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Years ago when I started doing this, I really enjoyed being around people. I liked to talk about this or that etc.
I thought that everyone around me was my friend.
Fast forward to 10 yrs later. I cringe when someone approaches me with a smile.
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I can identify with you. Working support jobs is a peculiar issue -- people only notice if I'm doing my job poorly or if they need something from me. When things work, no one realizes the work that goes on behind the scenes.
I have also felt a great sense of betrayal when coworkers I thought were my friends would no longer talk to me once I left the job.
Let me offer some practical advice, on ways that have helped me cope with the support world.
1. Get a hobby. Find your passion -- something you can do *outside* of work. When you spend all day working to solve other people's issues, it is important to balance that with something that nourishes who you are.
2. Seek some friendships that are not dependent on your job. This may tie in nicely with point 1 -- if you can find an activity that is fun that you can do with others and meet some new people.
3. In a moment of frustration, read some 'stupid user stories'. They are usually written by other support people, and are good for a laugh. Laughing is a great antidote to stress.
4. Brainstorm some responses you can use with employees who are pushing you do break the rules. For example: 'Would you like me to open a ticket about that?' or 'That is a great question.' (even if you know the answer.)
That way, if you rehearse ahead of time what you might say, it will be easier to say it when they are in your face.
When your needs are being met outside of the job, it becomes a lot easier to draw firm but polite boundaries with people in the office. The number one thing that helped me was creating an artistic outlet that was separate from my job. It gave me an identity that was separate from the office and one that wasn't all about solving other people's problems.
Owl