This has been an ongoing issue for me throughout my life, although recently I've gotten quite a bit better at putting my own emotions first. A few days ago I really put my foot down and ended a friendship with someone who has been pretty selfish and neglectful of me in recent months, and who I feel has been blowing me off (we used to date but decided to just be friends earlier this year). The thing is, he's terrible at communicating his feelings and understanding his own selfish behavior (He has bipolar disorder and I suspect may also even have mild Aspergers), and I've been plagued with guilt ever since I ended it. I know I did the right thing for myself, and that I was never going to get the kind of friendship/relationship that I'd wanted, but I still can't shake the feeling of guilt that he may not fully understand why I left and may just think I'm being mean. But in the end I can't just stay in a situation that is draining me just because I'm afraid he won't get it, can I? I feel like I have tried to let him know what my needs are and he just doesn't have that energy to give. Or maybe he just doesn't want to give it, I can never tell! Either way, its not a good situation.
Does anyone else struggle with feeling guilty in situations like this? Any tips for changing up my thinking patterns so that I don't feel so guilty? Logically, I know I did the only thing I could at this point. Emotionally, I feel like I should have known better than to get involved with him in the first place and should not have had such high expectations of him...but hindsight is always 20/20. Advise?
Does anyone else struggle with feeling guilty in situations like this? Any tips for changing up my thinking patterns so that I don't feel so guilty? Logically, I know I did the only thing I could at this point. Emotionally, I feel like I should have known better than to get involved with him in the first place and should not have had such high expectations of him...but hindsight is always 20/20. Advise?