I’ve had a recurring people-pleasing problem throughout my life: I’ll get to know someone platonically, realize after a while that I’m not vibing with them on my end, yet I’ll continue on with the friendship anyway.
I think the main reasons I continue the friendship are because they like me a lot more than I like them, a savior complex, and mostly because I don’t know how to get out of the situation. For context, I’m neurodivergent and have C-PTSD.
I’ve always had a soft spot for troubled people because I know what it’s like to feel alone. But I realized I deserve fulfilling/reciprocated friendships, and I no longer want to be a “therapist friend”.
I also realized for the sake of my mental health, I only want to hang out with people who I genuinely enjoy being around and who don’t bum me out. I used to just ghost people when they got too overwhelming for me to be around but I don’t want to do that anymore.
So for future reference, what’s the best course of action when I decide I no longer want to stay in touch with a new friend/acquaintance?