I have a relative who I don’t want to cut off, but it’s obvious they need me more than I need them and it’s exhausting. They want me to drop everything and spend time with them at a moment’s notice, usually eating out which is super expensive, and they constantly have mental health crises and text me that they “need” me.
I can say no to them, that’s not the problem, but they haven’t gotten the hint and are just as clingy years after years of it. It’s really unhealthy for me to be their only friend when I don’t feel the same way. Is there any way to encourage them to expand their social life without sounding like a dick? I have no social grace and sound like a dick a lot.
I agree that therapy would be valuable here.
There’s stuff it helps with and stuff it doesn’t. Learning how to relate to others and working through what stops you is one of those things it’s really good for.
Therapy is great if you’re lonely because the only thing worse than only having one person to unload your thoughts onto is having zero people. And who better than someone who you pay to be a thoughts unloading person.