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“A well-established friendship carries a long history of experience and interaction that defines who we are and keeps us connected,” says Donald Pannen, executive officer of the Western Psychological Association. “It is a heritage we should protect.”Ironically, says Brant R. Burleson, professor of communication at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., “the better friends you are, the more likely you’ll face conflicts.” And the outcome can be precisely what you don’t want–an end to the relationship.The good news is that most troubled friendships can be mended. Here’s what experts suggest:Swallow your pride. It wasn’t easy, but that’s what Denise Moreland of Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii did when a friendship turned sour. For nearly four months, Moreland, 45, had watched over Nora Huizenga’s two young daughters, who were living with their father on the base, while Huizenga, 40, completed training as a dental hygienist in Nevada. “I felt honored to be asked to step in,” Moreland says.When Huizenga returned at Christmas, Moreland recalls, “I had so much to tell her, but she never called.” One daughter had a birthday party, but Moreland wasn’t invited. “I felt like I’d been used,” she says.