I am 26 and my best friend is a year younger than me. We have been friends all our lives and have always supported each other.

When we finished our studies last year we decided to share a flat. We both found jobs and initially everything went well.

In the last four months, though things have changed. She has become super critical of me and accuses me of not pulling my weight in the flat.

She says that I am messy and always moaning about everything.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact I'm the one who does everything! I do the cooking and cleaning and we each do our own washing and ironing.

She has also become very sarcastic and can be really nasty to me. If I take offence she turns around and says that I cannot take a joke and that I am too sensitive.

She has changed so much that she is not the person that I thought I knew so well. I am worried that if I try to talk this out with her it will end badly.

What do you suggest I do?

Distressesed, Kagiso

I can understand that you do not want to lose your friend but you need to ask yourself what type of a friend you would actually be losing.

Friends are not meant to be verbally abusive towards each other.

She knows it upsets you, so why does she continue to confront you?

It sounds to me as if she is reflecting her own inadequacies on you.

Sometimes people do this sort of thing to make themselves feel better.

There are a number of ways to handle this. The next time she hurts you ask her what her problem is.

If she again says you are being too sensitive then tell her yes, you are being sensitive because her criticism has become unbearable.

If you want to save your friendship then possibly think about moving out. It can become very difficult sharing space even if you are very close friends.