Dilemna Tuesday

How to tell a self-obsessed, whingy friend that they are becoming self-obsessed and whingy.

And clingy too.

And quite frankly driving me birko.

A good friend of mine has spent the last 2 months complaining to me constantly about all manner of life issues, work, lack of relationships, relationships, lack of relationships, work, homelife, family, lack of relationships and while I am most patient and a most wonderful friend, I listen quietly, offer advice and support and am just generally there for her.

Except she never listens to an ounce of my advice, never does anything to help her situation, nothing to drag herself out of the rut into which she is fallen, not slid, we're talking slippery slide complete with washing detergent for extra slide here. Every telephone call is the same story, some gripe, same issue. And each time I fall into the trap of offering advice, support, more advice and in some cases just offering to bloody do it for her so it will sort things out.

So I might sound like a self-absorbed cow, but no support is ever forthcoming from this particular person, and while I'm a giver in the friendship stakes, seems I'm dealing with a taker here.

So what do I do? Say? Aside from losing my marbles and flipping my lid at her, and getting annoyed due to her lack of any support for my issues (now I sound all self-absorbed) yet, the thing that gripes me is, how the hell do you help someone who doesn't seem to want to be helped? Can't help themselves and you can't help them.

I'm stuck in a vicious cycle.

Wow, sounds just like one of my sisters, but it aint.