I recently ended a friendship with this woman that I have known for almost 10 years. I ended it in the most immature and unkind manner---I sent her a simple e-mail stating: "Stop calling me. Thank-you". She sent me 2 e-mails in response to my intial e-mail which I didn't open I simply deleted these e-mails. I didn't want to read them because I didn't want to get my emotions all stirred up and I didn't want to have her words/thoughts running through my mind constantly.

I could have sent her an honest and truthful e-mail stating why I didn't want to be friends with her anymore. But what I would have to say would undoubtly hurt her feelings and that isn't something I want to do to her. She has obvious symptoms of OCD, perfectionism, controlling, temper control problems...list goes on. On the other side of the coin she is loving, thoughtful, compassionate...etc. I was simply overwhelmed with her negative behaviorisms/traits that I was deeply unsatisfied in this relationship with her. I truly think that the relationship was/is unbalanced and unhealthy. I tried for so many years to come to terms with her negative attributes and try my best to not let them overwhelm me or bother me. But in the end it became a chore or duty to meet up with her to do basic things like going out for lunch/dinner, go to the movie theatre, renting movies, shopping...etc. I had to do what would please her in order to avoid conflict or a lengthy conversation regarding my preference. For instance she would give me a choice of 3 restaurants we may try and I would choose one of them and she would most likely say no I don't want to go there. So, I couldn't "win" I had to simply guess at which restaurant or whatever the choice may be that she would ultimately like.

One day she related problems she was having with some of her other friends and she said something very unkind and thoughtless to me. She said "I can understand your behavior because you have bipolar disorder but the rest of them there is no excuse for their behavior". I was deeply hurt by what she said to me and felt the urge to point out how distructive her comment was and to tell her of her OCD behaviorism that are difficult and emotionally draining to deal with. On another occasion I was at a dinner party at her parent's home and I was talking to a friend of her's at the kitchen table. I was just talking about everyday boring stuff and acting perfectly normal. As I walked away this person whispered to his girlfriend "Don't worry about her she has mental problems". Again, on a couple of occasions her brother has made fun of my disorder by making rude comments towards me in front of other people.

Currently, I feel several emotions such as sadness, relief, anger, disappointment...etc. I know in my heart that I should have ended the friendship with her many years ago but I was emotionally fragile and it is a complicated situation. Her dad is my financial advisor and I am friends with her mom. I cannot remember which parent said this to me but one of them stated that "we don't get involved in (our daughter's) conflicts/relationships". So right now it is kinda of an uneasy situation to be in. I am hoping and praying that her dad can be objective and mature about my friendship with his daughter ending. And not withdraw his services that he provides to me.

I do have a new friend but she is in Africa for the summer and will be starting a new job this fall. I will do everything in my power to foster this new relationship.

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Comments? Suggestions? Advice?....are all welcomed and greatly appreciated! Thank-you!