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another person is relying on me to make them happy
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My ex boyfriend keeps emailing me telling me that I'm the only one that understands him and that he is depressed with no one to talk to.
I do not want any contact with him due to personal reasons regarding our break up, but he is acting like I am the only thing that can help him and I do not want that burden. I feel as if he is using it as an excuse to get me back into his life. He has done it before many times and it is mentally and physically draining. I have suggested psychologists but he doesn't want to see one.
What should I do?
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Hi concerned_friend. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do. Because you've always been there, he simply hasn't tried to contact anybody else. Once he realizes you have made the break - and mean it, he may search for some other emotional crutch. While he knows you feel sorry for him (quite natural) he'll use this to 'get to you'. Unfortunately, you're going to have to be incommunicado permanently. He is depressed, but you can't solve his problems if you want to get on with your own life. JessF is right, he is no longer your responsibility. He has to take responsibility for his own life. I would suggest, next time he rings/emails, be firm, suggest other options to him. I wouldn't email back, if he rings, as I said, be firm.
Hopefully Jess and I have given you some ideas how to handle this situation. Don't let him bring you down. He is a grown man.