately, you can process your disappointment later. If they don't feel the same way and want to remain friends only, meet the conversation with as much lightness and understanding as possible. (Still not sure? Here's how to interpret mixed signals for this tricky situation.) "If there is a history of flirtation in the relationship, an acknowledgment of mutual attraction, or a gut feeling you have that this person might be falling in love with you, too, the risk is lower." "There is a spectrum of risk that initiating the conversation presents to the stability of the friendship moving forward," McCullough notes. One caveat: Sometimes it's hard to tell if they're interested in you because they're also afraid of ruining the friendship. They may support and champion it instead. If they're not into you, you'll notice they're not interested in cultivating intimate, flirty moments, and they're likely not jealous about your love life. If they're into you, they'll reciprocate flirtiness and you'll see some nerves on their side. Pay attention to how they act around you in subtle and obvious ways. Before you have the conversation, become objectively curious about their interpersonal behavior. Since they're your friend, it's likely you'll know how they behave when they like someone. You pay a lot of attention to their movements when they're around you.You invite them on trips, preferably solo so it's just you two.You analyze your communications and text messages with them.When they're near you, you want to physically touch them or move closer.You feel jealous of their romantic relationships.You go the extra mile whenever they need anything, much more than you would for other friends.You're experiencing certain physiological symptoms like shakiness, sweating, dry mouth, or butterflies in your stomach.You want to spend your free time with them more than other friends.You imagine what it would be like to kiss, cuddle, or date them.You find a reason to bring your best friend up in conversations when they're not around.You always want to make yourself available in case they want to make plans.You're thinking about your friend a lot, even when you're not around them.You're sexually and physically attracted to them.Look out for many, if not all, of these signs to be present in your relationship: To begin the process of examining your feelings, Zerehi and psychotherapist Madison McCullough, LCSW, share some telltale signs that the friendship is something more. You don't have to tell your friend about your feelings yet, but you do need to acknowledge emotionally what's happening. Licensed marriage and family therapist Farah Zerehi, LMFT, tells mbg the best way to process these feelings is confiding in someone you trust or journaling about it so you can gain a better perspective. After you've honestly interrogated your feelings, the reflections will leave you well equipped to figure out what to do next. ![]() That includes thinking through all of the possibilities that can happen. You already seek them out in group situations and adore each other, but a healthy and thriving romantic relationship needs more than physical attraction and a few shared interests.įor you to know you're truly in love with them, it's important to figure out if it's simply platonic love or the beginnings of a beautiful love story. Falling in love with a friend is the stuff of rom-coms. ![]()
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