Normally, I don't mind when my friends come to me to vent or rant or for advice. I prefer them to let it out than keep it bottled up. But it seems to be happening more often than not lately and all the negativity is beginning to affect me. I don't really know what to do. I don't want to ignore them but at some point, there's gotta be a line, right?
hello, friend! as someone who’s experienced this many times myself—and lost friendships over this—it’s definitely a tricky issue. we should all strive to be there for our friends in the tough times and help them when they’re in need. however, a friendship should also be a relatively equal playing field. you should feel comfortable coming to them with your problems as well, and friendships should be based upon more than just treating a friend as you would a therapist. try and take stock of your friendships: do they listen and offer support when you need it as well, or do conversations solely revolve around them? do they share the positive things in their life with you? of course, your own mental health comes first and it isn’t realistic to devote all of your time to helping others. a good friend will be understanding and respectful of that and not push you beyond your limit. it may be best to have an honest conversation with the friends you’re struggling with and say something like, “I want to be there for you, but I’m feeling overwhelmed at the moment and need to take a breather for myself.” some friends may also not know where else to turn, so it may also be helpful to suggest seeking outside help, such as a counselor. you have to keep yourself safe and it’s important to maintain healthy boundaries with friends and loved ones!
ANONYMOUS HAS RANTED! have a solution to this problem? feel free to send one OR comment!
