Thanks everyone I am reading all of your replies and they are amazing!! Thank you for sharing some of your stories and advice. It’s so nice to feel not alone on this. It’s such a hard situation. I’m just going to try not to waste any energy on it. The moment I feel like talk turns sour, I am backing away and not replying.

My friend also suffers from substance abuse (alcohol). It’s horrid to see but she turns to drink (and/or cigarettes) as soon as anything happens that makes her feel bad. There’s no way of discouraging it. She tells me she will be dead in a couple of years anyway... it just really stresses me out the whole thing.

Last night I had a nice evening with some colleagues from work and it was great to have some positive company. I did say to my friend that I was busy that evening and she responded with “that would bore me!” My friend has always turned me away from other people, she says other people are fake, selfish and that she doesn’t like anyone really (except the teacher she’s obsessed with). I wonder if it’s a way to try and stop me from making friends with new people, as well as to make herself feel better that she has no one. It does rub off on me though and I start believing her.

Yesterday I felt a bit of relief just from giving myself permission not to reply if I didn’t feel up to it.

Thanks again for all the support. It’s great to have somewhere to talk and you’ve ALL been great! *hugs*