I have never had an outgoing, perky, sporty personality. In fact, I got good grades and was bullied quite a bit in school. I was also subject to a lot of religious indoctrination when I was young and taught that that I am always a sinner because I don't believe in a deity. I went to tech school, had a career, worked fifteen years and then got sick an injured because of my job. Now, I am retired on disability.

All the time I was growing up, I was taught to be selfless. Even in my teen years I did volunteer work and helped people and that giving gave me an identity I liked. I did volunteer work during my career and even became the guardian of a person with special needs whom I have care for for many years. I gave and sacrificed and felt good about myself. After my illness, my family got me settled in a great living place with a house of my own in quiet environment and I and my guy were doing OK. At least well enough for me to deal with my pain and mental illness. I had some friends and I still helped people when I can.

Then, this guy showed up about two years ago. He is something I had never had to deal with before. He seem nice enough and was having trouble during hard economic times. I helped him a little. Then he latched onto me like a leech and he has lied and manipulated me and borrowed money until he has suck me dry. I was trying to help him get a job and on his feet and he is supposed to pay me back. But everything has turned out very wrong and he is still not settling down and being responsible. He is to such a point now that he lives in van and is starting another temp job today which he swears he will keep and start paying me back. In the mean time, he keeps hitting me up for money for his emergencies like when his van breaks down or he needs food.

This guy says I am his best friend. He acts all thankful when I help him. But, he can get down right aggressive and at times pushy and deceptive to get money. I am having this huge ethical conflict. He owes me a lot of money and I want him to stop leeching. But he continues to get into some of the worst problems I have ever seen. Things are always seem to go wrong for him. I have told him over and over that he has to stop hitting me up for money that I can't afford to loan him. But, he won't stop playing me and I can't break him loose. I want to be his friend and give him guidance. But, I need help getting him to stop taking advantage of me where I am vulnerable. I have talked to legal aid who has no funding and a disability protection group who says I have to stop on my own. I don't know how to get this to stop. That's my problem.

Everything in my life would be reasonably stable but for this guy and it seems like I need some kind of mental bodyguard to step in and protect me. I can't find anybody who can understand my problem and help me. My disability is bad enough. This guy won't stop making my life worse. I need some guidance.