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Should I end my friendship?

User Profile: Bistander
Bistander April 15th, 2023

For the past year or so, this friend has helped me a lot whenever I was suicidal. I was suicidal a lot though, and it really took a toll on his mental health. We talked about it and stayed friends though, but it was bothering me that it seemed like I was the only one putting effort in to maintain the friendship. So I tried talking to him about it, but he said he’s not going to go out of his way for me anymore, so basically nothing is going to change. He said he still considers me a good friend though? But also said he’s kind of indifferent towards me, which seems like conflicting statements. And I’m not the only one to damage the friendship, he had his part in it too. Right after I broke up with my boyfriend he kind of took advantage of the fact that I couldn’t sleep alone and asked me if I wanted to come over, and after I said yes he added that he wanted to do sexual things. And the friends with benefits thing continued for a long time, and I let it continue because it was the only time he would hang out with me and I needed a friend. He has apologized for that. It just seems like he cares one minute and the next he doesn’t, and I don’t know if this friendship is good for my mental health. I’d just feel bad ending it after he helped me through so much, but he’s not interested in putting effort into the friendship, so what am I supposed to do?

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User Profile: ProcessingMitchell
ProcessingMitchell April 15th, 2023

@Bistander I think you already know the answer and are looking to see if others agree that it's the right choice.

It is the right choice to end it.

Some friendships are okay in some periods, and they end. At the time, he was helpful to you and a good friend, but things have changed since then and it seems like your friendship has run its course. That's okay, that's normal, and it's totally normal and smart to end the friendship when that time has come.

Also, I am sorry he took advantage of you (sexually). That was inappropriate for him to do.

User Profile: Clayton7
Clayton7 April 15th, 2023
@Bistander What does ending the friendship entail? You blocking him or just not putting in the effort of reaching out to him anymore? You could just put him on the back-burner and pursue other friendships and see what happens. Or if you must try and talk to him about what's going on between you two again. There's definitely a piece of the puzzle missing. Do you know at what point your friendship took a turn for the worse? Did one of you want to be more than friends (with benefits) and the other didn't? or maybe try looking at the situation from his point of view. Relationships are complex and take alot of work from both parties to maintain. I hope you're doing better overall than you were.
User Profile: Doppelgaenger
Doppelgaenger May 3rd, 2023

@Bistander The man you're talking about is pure misogynistic trash; end the one-sided "friendship", absolutely.

User Profile: Clayton7
Clayton7 May 20th, 2023

@Bistander How are things going? Has your situation improved at all? Are you still talking with your friend, is the friendship still up in the air, or have you decided to move on?