Good Grief

Looking for a bridge over troubled water? Krithvi Shyam, our young psychologist, addresses your worst anxieties.

I am a 20-year-old girl. My close friend is a 19-year-old boy who shares everything with me. But nowadays he talks more about his mood and his masturbation which makes me uncomfortable. Should I continue being friends with him or not? Please help me out of my confusion. - FRIEND IN NEED

I can’t imagine why your friend would think it was okay to share any of that with you, unless you’ve already set the trend by having conversations on similar topics in the past (in which case you can’t really blame the guy). You don’t necessarily have to discontinue your friendship because of this. Maybe it’s a simple misunderstanding; your friend’s probably not very good at recognising when you’re feeling awkward. So, the next time he begins to narrate riveting tales from his journey through puberty, just tell him that, “I know I listened to you about this before, but I’m not really comfortable with it. Shall we talk about something else?” If he takes the hint and stops, well and good; but if he doesn’t give up, then it’s perfectly alright for you to give up his friendship.

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