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When you feel down, you want your friends to understand you, support you and encourage you. You don't want to feel alone. Friends are there to help you, but if you don't play your cards right, you might risk losing the very support you need. And that will really bring you down.

Be honest and ask yourself if any of the following statements sound like you:

• I continually complain about how bad I feel.
  
  
• I complain about how others treat me unfairly.
  
  
• I take a negative view of the world in general.
  
  
• I don't ask my friends about how they are doing.
  
  
• I monopolize the conversation.
  
  
• I ask for reassurance—over and over again.
  
  
• I reject reassurance once I get it.
  

If you do relate to these, don't worry—you aren't alone. That's just what people do when they're depressed, angry and anxious. But when you feel really down, you may be on a negative track that brings everyone around you down too. By saying that, I'm not trying to make you feel worse. I'm simply suggesting you can change your behavior to be more rewarding to your friends. You need your friends—and they need you.

4 tips to keep your friends on your side and get the support you need