There are moments when the story between two friends can become something more, and the friendship can give way to a sentimental relationship . However, when one of the two friends feels more than the other and falls in love without being reciprocated, the friendship becomes complicated.

Being in love with your best friend can be a complex situation, which often arouses very intense feelings. In this context, maturity is key to managing the situation when you do not want to lose the friendship and affection. Knowing how to make a wise decision will determine how well the relationship will go in the future, whether as friends or as a couple.

Much to gain and much to lose

There are many stories of friendship that have been broken because love has appeared between two inseparable companions, but there are also stories and love adventures that have emerged from the unique connection felt by a couple of good friends.

The line between friendship and romantic love is fragile , and that is why many individuals believe that it is not possible for feelings of friendship to exist between two people of the opposite sex who have learned to love each other as siblings without being family. Because when a true friend (of the opposite sex) connects deeply with us and our needs, more than just a friendship can emerge.

In these cases the question arises whether it is worth risking everything and losing that person who is so important to us.

Can there be friendship between a man and a woman (heterosexuals)?

Our friends can give us great joy, that is why it is said that “he who has a friend has a treasure”. In reality, we all decide who is part of our circle of friends, because friends are the family that one chooses to live a full life.

Finding that person with whom we can share our good times and our sorrows, with whom we can bare our soul and understand and accept us as we are, is a great gift of life.

Sometimes, that special friend can be someone of the opposite sex, and then one of the most recurrent questions can arise: Is friendship between a woman and a man possible? Undoubtedly, yes! But sometimes this close friendship can become a great challenge, and a more than exciting and, at the same time, frightening barrier can be presented that confronts the friendship with attraction or with a deeper and more intense feeling: the infatuation towards our best friend .

How to tell if you are in love with your best friend

When we fall in love with our best friend, the feelings are so strong and contradictory that the fear of revealing them can be paralyzing because of the fear of losing the affection of this person who is so important to us.

In this sense, if we want to maintain affection with our friend it is necessary to detect if what we feel towards him or her is friendship or, on the other hand, we have developed feelings of attraction and love. But, what are these signs?

1. You don’t treat him like other friends

When you want your friend to be your partner, you behave differently than you would if he or she were just a friend. Because falling in love changes your behaviour . For example, it may hurt you now when your friend talks to you about his or her affairs, something that didn’t happen before.

2. You care more than other friends

Almost without realizing it, the person who was your friend has become your priority . He or she has become too important a part of your life and you care about his or her happiness almost as if it were your own.

3. You are impatient to see this person

Seeing your friend as something else makes you want to spend a lot of time with him or her, that you have a great need to see him or her at all times.

4. You want to melt into his arms

You probably have many friends of the opposite sex, but you wouldn’t melt into everyone’s arms the way you would with your special friend . The hugs of this person you consider unique make you feel something magical, something that no one else makes you feel.

5. You’re attracted to it

An unmistakable sign that your friend is no longer just your friend is that you are attracted to him or her and want to have intimate moments with him or her. You probably want to be alone with your friend, so you can connect emotionally.

6. You think about that person all day long

It has stolen your thoughts, it has hijacked your attention and is now present in your mind for much of the day . That’s why you write to it on WhatsApp all the time and talk to it differently than you would to other friends.

What to do if you fall in love with your best friend

Being in love is one of the best experiences we can have, as long as the other person feels the same way about us. Otherwise, we can suffer from unrequited love, which can affect our self-esteem and cause us frustration and anxiety, among other psychological symptoms.

This situation is especially delicate if the unrequited love is that of our best friend. Now, if romance triumphs, friendship can give way to true love .

Falling in love with our best friend can be incredible, but it can also mean putting our much-loved friendship at risk, so it is logical that doubts arise as to whether we should tell him or silence this immense feeling. So what should we do if this happens to us?

1. Be aware of it and accept the situation

When we fall in love with our best friend, there is no point in running away from this feeling and repressing it , because in one way or another it will affect both us and the friendship. If we find ourselves in this situation, the best option is to recognize the signs I have talked about in the previous lines and accept that falling in love with a friend is something that can happen and, in fact, does happen with some frequency.

2. Observe how she behaves with you

When you know how you feel towards your best friend, you can observe his behaviour to find out if he really feels the same way about you . This can help you to accept the situation that is coming up, to reflect on what is happening and to make a decision about how you are going to manage this new reality in which you live immersed.

3. Be honest with yourself and your friend

If you have fallen in love with your best friend, pretending that none of this has happened and that the friendship will remain the same is not realistic . In fact, it can affect both positively and negatively the love that you and your friend have for each other, so it is always better to be honest with yourself and with the other person. Communication and expression of feelings can help to manage the relationship from now on and to direct it with maturity.

4. Respect their decision

Telling your friend that you feel more than just a friendship is a brave decision, but their reaction is not up to you . If she decides to be with you and give you a chance to start a relationship, it will probably be one of the most incredible days of your life.

But this idyllic situation is not always fulfilled, and it may happen that your friend does not feel the same way about you. In the face of this, you must respect their decision and get on with your life. This does not mean losing your friendship, but you will have to adapt to the new situation, even if it involves taking some time off. You can read the article “How to forget an impossible love, in 5 steps” to know what to do in this case.