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Feeling guilty in a friendship when friend is going through a rough time.

User Profile: adventurousFan8419
adventurousFan8419 January 23rd, 2022

In undergrad, I was part of a very close knit friend group. After graduation, I pursued different interests than most of my friends who went into consulting/finance. I really didn't like the industry and especially that I was working super long hours for a fraction of the pay so I went to graduate school. After graduating, I have been blessed with a significantly higher salary.

One of my friends in that friend group has been having a rough time. They went through a brutal breakup, quit their job, and they are generally pretty "directionless" for the past couple of months preferring to be unemployed and live a couch surfing lifestyle. They also behaved in a way that I found really disappointing and didn't agree with (cheating on their SO with coworker without remorse, etc, etc). They get defensive when I ask about their next plans so I've stopped reaching out. Also, when we do chat, they tend to make a lot of passive aggressive comments about "corporate sheep" and that I can afford this and that because "I make so much money". It bothers me, I had to pay a lot in tuition and not earn money for several years to get to this point. They've also started to ask me for favors a lot more often. It made me really uncomfortable and I didn't like the judgmental comments so I started distancing myself.

During this downward spiral, they slowly stopped reaching out, only once every couple of weeks. They'd show up to the city unannounced and ask to hang out the weekend of, etc, etc. I have a super stressful time consuming job so it also got annoying that I'd have to shift my weekend plans around last minute. Eventually, where it has really bothered me is when they called me recently crying asking whether "I was genuinely really there for them if anything "hit the fan" for them". I was appalled to hear that kind of commentary because to me, it felt toxic and manipulative. Immediately after that conversation, they asked if they could stay at my apartment for a couple of days while I was out of the city on holiday. Maybe I'm being a jerk, but part of me thinks that this was planned and they are trying to guilt trip me.

Anyway my question is: am I being unreasonable? I do feel guilty because I do recognize that they are going through a rough time and so I do want to be helpful and supportive. However, at the same, I can't help but feel like I am walking on eggshells around them and I know that talking to them affects my mood and day. I want to protect my peace but I wonder if in this case, it's making me a bad friend.

2
User Profile: Cain96
Cain96 January 23rd, 2022

I don't think you're a bad friend. It seems like shit hit the fan for him already and he needs to be the one to pick himself up. Does he think you're not there for him already? This situation does seem to be manipulative in my opinion.

It seems like he's trying to see how much he can get away with you. "Oh you should be able to afford this and that", calling you corporate sheep, asking for small favors, then big asks like "Can I use your apartment while you're away?"

Please don't let yourself be taken advantage of. Keep your boundaries up and follow your gut. If his behavior feels toxic, it's because it probably is. I hope you make new friends who will treat you better as well.

Best wishes, Cain


1 reply
User Profile: adventurousFan8419
adventurousFan8419 OP January 25th, 2022

@Cain96

Thanks for your insight. It makes me feel a lot better about setting boundaries. I told him no about the apartment. My hope now is that this doesn't become an awkward situation because we're still in the same group of friends from college.

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