My oldest friend in the world is a major whiner and complainer. I guess in the past I just put up with it. Maybe it even amused me a little because I can't believe someone can be so negative. It's more like she wants to control everything...even the weather.

Well, in the last few years my problems have increased. And now I have noticed that every time I get a card or email from her she doesn't ask how I am. She launches into her own ever ready litany of complaints.

Her Easter email "lament" made me snap. She wasn't really complaining about any real crisis. I also realized getting these missives around every holiday depresses me. I wrote her an email outlining all the things she had to be grateful for...and there are many. I also suggested that she look into maybe a CBT workbook. (I privately think her problem is cognitive distortions.)

This was the first time I have ever been critical of her complaining and we have been friends since childhood.

Well, she got extremely nasty with me. She sent me a very mean email. She got vicious and attacked my character. I wasn't expecting such abuse. It shocked me.

I don't know if this means the friendship is over...and I should just fade away.

Maybe I was wrong to criticize her. It is just that I have so many of my own problems...while she appears to make up things to be unhappy about...and I literally just snapped.

We have been friends my entire life and to end this friendship would feel like death. Abandonment issues are kicking in for me.

However, I don't know if I should continue. We had one other falling out a few years ago and I worked hard to mend fences. Now I feel like she is kind of an out-of-control Prima Donna. I think I used to put up with it but now I seem to have completely lost my patience. I am not the person I used to be. I can't seem to put up with things I used to put up with in the past...for the sake of a long friendship. But I am heartsick over this.