Your situation with that woman sounded insane. I am with you, when the comments extend to children, the friendship is done. Really. Had to laugh because I also have dark circles which no concealer conceals and once someone actually thought I had a black eye!

Yeah, so I got another critical email today and it actually made me cry. All the things I have done wrong, what a pain in the *** I have been, how she patiently listened to all my troubles, and how she told me how to "fix" my life and I wouldn't listen.

If this was a "new" friend they would be gone. But this is an old friend and so there is a weird attachment.

Also, you are absolutely right. This friend can be so critical. This whole thing started because she criticized me about my phone conversation...that I said the wrong things at the wrong times, wasn't sensitive to her needs etc. It's confusing.

Like you, I grew up with critical parents, and siblings, and my exhusband. But since I have been on my own I have less of this in my life so it is no longer the norm. I also quit a job last year because I suddenly realized the person I was working with was insanely critical.

It's like I can't take it anymore. I don't mind a little constructive criticism. But I try to live by the rule of not giving unsolicited advice.

I had a friend who started to get plastic surgery. When we would meet she wouldn't say anything but I would catch her looking at my face. I finally confronted her. I said, "Are you surveying my wrinkles?" because it was just so invasive. I ended that friendship.

This is an older friend and I really think I may have been putting up with a lot of criticism from her because of having gotten used to it from my family of origin.

But now I must be changing - getting healthier -- because I find this kind of critical personality unbearable.

Thank you so much for you comments. Soooooo helpful.