How do I know if I'm friends with a person out of desperation? I've known my friend for 10 years. We laugh together a lot and I feel like she understands me like few other people do. We've built a lot of good memories. But when she's around, she can be very critical. She criticizes how I take care of my cat, how I clean the house, and how I treat my abusive brother (which is by ignoring him). I feel like she's saying I can't do anything right. It hurts. And she portrays herself as an enlightened human being who has all the answers. Gag.

I don't have a lot of friends because it's hard for me to trust people. Am I friends with this person, who makes me feel terrible periodically, out of desperation? Should I find a way to get out? Or am I being overly sensitive? I don't know anymore.