[WrkNPrgress]

I recently left my abusive partner. We had good reasons to break up well beyond her regular episodes of verbal and emotional abuse.

When the break up first happened, a few of our mutual friends sent me supportive texts — a simple "... thinking of you, sorry you're going through this." Just telling me they were thinking of me. It was nice, but that's all it was. Since then, I have made and effort to keep up with people through Facebook and such but it's clear that most of them have no intention of keeping up with me and have not responded any of my posts or efforts to stay in touch with them. I don't really get why they even bothered to appear supportive in the first place.

I knew it would go down this way but it hurts my heart to see the reality playing out. I'm feeling very vulnerable right now.

I do have a few important friends who actually got in touch with me directly, continued to keep in touch, and made sure I was okay and made plans with me. This is the difference between the real friends and the acquaintances. People who Text and people who Do.

So here's my advice to anyone out there. If you care about someone hurting, don't text them your "thoughts." Do something for them, make plans with them, visit if you can or at least call them, speak to them directly, and let them know you are there for them.

"Thinking of you" is the most meaningless phrase in the universe.

[Skeezyks]

Hello WrkNPrgress: Thank you for sharing this insight... Yes, simply sending a text, or an e-mail, can be less than nothing. It's a failing that's all too easy to fall into in our internet saturated world...

[Blizz88]

I am sorry that you are going through this, but you are right. Real friends are the ones that will be there beside you through the good and the bad. I have seen this happen several time before, and it is hard to see the reality of it pan out. Stay strong and continue to spend time with your friends as you work through this. Thank you for sharing