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I'm starting to uphold my boundaries and keep my distance from toxic people, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm being a bad and selfish friend...

Two recent instances have happened...

One is that a former friend who has been very troublesome in the past has contacted me again after many years, has a lot of drama going on (including legal), and I just have a very bad feeling about the entire situation. None of what they have been telling me is adding up (not that it's any of my business, but they are accusing some people of some very horrible things, and with the way they have a history of saying untrue things and their stories are fishy now, I'm afraid they will make something up about me as well), and I just have a horrible gut feeling about being involved with them again. I’ve talked to some trusted people about it, who have told me to stop answering calls, so I have. They still call and I feel terrible about it, but I also feel that I need to protect myself and that the feeling is there for a reason.

The second one is that someone wants to stay with me for an extended period of time to take part in something they don't want others knowing about, and I'm also very uncomfortable with that and have told them no. Their reaction is... not good. They're pretty upset with me and I already feel guilty.

Both of these situations are not good for me, and I think I'm doing the right thing by staying out of them, but I can't help but feel that I'm being selfish and that I'm a bad friend. I really need to establish and enforce my boundaries, because that is a weak spot for me, but I'm afraid of going overboard and becoming too selfish and not doing enough for the people in my life.

Is this normal? Will I eventually feel less guilty about this? Do you think I really am being out of line? I know the details are vague, but I have an uncomfortable feeling about all of it.
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AngelUnforgiven · 51-55, F
Repeat after me, NO! say No! start learning to say it, get comfortable with it! you cannot save everyone. Especially at the expense of your own piece of mind. I've said on here before I choose not to have friends because their problems become my problems and I enjoy my quiet drama free existence. If I dealt with other people my blood pressure would be through the roof. You can support them by being a listening ear and you can love them from afar and no it does not make you a bad friend it makes you smart.
Wiseacre · F
Never be afraid to say “I won’t get involved with this”…it is self love. Never feel guilty to assert yourself!
Totally normal what you are feeling, I go through it too. You're feeling that way because you like being dependable, even for people who are clearly undeserving of such loyalty.

Listen to your instincts: sometimes you just have to say no! They will get over it. Hell, they will learn to respect you for it (even if they never admit it). Stick your guns man, maintain your boundaries!
Tumbleweed · F
There's nothing wrong with you at all. You have to protect your peace. Period.
You aren't a bad friend for stopping others from abusing you.

HINT: THEY aren't your friends! THEY are USERS...using you.

See it for what it is and don't beat yourself up.
It isn't your job to say yes to everybody and make EVERYONE ELSE happy...

You aren't the Mom to all the world, or the hostess to all the world, etc.

 
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