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Gettyimages.com/woman dancing and worried

Because I’m a good listener and very empathetic, I often fall into the trap of being the crisis friend for people who are, well, going through a crisis. Don’t get me wrong—I am happy to be there for my friends when they’re going through a hard time, but there are several caveats I should bring up. 1) We need to have a long history of an established balanced friendship that’s been about both people and 2) They can’t only come to me when they’re going through a hard time. They should wan to be around me and talk to me during good times, too. If we didn’t have an established, balanced friendship before I became the crisis friend, then I am really just a free therapist. And if they only come to me in times of crisis then, that’s really no friendship at all, is it? So, are you the crisis friend? Here are the signs, and tips on how to get out of it.

This person cries around you a lot

If you think back on your interactions with this person and realize they cry to you most of the time you get together, you’re the crisis friend. Look, even if they cry half the time you get together, you’re the crisis friend. Do your other friends cry to you several times a month? I didn’t think so. And that’s because they don’t treat their time with you like therapy.

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