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Am I wrong to not want to see new friend

73 replies

Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 18:13

I recently met a woman through work (I work in a public facing sector, she was a customer). She had been going through a hard time and I sympathised, she started seeking my out when she came to my place of work and we talked more. She then asked me to meet her for a coffee. I agreed but wasn’t really keen, I didn’t feel I could say no. Since then over the course of a year we have met up for meals, drinks etc. she is a lovely woman but she is very anxious and depressed and that is mainly what the conversation revolves around though she does take an interest in me too. However I’ve always met her because I felt I had to. I’ve recently had a bout of ill health and I haven’t been able to meet her for about two months. The relief was incredible, I didn’t realise how much I dreaded our meetings. However I know she hasn’t many people to talk to or support, I feel guilty if I don’t arrange to meet up. I know she will take it very personally and I’m afraid she will sink into a deeper depression ( she takes the slightest thing very personally and gets very very down). Also I don’t know how to stop. Do I just not message or phone or do I talk to her and tell her how I feel? Again I don’t want to hurt her, she has had a lot going on in her life and I don’t want to add to it. But I am beginning to feel anxious about seeing her, it depresses me. An added extra pressure is I will see her at work and that will be awkward. Really don’t know what to do. Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 19:15

Wasn’t off work I meant sorry. Well I was but only for a fortnight.

OP posts:
Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 19:15

Wasn’t off work I meant sorry. Well I was but only for a fortnight.

OP posts:
Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 19:14

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I want off work but I have as yet undiagnosed heart issues and am struggling with fatigue, breathlessness etc so takes all my energy to get through the day and work, unable to think of anything else

OP posts:
Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 19:12

Jamfirstnotcream · 03/03/2026 18:53

I would return to work but say you are not well enough to socialise currently and Drs have advised rest.

Then dont pick up the socialising again and tbh be a bit more mindful regarding professional boundaries

Thank you. In my defence I was just being a listening ear initially as I have no choice really, I’m a a cashier and and people seem to open up
to us. I was genuinely sympathetic but it snowballed without me meaning it too, nothing malicious was meant on my part, I just did t feel able to get out of meeting up and as a one went on felt even less able to.

OP posts:
Nowwarm · 03/03/2026 19:10

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Nowwarm · 03/03/2026 19:09

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Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 19:09

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no, heart issues

OP posts:
Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 19:07

MrsPinkSky · 03/03/2026 18:49

You've still pretty much strung her along for the best part of a year though.

Just leave her be and she'll find herself a friend.

You’re right, I should have anticipated that she would become very intense and that we wouldn’t gel on my side, what a shame I didn’t consult my crystal ball. As for stringing her along for the best part of a year, that equates to about 10 meetings (once a month roughly). How long does it take you to decide if you know/like someone. Obviously I’m a monster.

OP posts:
Jamfirstnotcream · 03/03/2026 18:53

I would return to work but say you are not well enough to socialise currently and Drs have advised rest.

Then dont pick up the socialising again and tbh be a bit more mindful regarding professional boundaries

MrsPinkSky · 03/03/2026 18:49

Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 18:46

I dont think I’ve been posing as a friend, I was getting to know her etc. as I said, she’s a nice woman, I like her but don’t feel I have the energy or emotional availability that she needs from me at the moment. I did consider her a friend actually but she became very intense very quickly and it was all too much especially now I’ve started struggling with my health. I know I said I initially didn’t want to meet up but to be honest I’m extremely anti social, social anxiety myself, so not wanting to meet up was more to do with that than her initially

You've still pretty much strung her along for the best part of a year though.

Just leave her be and she'll find herself a friend.

WhatNoRaisins · 03/03/2026 18:47

OP I think you have to accept that you can't get yourself out of this situation without it causing some hurt to the other person. You aren't wrong to want to do so though, it sounds like a very one sided relationship where you're the one being taken advantage of.

I know a lot of people who have been ghosted claim that they wish they had been told the reason but on the other hand I'm still waiting to hear of a successful exit interview. A slow fade is probably the least worst option.

Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 18:46

MrsPinkSky · 03/03/2026 18:19

I know she will take it very personally and I’m afraid she will sink into a deeper depression

This is because you've been posing as her friend for a year whilst dreading meeting up with her - like some sort of saviour complex.

Just pull away slowly and steadily and she'll eventually find herself a friend.

I dont think I’ve been posing as a friend, I was getting to know her etc. as I said, she’s a nice woman, I like her but don’t feel I have the energy or emotional availability that she needs from me at the moment. I did consider her a friend actually but she became very intense very quickly and it was all too much especially now I’ve started struggling with my health. I know I said I initially didn’t want to meet up but to be honest I’m extremely anti social, social anxiety myself, so not wanting to meet up was more to do with that than her initially

OP posts:
Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 18:43

Isittimeformynapyet · 03/03/2026 18:24

I'm not sure. I read it that she was a customer as in a member of the general public and that OP just hadn't met up with her for 2 months.

Maybe you can clarify @Flamingodaughter

She’s a customer, I work there. I will see her as a customer regularly.I’ve had heart problems for the last two months, haven’t had diagnosis yet, still struggling just to work, let alone meet up with people.

OP posts:
MrsPinkSky · 03/03/2026 18:26

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They don't work together.

Isittimeformynapyet · 03/03/2026 18:24

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I'm not sure. I read it that she was a customer as in a member of the general public and that OP just hadn't met up with her for 2 months.

Maybe you can clarify @Flamingodaughter

Nowwarm · 03/03/2026 18:21

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Isittimeformynapyet · 03/03/2026 18:20

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OP didn't actually say she'd had 2 months off.

MrsPinkSky · 03/03/2026 18:19

I know she will take it very personally and I’m afraid she will sink into a deeper depression

This is because you've been posing as her friend for a year whilst dreading meeting up with her - like some sort of saviour complex.

Just pull away slowly and steadily and she'll eventually find herself a friend.

Nowwarm · 03/03/2026 18:18

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WeepingAngelInTheTardis · 03/03/2026 18:18

Stay friendly but don’t meet up, just say your busy.

plentyofsunshine · 03/03/2026 18:17

Can you just do a slow fade out? No need to say anything hurtful if you feel she'll take it badly

surprisebaby12 · 03/03/2026 18:17

It’s a very difficult situation. If I were you, I’d make it about me and not her shortcomings. Stay friendly but non committal regarding plans. Eg when she offers to meet up, say that you’ve got a lot going on and can’t, but hope she’s well. You can keep it friendly without dumping her, as such.

Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 18:16

Flamingodaughter · 03/03/2026 18:13

I recently met a woman through work (I work in a public facing sector, she was a customer). She had been going through a hard time and I sympathised, she started seeking my out when she came to my place of work and we talked more. She then asked me to meet her for a coffee. I agreed but wasn’t really keen, I didn’t feel I could say no. Since then over the course of a year we have met up for meals, drinks etc. she is a lovely woman but she is very anxious and depressed and that is mainly what the conversation revolves around though she does take an interest in me too. However I’ve always met her because I felt I had to. I’ve recently had a bout of ill health and I haven’t been able to meet her for about two months. The relief was incredible, I didn’t realise how much I dreaded our meetings. However I know she hasn’t many people to talk to or support, I feel guilty if I don’t arrange to meet up. I know she will take it very personally and I’m afraid she will sink into a deeper depression ( she takes the slightest thing very personally and gets very very down). Also I don’t know how to stop. Do I just not message or phone or do I talk to her and tell her how I feel? Again I don’t want to hurt her, she has had a lot going on in her life and I don’t want to add to it. But I am beginning to feel anxious about seeing her, it depresses me. An added extra pressure is I will see her at work and that will be awkward. Really don’t know what to do. Thanks for any advice.

I should add this is a friendship not a romantic relationship.

OP posts:
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