I have a good friend who complains constantly. I actually only noticed recently how bad it is and my husband has remarked how I seem to be down after spending time with her. It’s just non stop. We are both moms with young kids and relate a lot about how hard this stage can be, but it’s way beyond that. Her husband, her career, her other friendships, her fitness level, the choices she’s made even going years back. I hear her out, validate her, I encouraged her to try therapy awhile back and she is going now but has switched therapists twice now complaining about the therapist!
I also feel like I have to be very careful about how I respond because she gets offended. If I agree whatever her husband did was rude it’s like she starts defending him and like I’ve said the wrong thing. Anyway it’s at the point I just can’t and want to distance myself from the friendship. Confronting her won’t help she would feel so bad and probably cry and complain what a terrible person she is.
What else can I do? I try to redirect the conversations but I’m just exhausted.