Dancer,

After reading this thread, I just wanted to say I totally respect your position, and I'm sorry that you have to see a good friend suffer like this. It totally sucks, to put it lightly...

My advice is, like everyone else has said, to make sure she doesn't get too out of hand, continue being her friend, and at the same time, give her the space to figure out her own way. I know it's EXTREMELY hard to watch someone else follow the same path you once did. I TOTALLY get that 100%. However, as hard is it is, sometimes you just need to take a step back and let the person figure things out in the same way that you had to. It's important to support her and be a friend to her, but not necessarily try to solve her problems for her.

When my friends confronted me about cutting, it got ugly. As soon as they brought it up, I immediately shut down and went into my shell. I threw my wall up, and I came to resent them and push them away at the time when I needed them the most. I hear what you said about how she's the kind of person who won't be alone, and who will always stick with you; however, that may not always be the case if you push her too hard. I was that kind of person as well, and I immediately distanced myself from EVERYONE was soon as that happened. I quickly assured myself that being alone and without support was better than being with friends who would pressure me and make the scenario worse for me.

In a time where she feels betrayed by the rest of the world, as hard as it is, sometimes it's just best for her own sake for you to be the one person who doesn't betray her...even if that means watching her hurt herself.

I truly wish you two the best of luck with this. This is most definitely a rough situation for both of you, so I hope for the best for you.