I don’t know whether it’s because the euphoria of being back at school has worn off, or because schoolwork is picking up and midterms are approaching, but in the last week or so the tensions on campus have been rising and people have been getting a little testy. It’s annoying to deal with but it’s a reality of sharing a living space, whether it’s only with one other person or a house with five girls. So here are a few pieces of advice to manage your issues without becoming an ex-BFF (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQT6K1F-IhI).
First off, avoid any drunken confrontation. It’s not going to get you anywhere, and sharing your business with the whole bar can become mildly embarrassing. Also, fights under the influence usually lead to tears, which simply isn’t attractive or classy. Guards come down when we’ve had a few drinks, but resist the urge to argue and just wait until you’re both sober. You’ll thank me later.
On a related note, don’t get into it in front of other people. It will only put you both further on the defensive. Talk to each other calmly, on an afternoon where you’re the only people around—this way you’ll be able to say what you’re thinking without worrying about what everyone else in the room is going to say about you later.
That being said, don’t keep your feelings bottled up, either; that will only lead to an even bigger blowout later. Plus, your friend can’t change her behavior if she doesn’t even know what she’s doing wrong. It’s not like she has ESPN or something.
Finally, try not to approach the situation with a closed mind. Even if you are convinced that you are 100% right and did absolutely nothing wrong, you’ll probably realize that you aren’t, and you did. By sitting down and actually acknowledging that you might not be perfect (um…whatsup?) you and your roommate can actually make some progress and find a solution to the argument.
Bon chances, mes amies!
Sources:
http://www.mynewplace.com/blog/files/2010/11/angry-roommates.jpg