Article: Keeping your feelings bottled up will hurt you in the long run. This doesn’t mean that you should reestablish communication with your former friend, but certainly you should talk about your feelings with someone you know, love, and trust. Your friend or family member can offer you support and love through the act of listening.  While they are not a replacement for your former friend, your friend or family member can diminish the impact of your loss. You can go to social networking sites or simply start conversations with other people that you may encounter in your daily life. Know what traits you are looking for in a friend as you are getting to know new acquaintances. You might even look for positive qualities in your former best friend in the people you are befriending.  Here are some ways to make new friends:  Strike up a conversation with a stranger in line at the grocery store Talk to the barista at your local coffee shop about his or her interests Go to an art or music show and talk to people there Meet people online through social networking sites Open the lines of communication between the yourself and another person Participate in mutual self-disclosing behaviors with others Invite new acquaintances to hang out with you Mental health professionals are impartial listeners and it is their job to avoid making judgments. If you need to vent to someone, or if you feel that the loss of your friend has created a severe imbalance of emotions for you, please do not hesitate to seek help. You do not have to go through this loss alone. While an animal cannot replace your former friend, you can form a new and important bond of companionship and love with an animal, which might help you reconcile the loss you have experienced. Studies have shown that owning a pet also leads to lower stress levels, better psychological health, and emotional support. All of these emotional and health benefits would certainly be a pro for someone who is dealing with the loss of a close friendship.

What is a summary?
Confide in a trustworthy friend or family member. Make new friends. Talk to a mental health professional if the loss feels too immense for you to process alone. Adopt a pet.