Delusional Friend Of 22 Years Asks For Financial Support As She Wants To Quit Her Job And Travel

It has been said that the first sign of civilization was a healed broken bone found in an ancient human skeleton — meaning that someone once cared for an injured person and protected them. This proved that humans are naturally capable of compassion and social bonding. In today’s world, it can mean paying for a meal for a friend, listening to them when they want to vent, or even lending money when they need it. It is these little things that show we can count on each other. But a friend can only do so much, and often there comes a tipping point. A woman who recently lost her husband shared a similar tale about one of her friends. She spent years being there for her friend, who frequently leaves her long voice notes constantly complaining about her own life and her job. But the breaking point for her came when the friend asked for financial support to cover a few months. No timeline, no plan, just a voice note. It was the kind of thing that made her pause and question: when do you say yes, and when do you finally say enough?

Even the closest friendships can be hurt without clear boundaries

Sad woman wiping tears as a delusional friend of 22 years asks for financial support to quit job and travel

Image credits: Karola G / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Helping friends is natural, but it can also make you feel overwhelmed

Woman looking sad and thoughtful, reflecting on ending a 22-year friendship after a delusional financial support request.

Sad woman reflects on ending a 22-year friendship after delusional friend asks for financial support to quit job and travel

Woman upset about a delusional friend of 22 years asking for financial support to quit her job and travel.

Sad woman ending 22-year friendship after delusional friend asks for financial support to quit job and travel via voice note.

Some friends just don’t understand boundaries

Woman with glasses frustrated on phone call, holding pen, dealing with delusional friend asking for financial support to travel.

Woman feeling sad and distressed after a delusional friend of 22 years asks for financial support to quit job and travel.

Sad woman reads text about delusional friend of 22 years asking for financial support to quit job and travel.

Woman sadly ending a 22-year friendship after delusional friend’s unhinged financial support request to quit job and travel

Text excerpt showing a woman expressing sadness over ending a 22-year friendship after a delusional friend asks for financial support.

Two women in a serious conversation, capturing the emotion of a sad woman ending a long friendship over financial support.

Image credits: Karola G / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Image credits: winterhaze

Image credits:  fauxels  / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Honest conversations can protect friendships, stop unnecessary fights

Helping others can strengthen bonds but without boundaries, it can often lead to resentment or burnout. Even long-standing friendships need clear limits to stay healthy. “It can be really hard to set boundaries in friendships — this is someone you care about and want to support. But you also cannot pour from an empty glass, and we all need breaks or reach our limits,” clinical psychologist and author Dr Amy Marschall, Psy.D., tells Bored Panda. “If you find yourself resenting your friend or dreading your interactions, that might mean that you need a break. It is better to take a break than to bottle that feeling up and lash out,” she adds. She says friendships are meant to be reciprocal. “If the balance never shifts, if the person seems to always need more and more from you without having the capacity to give back, that might mean that the balance is off and there is a need to set some boundaries.” Recent surveys also show that money is a major reason for arguments in personal relationships. According to a 2025 study, 41% of Americans say they have had tension with a friend over money, while 36% admit a friendship has even ended because of it. “Of the 77% of Americans who’ve lent money to a friend, 19% say it affected their friendship negatively the last time they did and 32% didn’t get their money back,” the study shows. Matt Schultz, a financial analyst at LendingTree that did this study, told KJRH-TV, Oklahoma, that much of the tension and problems around money and friendship could be avoided with a simple, honest conversation upfront. He also said that sometimes it is okay to refuse a friend’s request for money, and if they are your true friends, they will understand. Dr Marschall echoed the sentiment, saying: “A friend who truly cares about you will want you to get your needs met even if the boundary means that you cannot support them like you have in the past.” “If you have struggled to set boundaries in the past, some people take advantage of that and might not like that you are setting them now. In that case, the person is not truly a friend to you,” she adds.

Internet shows sympathy, asks her to set clear boundaries

Text message showing a sad woman ending a 22-year friendship after a delusional friend asks for financial support to travel.

Text excerpt showing a woman’s sad reaction after her delusional friend of 22 years asks for financial support.

Comment expressing sympathy for a woman ending a 22-year friendship after delusional friend asks for financial support.

Woman reflecting on betrayal and disappointment after friend of 22 years asks for financial support to quit job and travel.

Screenshot of an online comment showing sympathy about ending a 22-year friendship after a delusional friend asks for financial support.

Sad woman ending a long friendship after delusional friend asks for financial support to quit her job and travel.

Text screenshot of a woman expressing sympathy and setting boundaries after loss, reflecting on a delusional friend seeking financial support.

Woman looking sad and reflective, contemplating ending a 22-year friendship after a request for financial support.

Sad woman ending 22-year friendship after delusional friend asks for financial support to quit job and travel.

Text message showing a woman sad over ending a 22-year friendship after a delusional friend asks for financial support to quit job and travel

Sad woman reflecting on delusional friend of 22 years asking for financial support to quit job and travel, ending friendship.

The consensus was clear: saying no doesn’t make her a bad friend

Sad woman reflects on ending a 22-year friendship after a delusional friend asks for financial support to quit job and travel.

Woman sad and conflicted after a delusional friend of 22 years asks for financial support to quit her job and travel.

Sad and thoughtful woman reflecting on ending a 22-year friendship after delusional friend asks for financial support to travel.

Woman looking sad and reflective, showing emotions tied to a delusional friend asking for financial support to quit job.

Woman looking sad and contemplative ending 22-year friendship after delusional friend asks for financial support to quit job and travel

Comment offering sympathy for loss and advising on financial support amid a delusional friend of 22 years quitting job request.

Text message showing a woman sad about ending a 22-year friendship after a delusional friend asks for financial support.

Woman ending a 22-year friendship after delusional friend’s unreasonable financial support request to quit job and travel.

Text post by Glittertwins refusing to provide financial support outside children, reflecting strain in a delusional friend of 22 years.

Sad woman ending a 22-year friendship after dealing with a delusional friend asking for financial support to quit job and travel.

Comment expressing sympathy over a delusional friend of 22 years asking for financial support to quit her job and travel.

Text comment on screen expressing sadness over ending a long friendship due to a delusional friend's request for financial support.

Text post showing a comment expressing sympathy about ending a 22-year friendship related to delusional friend asking for financial support.

Woman feeling sad and conflicted about a delusional friend of 22 years asking for financial support to quit job and travel

Text post expressing refusal to financial support, ending a 22-year friendship after delusional friend’s travel request.

The conversation with the friend didn’t end there

Text message showing shock and sadness over a delusional friend of 22 years asking for financial support to quit job and travel.

What came next only deepened her disappointment

Sad woman reflecting on a delusional friend of 22 years asking for financial support to quit job and travel.

Text excerpt showing a woman sad after ending a 22-year friendship due to a delusional friend asking for financial support.

Sad and stressed woman sitting on couch holding her head, reflecting on a delusional friend asking for financial support.

Woman feeling hurt ending a 22-year friendship after delusional friend asks for financial support to quit job and travel

Text excerpt showing a woman reflecting on ending a 22-year friendship after a delusional friend’s financial support request.

Woman sad and reflective after ending a 22-year friendship due to delusional friend’s financial support request.

Image credits: Karola G / Pexels (not the actual photo) 

Image credits: winterhaze

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