Annoying Friend

Anon Imperfect Mum

Annoying Friend

We are in our early 30s and there is this woman who I went to school with who has, over the last few years become one of the friends I spend a lot of my time with... because she's there. She's always there. As in, physically present. Not as in, there for me. We have had a lot of fun together, we laugh a lot but as far as "closeness" goes, I don't consider her one of my best friends. Our friendship is a "fun" one but she's not the friend I feel I can turn to when everything in my life has turned upside down nor do I run to her with great news. No, that role belongs to my best friend, the one who, while we don't go out on crazy adventures or see eachother that often, I know that she GETS ME. She is my person. I am her person. We understand eachother and have been through a lot together and have always supported one another even when things have been hard. The fun friend, on the other hand, throws any attempt I've made at having a serious conversation with her back in my face either with judgments or by glossing over serious issues. We just do not go deep. I'm fine with that, I'm fine with having a friendship that is only on a fun superficial level, and spending time with her has brought out a more spontaneous and adventurous side in me. She's my "fun" friend. The problem is, the "fun" friend believes we are closer than we actually are and constantly tags me online in "best friend" things which leaves me feeling uncomfortable. She'll write all over my wall, my updates, my photos as though she is my number one priority and gets jealous when I hang out with other people. I have a best friend, several "best friends" both male and female who I can go deep with. They are my close friends. My friendship with the fun friend doesn't even come close to that level of closeness and yet somehow she thinks we are "besties" and treats me accordingly. I feel guilty for not reciprocating to her level of neediness but she seems to need/want my attention constantly. I'd happily see her a few times a year. In fact, my actual best friends that I mentioned above are people I only see a few times a year; some because of physical distance and others because we're all adults and life gets busy. Fun friend has a partner but spends very little time with him. She is very extroverted and constantly needs to be around other people whether that's her large family or friends like myself. Fun friend behaves in a possessive/jealous way around me, has manipulative tendencies and appears put out when I do things without her or without telling her first. She has even gotten angry with me when I told her I joined a sporting group (ie; without consulting her first so she could come too and be my partner in everything so i have no chance in making new friends there... that's what happened the first time). I've caught her out on several lies about times when a group of us were all together. "that's not what happened" i'll tell her. She then backtracks her story and alters it and says "no, no, i remember because YOU said THIS and then SHE said this...." and will tell a story that is absolutely unequivocally not true to make certain people look bad and her better. She is a serial copycat and I've actually had a few mutual friends comment that they've noticed things she has done (and posted about online) that look like she's been spending a little too much time with me (ie; i had posted about doing same thing a week or two earlier. I'm a fairly quirky girl; it's pretty blatant where she got the idea from). She is constantly trying to spend time with me but I honestly have enough on my own plate to deal with that I'm not at all interested in spending time with her and the thought of it fills me with anxiety and dread. I don't enjoy her company anymore, especially when it feels like she expects it and I owe her or something. As I've been writing this out, it has become obvious to me that this fun friend has actually done this before. A formerly close mutual friend of ours used to be "best friends" with the fun friend. I was the third wheel in that group but wasn't worried as my best best friends were from other parts of my life and besides, these two had been besties since school. The other close friend gradually became very close to a girl she worked with and i could see the friendship dynamics changing so i gave the friend some space... however it seemed the more that fun friend clung on tightly to that best friendship she had with the other girl, the more the other girl distanced herself from both of us and became Super Obvious Besties with the new friend (with lots of #bestfriends online just to drum it home). Thinking over that in hindsight, I feel as though I can now see where that friend was coming from and that, if fun friend's behaviour continues I might need to be exceptionally obvious that she.is.not.my.close.friend as she hasn't taken the hints thus far. She's suffocating me with constant texts and online stuff. Sometimes I catch up with her just to appease her but it seems to never be enough. I would happily not see her very often, not because I don't like her but because I dont even see my close friends that much so why would i want to see her several times a week? We're not kids or teens. We're adults with our own relationships and work and families. I don't want to hurt her. I have been on the other side of this before, where I was the "annoying friend" and it is not a nice thing to have said to or about you. I just don't know where to go from here, ladies, how can I get the space I am desperately craving? I'm going through some huge changes in my life at the moment and I don't have the energy for this.

Posted in:  Life Lessons, Relationships & Marriage, Self Care

6 Replies

Anon Imperfect Mum

I would just tell her that you have a lot going on right now and won't be able to catch up for a few weeks. Then just put your foot down and say I can only catch up when I have time. If she keeps asking just say I'm busy and if she keeps persisting just stop writing back. It seems that you agreeing to meet with her so often gives her the impressiin you are besties and I can see where she would find that confusing.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Nobody wants a pity friendship. Seeing her as much as she wants is not healthy for either of you and seeing her out of pity is just sad all round.
Spread the catch ups to how you would feel comfortable with. If you are too busy, say so and suggest a time that's a few months in the future.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Be distant and busy. If you can do it with your real friends do it with her as well. Dont go into the deep ' are we friends' side of it. Just be busy.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I feel sad for your fun friend. Maybe because I've been in her position and I know the hurt that you are potentially going to inflict on her.
Its ok that she see's you as her bestie, she obviously does not have a huge circle of friends around her like you do. Everyone has different expectations in regards to friendship, you are obviously ticking all of her boxes. I don't really have any advice except be gentle with her. Maybe change your attitude and view on the situation. Its ok she see's you as a best friend and it's ok that you don't. But unless she comes out and asks you 'am I your best friend' just let her think she is. No harm in my opinion.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

So I feel bad from you but first your friend sounds like she has a few issues. Probably lonely , low in confidence maybe issue's at home ? No excuse but could be a reason for the odd behaviour. You could do a few things ? end friendship altogether no more contact after you tell her truthfully why your ending it. Just distance yourself maybe once a fortnight catch up in hope she finds some new friends?? Maybe even just approach her tell her how you feel and maybe ask her if she is okay ? Like mentally is everything okay ? Maybe something is going on in her life you're not aware of.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I feel for you both in this situation. I was for a long time the fun friend who never talked about deeper things, I deeply feared judgement and was severely depressed. My friends knew bits but it wasn't until I tried to take my life that everyone found out exactly how low I was. At the same time I had a friend who's marriage had broken up and she was like your friend ALWAYS there we were never that close I said the words "if you ever need me I'm here" and boom everyday she was there waiting for me when I finished work. It was toxic. After my attempt I had to distance myself but we are still good friends now. It's a healthier relationship now although we chat online and in text we see each other maybe every couple of months. Don't judge her too harshly as she may be trying to avoid things in her own life and she obviously wants to give her time to you. Not saying you should continue the way things are at all, you have to look after your mental health (being suffocated is exhausting I know) but maybe just have a gentle talk to her. I also think your putting too much emphasis on the whole "best friends" status you can be her best friend even if she isn't yours. You can have multiple best friends although I realise one will always likely outrank the rest and that's ok too. Tell her your worried about her (only if you genuinely are) ask her honestly if she's ok. You have the power to turn her down politely for visits and catch ups. And say yes when it suits you and your family. I'm not sure if my novel will help but I hope even just a couple of things I have said help! But if you honestly don't want to be her friend don't. There's nothing worse than finding out you mean nothing to someone you love. Good luck ❤️

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