Am I ending a friendship?

I have a friend, whom I call my adopted grandma. She knows I'm going away to school this Fall again (I'm going back for another degree & career change). I see her everyday & visit. I used to love her to pieces, but all of a sudden, I'm not sure I do anymore! I hug her everyday, but all of a sudden, I don't want to anymore (but I still do), & today, instead of saying "I love you" like I do, I said, "I like you very much." I saw my psychologist again today & talked to her about it. She said something about my beginning to withdraw from my friend, & other things. Perhaps I am. I told my friend (my adopted grandma) I will always love her & she'll always be my friend. I also told her I'll keep in touch & come visit her (I'll be 2 hours away from home, still in state).

I'm confused now. I wouldn't feel right if I just left her. I'd feel sad, but I don't know what to do. I may add more, but right now, I need to eat, even though ED doesn't want me to!

Hmm. What does your adopted grandma say/do? It sounds like your being friends and loving her always, etc., that a lot of that is on your side/what you need? It could be since you're moving away you don't want to get hurt, kind of like when one changes jobs and are feeling guilty for moving forward with your life?

But I don't know the relationship, how it came to be and why you adopted her and what she says/does, how she feels about your going back to school, etc.

Hi, Perna! Well, I became friends with my adopted grandma last year. I felt like God sent me to her. She would say "I love you, too," back to me, but so much of the time now recently (except for again yesterday-Monday-when she said "I love you"), she says, "You're a sweetheart." That's what my adopted grandma said today when I said I like her very much.

Before I left yesterday, she asked if she could have a hug. I said yes & hugged her. Today, when I did, I only put one of my arms around her. She held my other arm. I also call her grandma, but twice today, I called her by her first name. She is excited about my going back to school, but did say recently she'll be sad. She wants me to keep in touch; when I told her again that I'll miss her, she said, "That's good to know." She's said before though, that she'll miss me.

I do want to avoid being hurt. I bet she would notice if I stopped giving her hugs. Today, when I started to walk out of her room, I asked if she wanted a hug. Of course, she said yes. I wonder what will happen with our friendship when I leave. I wonder if it will last, or if I will end it.

Thanks for responding!

Maybe it's more along the lines of you knew you would be leaving, so started to back off a bit on your feelings, because it might be hard on YOU too. Just a thought.

I'm sure everything will work out as you mutually begin to change the relationship a bit. I;m sure that whatever happens you will still be good friends.

Yes, I think so, too. Thanks!