[holsie]

I really do not even know where to start. I guess I can start back in May. I sent a text to my friend randomly who at the time I didn't really know very well. It started a 3-4 weeks constant texting frenzy. We wouldn't usually go more than a few hours without texting, and even stayed up till all hours of the night using our phones almost like a chat device. We decided we wanted to catch up, having not seeing each other since January.

Just prior to this, he mentioned that he found me very attractive. Although in different words; which are a long way back in our text conversation to find! We had mentioned we had been far more honest with each other than most people in these conversations, and somehow him telling me this didn't surprise me. He told me however he was not going to act on it because he did not want to mess me around at all.

We caught up, and all was fine. Fast forward a few weeks of catching up, and we got drunk one night and hooked up (made out, I mean). We caught up about a week later and the same thing happened. It was at this point he said he wasn't interested in a relationship, or anything long term really. This was fine as I wasn't in a position to either, I was moving overseas within the next few months. We kept just catching up, making out. To the point he stayed over at mine, or I stayed over at his. We never had sex though, but did usually end up naked.

After this had occurred for a few weeks, he became a little uncommunicative one weekend. We were trying to make plans and he was either taking a long time to respond, or it would take 2 messages to get something back. I worried about what was wrong, or what was happening because he had mentioned a few months prior, that he had personal stuff going on. We had almost made plans, but nothing set and it got to the night of catching up and nothing set in stone was in place. I messaged, and then called and nothing. Then 5 minutes later I get a message back that turns into us having a conversation about how he's in a bad place, but just needs to deal with it himself and cannot handle any emotions right now so has to shut me out because he cannot deal. I was very comforting and said to take his time and let me know when he's up for catching up again.

We were messaging every few hours over the next day, when suddenly he messages asking if I'm free right then. I say yes, and although I had family over I knew that seeing him was more important, that he was initiating something and that was important. He said he didn't want to communicate emotions, but did tell me a little bit. He said he found it really hard to trust people, and basically didn't trust anyone but that he felt very comfortable around me, and trusted me as much as he could trust anyone, and was thankful for me being so nice about it all. He said however that it was just something he had to put up with, that there was nothing to be done, and that really he wasn't doing anything about it at that point.

Fast forward a few weeks, to a week ago. Everything had been going great and I had gotten to the point of trusting him enough to sleep with him. I felt he had become a very good friend and while we weren't putting a label on anything, he was teaching me a lot and I was thankful to have someone I could trust in this way like him, after being hurt right before starting things with him. He was very patient and didn't want to push me. I finally gave in...but it was he who stopped it. Said it didn't feel right and his insecurities made him feel uncomfortable about it and he felt he would feel way too guilty if he did. He felt like he had pursued me, and all.

I was confused by this, and just wanted to see him again to either...make it happen, or understand why he had such insecurities. I knew he had a lot of things to sort out in his life, and this did confirm that he respected me and wasn't just friends/with me for one reason, but I didn't quite understand his sudden hesitation when we had done pretty much everything but sex leading up to it and it had been going on for 6-7 weeks.

A few days later I invited him to an event in a few weeks. I had previously invited him, but hadn't mentioned it since. He freaked out and felt it seemed relationship like. I tried to reassure him that I was simply asking him as a friend, but let it go. I try to initiate another catch up with no response. I got worried. I knew it wasn't me, but based on him a few weeks prior and shutting me out (even if it was solved quickly) I worried it was happening again. I facebook messaged him asking if I could call him that night, which he said was fine. He then said it wasn't my fault, that he was pretty much bipolar. This didn't surprise me, I have another friend who I have known for years who is, and given she is a good friend and I knew her before she was on medication, I know how she acted. This was on top of him telling me he had Aspergers and had schizophrenia when he was younger. I tried to call him that night, but he didn't answer and told me he was drinking to forget about everything and would call me tomorrow. He didn't call, rather messaged saying he couldn't handle things at the moment and he would let me know when he was ready to talk. It was so brief though I questioned my own behaviour from it. It had been pushy all week, and stupidly thought it was some vendetta against me. I knew it wasn't, but part of me worried it was.

I sent a message the next day asking how he was, with nothing. But later on, while stressing and thinking it over, I just realised I myself could not handle it anymore. I couldn't handle the instability and needed to know what was going on. I knew I couldn't help him - he had made it clear he had to do that, but I just wanted to be a friend and have fun with him. I hated the feeling of knowing he had shut me out again. Hurt me again. I never knew when it would happen again, and I couldn't handle not having that security. I had friendships in life previously where I tip toad around them out of fear of losing them but I couldn't do that with this situation. I cared deeply for him, and felt we had a connection and just got each other, but I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't just sit back and let him keep doing it to me, because I felt he was just doing what suited him, no matter how much it hurt or inconvenienced me. I sent him a message saying I couldn't do it anymore, and had to speak to him. I tried calling and nothing. But I got some extremely long text messages back a few hours later saying he had warned me, and that it was my fault if I didn't respect that and accept it and just leave him be (to put it simply...lot more words were said) and that he couldn't deal with my emotions and it had to end. I knew there was potential for that, but pushing him but I simply cracked finally and I guess it was to much for him. He said some very hurtful things, and it seemed no matter what I said back, he wouldn't change his mind. I finally said that if he had any respect, he wouldn't end things this way. He seemed to get that, and changed his mind but said he just needed time, and that he would come to me. I thanked him for realising that, saying I didn't want things to end like that. He agreed that he never wanted to end it that way. I said I would give him time, and then we should talk. Whether there was a friendship there or not, we needed to determine it in person.

This happened last night. I have been in tears ever since. Wondering whether I was right to push him. Questioning everything about our friendship and reviewing it all. Hoping he does value me enough to contact me, that he wasn't just saying that to spare my feelings. Wondering how long I have to wait. I have 5 weeks before I have to say goodbye to everyone. I know what we had is gone, the physical side and I guess that hurts because I was so attracted to him and felt a draw to him and wanting to kiss him etc, but his friendship means SO SO SO much more to me than that, and that's what is making me so upset. I felt so different about this friendship than I have about a friendship in such a long time. I trusted him like I hadn't trusted in so long. Was 100% myself, and said what I wanted which I hadn't in such a long time. And now I feel empty, and angry at him, and myself for pushing the issue and forcing it to come to head. I don't know when I will see or hear from him, and it's the not knowing what the outcome is that is stressing me beyond belief.

[Leed]

I'm so sorry things have ended this way. Unfortunately it seems that he was more ill that it appeared. Some people are better at hiding their illnesses than others, and apparently, he was.

I've been suffering from severe depression since I was a small child, and most people have NO idea that I suffer from it. I appear happy and secure and with no anxiety -- and that could be no farther from the truth! I'm an insecure, anxiety-ridden, depressed widow and have been this way for as long as I can remember!!! I've learned how to hide these things because I don't want to look like a glum, slumped over, sad old woman. I don't want to push people away any more than I already do just with my personality! LOL

So evidently, your friend has hidden his illness from you until now -- and now it has appeared, full-blown and he can't handle it. He's pushing you away because perhaps you've gotten "too close" and he doesn't want you to see the "real him." He may be having a "flare up" of some of his symptoms and certainly he doesn't want you to have to see THAT. That would embarass him to death, as well as probably scare YOU. lol

That's probably why he's askiing for space, and doesn't want you around. I'm just guessing here, but that's what it sounds like. I surely wouldn't take it personally because I don't think it has anything to do with YOU.

I imagine you'll hear from him at a later date UNLESS he's embarassed that you may have figured this out. If that's the case you may not hear from him at all, and that would be too bad. So give him some space, and if you don't hear from him in a couple of weeks or a month, text him or call him and see how he's doing. Don't let him know that you suspect it's his illness or anything. Just let him know that you care.

I wish you the very best. Keep us posted, ok? God bless. Hugs, Lee

[holsie]

Thankyou. You have written that in the best way so far. I have been seeking answers all day from this on several forums, and I guess just some form of comfort to help me deal.

A few seem to just criticise our casual attitude to the physical intimacy, when this has nothing to do with that, more that first and foremost he was a great friend of mine and I don't quite know what to think/handle the situation.

But yeah, I think I'll wait a few weeks. I have already thought in my mind what to say to him, without any judgement on his behaviour more just that I care and value his friendship and want him in my life in whatever way he is capable of.

I'm going through a great deal of regret right now, wishing I hadn't cracked. However ultimately, what's done is done and I can't turn back the clock; just hope he sees me as someone he can trust and still be friends with.