Dear Abby: Best friend refuses to end abusive relationship

A Toxic Friendship Taking a Toll on Two Women

In a disturbing case of codependency, two friends have found themselves entangled in an emotionally draining relationship with their mutual friend's boyfriend, Angus. Despite growing up together and sharing numerous life experiences, their friendship has become increasingly one-sided as they repeatedly prioritize maintaining the toxic dynamic over their own well-being.

The situation took a drastic turn when Angus broke up with his previous girlfriend, allowing him to "get close" to Brooke. However, it soon became apparent that his intentions were far from genuine. Brooke's relationships with her family and friends have deteriorated significantly due to Angus' abusive behavior, which includes name-calling, emotional manipulation, and controlling her every move.

Despite being urged by her loved ones to end the relationship, Brooke remains stuck in a cycle of self-destruction. Her recent decision to get a puppy with Angus has further raised concerns about the potential risks to both Brooke and the animal. It's clear that she needs support, but instead of seeking it from friends and family, she's choosing to navigate this difficult situation alone.

In another heart-wrenching scenario, another friend has been left feeling hurt and betrayed after her longtime companion suddenly distanced herself over the past two years. The two women were once inseparable, sharing countless memories and experiences, but their friendship took a drastic turn when Brooke decided not to invite her over or engage in conversations about their shared lives.

It's understandable that Gag Order feels hurt by this sudden change, but it's essential to recognize that Brooke's behavior is not about her or Gag Order's newfound status as a grandmother; it's about Brooke's inability to break free from the toxic relationship. Rather than trying to understand and empathize with Brooke's perspective, Gag Order can take steps to reestablish boundaries by limiting their interactions in a way that doesn't trigger feelings of sadness and depression.

As Dear Abby reminds us, sometimes difficult conversations require distance and understanding rather than advice or judgment. It's time for both women to prioritize their own well-being and take control of their lives – even if it means confronting the painful reality that their friendship has become unsustainable in its current form.
 
I feel so bad for Gag Order, I mean Brooke... πŸ€• she needs someone to talk to, but at the same time, Angus is being super toxic... πŸ’” I don't think it's fair on her friends and family who are trying to help. Like, they're not asking her to be besties with everyone, just some boundaries would make a huge difference. πŸ™…β€β™€οΈ It's not Brooke's fault that she got stuck in this relationship, and we can't judge Gag Order for feeling hurt and betrayed... πŸ˜” sometimes people need space when things get tough. Maybe a big group chat or a neutral third party could be like an intervention of sorts? 🀝 And yeah, getting a puppy with Angus is not a good idea at all... πŸΆπŸ’•
 
πŸ€” I'm so concerned about Brooke, she sounds like trapped in a nightmare. How can someone let themselves get into such a toxic situation? 🐢 I mean, getting a puppy with Angus on top of everything? That's just crazy talk! What's going through her head? πŸ™„ And what about Gag Order, it's understandable that she feels hurt and betrayed. But maybe instead of being all "it's not about me", Brooke should be like "it's not about you either, I need some space". Setting boundaries is key here! πŸ’β€β™€οΈ
 
Ugh, can't believe how messed up this situation is πŸ€―πŸ’”. Two friends stuck in a toxic dynamic with someone who's clearly got some major issues. Like, why does Brooke keep choosing to prioritize her relationship over her own well-being? She's literally suffocating under the weight of Angus' emotional manipulation and controlling behavior 😩. And Gag Order is just getting hurt because she can't understand why her bestie would do that to themselves πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ. Newsflash: it's not about you, girl – it's about Brooke breaking free from this toxic cycle before someone gets seriously hurt 🚨. I'm all for giving people space and letting them figure things out on their own, but only if it doesn't harm others in the process πŸ€”.
 
I feel so bad for Gag Order and her friend, I mean they've been through so much together but Brooke's toxic behavior is just draining everyone around her πŸ€•πŸ’”. I think we need to be more mindful of our own boundaries and prioritize our own well-being too, it's not selfish, it's necessary πŸ’ͺ🏼. I wish Brooke would get help or therapy, maybe she doesn't even realize the harm she's causing herself and others πŸΎπŸ’•. And honestly, getting a puppy with Angus is like a recipe for disaster, what if he takes advantage of the new pet too? πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ
 
OMG u guys idk wut's wrong with some ppl 🀯! like Brooke & her bf Angus r literally 2 toxic friends rn who prioritize each other over their own well-being? what about self care tho πŸ’β€β™€οΈ?! anyway, Gag Order's situation is super relatable - how many of us have felt hurt & betrayed by someone we thought was a true friend but ended up being toxic too? πŸ€” gotta set boundaries & take control of ur life πŸ’ͺ. btw, who else thinks it's messed up that Brooke got a puppy with her bf?! like what about the poor pup?! 🐢😩
 
omg i feel so bad for gag order & her friend - they deserve better than a toxic friendship that's literally draining their life πŸ’”πŸΆ it's not about being hurt or having status as a grandma, it's about Brooke needing help ASAP 🚨 and gag order needs to prioritize her own well-being too πŸ™ maybe she can start by setting boundaries & taking breaks from the situation - we need more self-love in this toxic friendship situation πŸ’–
 
πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ can't believe Brooke is still clinging to this toxic relationship like it's a security blanket πŸ›‹οΈ meanwhile, her friends are over here trying to survive the emotional fallout of being left behind πŸ’” Gag Order, girl, prioritize your own self-care and take back control – you don't need someone else's drama in your life πŸ˜‚ and honestly, getting a puppy with Angus is just salt in the wound πŸΆπŸ’”
 
omg this is so sad πŸ€• i think we need to talk about how toxic relationships can affect not just the person in the relationship but also those around them 🀝 like what's going on with these girls and Angus? it sounds like he's a real jerk πŸ’” but honestly, I don't get why Brooke isn't taking steps to get out of this toxic cycle πŸ”„ she needs to prioritize her own well-being and surround herself with people who actually care about her 🐢 btw, getting a puppy with someone who's emotionally abusive is just crazy talk πŸ™…β€β™€οΈ
 
I'm so worried about Brooke πŸ€•, I feel like she needs help ASAP. Her friend Gag Order is right to set boundaries though πŸ‘, it's clear Brooke's not getting out of this toxic cycle anytime soon. It's like, how many times can you get hurt before you realize it's time to break free? 🚫 And what about that poor puppy πŸ˜”, she's got a front-row seat to all the drama. I'm rooting for Gag Order to take care of herself and prioritize her own mental health πŸ’–, but at the same time, I feel bad for Brooke because she needs support so badly right now ❀️.
 
I'm so worried about these two women πŸ€•... I mean, what happened to them, you know? It's like they're stuck in this toxic cycle and can't seem to break free πŸŒͺ️. And it's not just the relationship with Angus, it's like they've lost touch with each other too πŸ‘₯. They used to be these two amazing friends, but now... I don't even recognize them anymore πŸ˜”.

It's hard for me to understand why Brooke isn't seeking help from her loved ones 🀝. Doesn't she know that they care about her and want the best for her? πŸ’• It's like she's choosing to go through this alone, like it's some kind of test or something 🀯. And poor Gag Order, being hurt by Brooke's behavior... I can feel the pain radiating from their story πŸ˜”.

But you know what really got me thinking? Maybe we're all just a little bit stuck in our own toxic friendships πŸ’”. Not necessarily with someone else, but maybe with ourselves 🀯. We get so caught up in trying to help others or being there for them that we forget about our own needs and well-being πŸ™…β€β™€οΈ.

It's time for us all to take a step back and reevaluate our relationships πŸ’­... not just the toxic ones, but also the healthy ones πŸ’•. Are we truly supporting each other, or are we just going through the motions? πŸ€”
 
πŸ’” I feel so bad for Gag Order, she deserves better than being treated like that πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ. It's not about Brooke being selfish or uncaring, it's about her being trapped in a toxic situation and not knowing how to escape πŸšͺ. We should be supporting Brooke more rather than just telling her what she should do (like get a puppy with someone who might hurt you) 🐢😒. Gag Order needs to prioritize her own feelings and take care of herself, it's time for both women to grow up and move on πŸ’β€β™€οΈπŸš«
 
I'm so worried about these two women πŸ€•. Their friendship is being slowly suffocated by Angus' toxic behavior, and it's heartbreaking to see them struggle with setting boundaries or recognizing the damage he's causing πŸ’”. It's like they're stuck in a never-ending nightmare, and I wish they could find the courage to take control of their lives 🌟. The fact that Gag Order is feeling hurt but not acknowledging Brooke's actions is sad too πŸ˜”. We need to focus on supporting both women, rather than placing blame or being judgmental 🀝. They deserve better, and it's time for them to prioritize their own well-being πŸ’ͺ.
 
I'm so concerned about Brooke and her situation with Angus πŸ€•. On one hand, I get why she's stuck in this toxic cycle - he seems to have a lot of control over her life, and it's easy to see how that would make someone feel trapped. But at the same time, I think Gag Order has every right to set boundaries and take care of herself. It's not about being "inconsiderate" or "cold", it's just about recognizing that Brooke needs support - from within herself, first. Maybe instead of cutting ties entirely, they could try having some tough conversations with her, you know? Help her see that she doesn't have to be defined by this relationship 🀝
 
I'm not saying Brooke is a bad person, she just really needs help & support rn πŸ€—πŸ’• Angus' behavior is messed up tho πŸš«πŸ˜’ But I feel like we're rushing to judge her too much? Maybe she's stuck in this cycle because she doesn't know how to get out of it? We need to be more understanding instead of saying "she should just leave him" πŸ˜” It's not that easy when you've been with someone for a long time. Gag Order, I feel u & I'm here 4 u too πŸ€—πŸ‘«
 
πŸ˜©πŸ€• this is like a toxic soap opera and im so worried about brooke πŸΆπŸ’” she needs to snap out of this toxic dynamic ASAP 🚫πŸ’ͺ i feel bad for gag order too tho πŸ€— her behavior might be hurtful but its also understandable why shes feeling that way πŸ’• maybe they can try having a calm convo about it instead of cutting off each other entirely πŸ‘€πŸ’¬
 
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