Why do I feel like I'm always the one reaching out to friends?

Feeling like you're always the one reaching out to friends is frustrating and can make you question whether people actually want to spend time with you or if you're being too needy. This pattern often reflects different healthy relationships/improving-communication" class="internal-link">communication skills" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Communication styles and social preferences rather than a lack of care from your friends. Some people are natural initiators who think of social plans and reach out regularly, while others are more passive but genuinely appreciate when others take the lead. Your friends might assume you enjoy being the organizer, or they might be grateful that you handle the logistics of maintaining the friendship. However, this dynamic can become exhausting if you feel like you're carrying the entire burden of maintaining Interpersonal relationship. You might start to feel resentful or worry that if you stopped reaching out, the friendships would disappear entirely. Sometimes this pattern develops because you have higher social needs than your friends, or because you're more comfortable with vulnerability and emotional expression. It's also possible that some of your friendships are indeed one-sided, where people enjoy your company but aren't willing to invest equal effort in maintaining the relationship. The key is distinguishing between friends who appreciate your initiative but show care in other ways, and those who are simply taking advantage of your efforts without reciprocating. Pay attention to how people respond when you reach out - do they seem genuinely happy to hear from you and make time for you, or do they seem reluctant or frequently cancel? Consider having honest conversations with close friends about this dynamic and expressing that you'd appreciate them reaching out sometimes too. You might also experiment with pulling back slightly to see who makes an effort to maintain contact. Remember that quality matters more than quantity in friendships, and it's better to have a few friends who truly value you than many who take you for granted.