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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to end a one-sided friendship after years of listening?

4 replies

Gresley · 14/07/2026 17:48

I have a friend who is in a psychologically abusive relationship and has been for at least ten years. I have listened and listened to details of how they are used and insulted and informed them about narcissistic abuse and advised them to split, but they haven't and I don't think they ever will. I think I have been a good friend for years listening to them offload, but I'm really fed up with it now. I feel as though I'm being used and am wasting my breath. They never seem to ask me about what's going on in my life. We have a couple of shared interests, but they always seem to be the one talking and I listening. I haven't got many friends and haven't got one I can just ring and chat with. I have siblings but rarely see them and it's always me that contacts them first to arrange a meeting. I was very shy for most of my life and lacked self-esteem and thought I was boring, but I am well-educated and have lots of interests and have a lot more confidence now. I suppose I just don't know how to make new friends easily. I wouldn't go on dating apps because I fear being scammed or attracting narcissists (my last 3 boyfriends were narcissistic and abusive). I have taken college courses before and enjoyed them, but there isn't much available where I live. What should I do about this friendship? AIBU to think I'm being used and should end it? To be honest, if I didn't initiate contact, I sometimes wonder how often they would contact me.

OP posts:
Bleachedjeans · 14/07/2026 18:33

Are you saying that you always initiate contact with this needy friend? Stop doing it. Work on reducing contact. Have some responses ready to her usual lines or openers. Eventually, these people become Dementors, sucking all the joy out of your life.
However, it is possible that she has absolutely no idea you feel like this.

Gresley · 14/07/2026 19:00

No, she has no idea I feel like this. Once when I'd had too much coffee, I told her how pointless it all seemed to have the same conversations over and over again, just with different details about the latest abusive comments or actions, when she never did anything about it. She is completely spineless with regard to this partner, who also expects her to drive her everywhere and pay for petrol and entry fees. The partner owes her a lot of money. Sometimes she does put her foot down, but then almost immediately goes back on it and complies with partner again. This happened recently. I told her that I knew they would be back together and she would be driving him somewhere at her own expense the next day, and sure enough that's what happened. I always seem to get sucked into giving advice, or just sympathising, but more and more I just think, well you brought it on yourself and you're an idiot to put up with it. I think my problem is that I have no-one else to talk to (we whats app a lot). But I think she doesn't really appreciate me for who I am. Also, re the not asking me about myself - I recently went on Mounjaro and she hasn't so much as asked me how I'm feeling.

OP posts:
Gresley · 14/07/2026 19:02

I don't think she's needy - I think she just takes me for granted. And yes, I am the one who always suggests meetings, then end up waiting for weeks for her to suggest a date.

OP posts:
Gresley · 14/07/2026 19:04

I realise I am like this with all my friends and family and I frequently tell myself I'm never going to initiate a meeting again, then I cave in and am disappointed when they are not so keen.

OP posts:
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