Dear JeanKhoo:

You wrote: “I am afraid to approach people cause I am worried what if the same friendship problem will occur again?”- it is very important to learn and evaluate people before you get too close to them. If you take your time learning who the person is, over time, and evaluate that the person is trustworthy, then you are less likely to be hurt.

It is too bad that your ex boyfriend went “telling everyone how terrible I was”- he should have told only you what he was unhappy about, and in a respectful way. You wrote “what my ex said wasn’t entirely true”- of what he said that was true, look into it, and change what needs to be changed in your behavior.

Regarding your supportive current boyfriend- share with him your present thoughts and feelings (not necessarily past events in your life), and allow him to help you.

anita