Maybe what you're feeling is not guilt. It may be despair. Part of you may be feeling like a sucker. You love your sister, but you didn't sign on to be her mother. Maybe you've heard of tough love. But that could backfire. What if you didn't help and she hurt herself? Could you live with that guilt?

These are the questions that I ask myself every time someone asks me to rescue them.

When I wasn't there for my dad, he finally started taking care of himself. When I wasn't there for my mother, she started calling my husband at work. When I wasn't there for my sister, she made herself crazy and ended up in the psych ward.

I have an answering machine on my phone to protect myself. I love these people, but they are energy vampires.

I hope you find peace and comfort. You deserve it.