For those who have difficulty with this (might not just be
FlakeNoir and
morgan), such as when it's difficult to physically avoid some people for practical reasons, a few things that might help:
1. When they start in with their drama and mess, it might help to think of them as members of another species. Interesting, but not really
related to you in any significant way.
2. Repeat to yourself, as many times as necessary, "Not my circus. Not my monkeys." You cannot fix other broken people.
3. Politely decline invitations, requests for loans, etc., without explanation. You do not owe anyone assistance. You do not owe anyone your time. You do not owe anyone explanations for how you choose to live your life. Not even your parents.
4. Voice mail call screening. It's your phone. You pay the bill. You're not required to answer.
5. If unfriending these people on Facebook would cause its own headache, as so often it would, simply go to that person's FB page and unfollow their posts. They will have no idea that you have done this, and they won't be able to tell that you have. (I created a handy little "how to" visual, below.)
View attachment 6910
I hope this helps. I learned these things via that most harsh of all teachers, experience.