Faking it With Friends: How to Let Go When Friendship Becomes a Performance.

This week, we’re peeling back the layers of friendship — the slow fades, the silent resentments, and the moments we realize we’re playing a part we no longer want. Why do we stay in friendships long after they stop fitting? Why do we feel like the bad guy for, realizing that someone else is a shitty friend? And when is it time to stop faking it altogether?

Spoiler: it’s messier, sadder, and somehow more beautiful than you might think.

In This Episode:

• The Mythical Unicorn: Realistic Expectations vs. Impossible Standards in Friendship

• The Ghost in the Group Chat: When to Speak Your Piece and When to Leave Quietly

• The Hierarchy of Heart Space: Why Not Everyone Deserves an All-Access Pass to Your Life

• Letting Go With Grace: How to Release Friendships Without Resentment or Drama

  
  

A Quick Note on the Rebrand:
Hi everyone — it’s Allie. I wanted to let you know that Always Anxious is officially: The Unreliable Narrator.
I love a good rebrand almost as much as I love overthinking everything — but truly, this shift feels right. As I grow into my voice as a writer and storyteller, I wanted a name that better captures what this space has always been about: sharing life the way it’s actually felt, not perfectly remembered. Thank you for growing with me and I'm excited to be able to focus on sharing what really matters to me here.

This Podcast was always meant to simply be a way to make my essays more accessible to you, so if you enjoyed listening check out my Substack for more essays like this.

Find Me Here:

If you’re in your feels after reading — or just need something to soundtrack your quiet exits, here’s a playlist inspired by FAKING IT WITH FRIENDS.