How to maintain a friendship with different social needs?
I'm Isabel (32F) and I've been friends with a former coworker (35M) for about 2 years now. We used to be very close, talking daily and hanging out often. But over time, his communication and availability have decreased significantly. He says he's just busy with work and naturally introverted, but I've noticed he still makes time for other friends. When I brought this up, he said my expectations as a friend were higher than his. Now I find myself initiating most of our interactions. I understand he's gone through some life changes recently with moving and a new job. But I'm not used to friendships where one person does all the reaching out. It makes me feel desperate sometimes. I'm torn between continuing to make the effort to maintain our friendship and lowering my expectations, or distancing myself. Has anyone dealt with a similar friendship dynamic? How do you balance different social needs in a friendship? I'd appreciate any advice on how to approach this situation in a healthy way.
