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- This topic has 4 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 3 months ago by
Elizabeth Wilkens-Plumley.
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January 18, 2015 at 5:05 am #71522
Inky
ParticipantHi Moongal,
I think it’s best if you contact her and say, “It’s not working”. By saying “It’s not working” you’re saying the relationship is not working. She’s acting in her nature. You’re acting in yours. Neither of you is wrong. But “It” ~ the friendship ~ is not working.
Or, you can give her boundaries, like, call once a month. But here’s the thing. You would have to reach out to her, too.
Tell her that you are safe. But that the constant calling activates your anxiety. “Doctor’s orders”.
I had a friend where it got to a point where I would cringe every time the phone rang. She would want to rehash what was wrong in our friendship to the point where there wasn’t one.
As we get older it’s not about the quantity of contacts it’s all about the quality of them.
Good Luck,
Inky
January 18, 2015 at 7:35 am #71529Sunfl0wer
ParticipantI had a similar friend. There was the possessiveness and excessive concern. I would set boundaries, it would scare her, and she’d break them. We deserve to have friends that respect our boundaries. I actually think the “excessive concern” they have is not for our well being but actually a concern to get reassurance that they have their foot in the relationship still. So I find it not caring at all. I ended up having to state that I was pretty unhappy with things and I just stopped communication. She did initially make attempts to reach out, apologized, then slowly faded in the attempts, but I had to remain consistent because it was like she was looking to open up that door of no boundaries again.
January 19, 2015 at 6:54 am #71585Anonymous
InactiveHey there, Thank you for the insights Inky and sunflOwer, it seems keeping some distance is healthy for both of us. I pray we both find some neutral zone to work with as we repeatedly have these episodes and it tends to spoil things unnecessarily.
January 19, 2015 at 8:42 am #71593Elizabeth Wilkens-Plumley
Participant“Honestly, i want to be away from her and maintain as much distance as possible till i feel normal around her ”
It’s good to know what you want. You have a right to boundaries. You don’t have to be everyone’s agony aunt, (I like that phrase).
If I am totally off base ignore me please. But, as another agony aunt, in recovery, I wonder is there maybe a substance abuse issue here. You might check out Al Anon. I for one was astonished that we are a whole species of servers raised to deal with the pain and general crazy of others. If it’s not for you that’s fine, they have some good literature too.
I believe it was Conversations With God, i’m not sure but, somewhere I heard, “now you crave, solitude, that’s good” Now you can want your own company and your own accomplishments. I give you permission. ; )
βTo be happy, we must not be too concerned with others.β
Albert Camus -
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