Hi - I'm new too and my first response. I don't make friends that easy. I have a few long term ones but sometimes don't want the commitment of more, although wonder why I don't have as many as other people (it's harder as get older). I’ve occasionally felt with 1 friend who I had not seen for 4 years that she prefers another friend because I saw on Facebook photos of them on nights out and on holiday. I’m 52 and am not a needy person at all with anyone and was surprised at myself for feeling annoyed about this. This is because last time we arranged to meet, I had to phone her as she didn’t show up at my house and she said she’d forgotten. She arranged again and then last minute cancelled due to hospital appointment. I then felt it was up to her to arrange this time but she never did but would say in her Christmas cards ‘we must meet up’. I would email with dates and she would be enthusiastic and it would end up with us not finalising anything. We finally met up recently and had a great catch up and she told me she had been diagnosed with Bipolar and had failed a test for early dementia so then realised she had been dealing with her own issues. I never mentioned her other friend because I would hate for her to feel she had done something wrong (she hadn’t). I’m glad my feelings didn’t get in the way of our friendship.

I meet my closest friend who I have known for 15 years only around 4 times a year and there have been times when not at all in a year but one of us will email and suggest a catch up.

Do you think it’s because you don’t see friends as much as you would want, either due to them cancelling meet ups or just not bothering getting in touch with you first? I am wondering why you feel that you are not priority? Also is it possible that your beliefs that people forget about you when they haven’t been in contact for a while make you seem needy to them or do you not show your feelings to them?