Ghosting hurts, like, really hurts doesn’t it? Getting ghosted is when someone in a relationship cuts off all communication from their partner with no explanation. Ghosting could also mean that you were ignored by your best friend, when you didn’t realize what you did wrong. Either way, it doesn’t feel good to be ghosted.

Out of 71 North Platte High School students, approximately 74.6% said they have been ghosted and over half admitted to have ghosted someone before. 46.5% said they have not ghosted anyone.

Why do people use the ghosting method? According to Jennice Vilhauer Ph. D. on Psycology Today, the ghosting method may be used to avoid emotional discomfort. When meeting someone online, there’s less social consequences when you suddenly drop out of someone else’s life. The person tends to want to avoid the drama and accusations that can happen if that person were to tell them that they weren’t interested.

The effects of ghosting can be brutal. Ghosting can leave you feeling disrespected, used, hurt, and so much more. “It’s probably similar to a grieving process,” said counselor Mary Lynn Horst. “It’s suddenly there, but then it’s not anymore and you feel anger, self doubt, and tend to question themselves [a lot].” When comforting a person that has been ghosted, listening to them helps. “[When] you let the person know that you hear them, they become a more powerful person and they’ll learn how to deal with the problem in a positive way,” said Horst.