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

Two women, one visibly sad wiping tears, reflecting the pain of ending a long friendship after an unhinged request.

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-long friendship after an unhinged request

Text describing a woman sad she has to end a 22-year-long friendship after friend’s unhinged request.

Alt text: Woman sad about ending a 22-year-long friendship after receiving an unhinged request from her friend

Woman sad ending a 22-year-long friendship after friend’s unhinged financial support request via voice note

Some friends just don’t understand boundaries

Woman sad and frustrated on phone call, wearing glasses and holding a pen, ending long friendship after unhinged request.

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

Woman sad about ending a 22-year-long friendship after friend’s unhinged request causing emotional distress.

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Woman sad ending a 22-year-long friendship after friend’s unhinged request about business investment

Text excerpt showing a woman expressing sadness over ending a 22-year-long friendship after a friend’s unhinged request.

Image credits: winterhaze

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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

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Alt text: Woman sad about ending a 22-year-long friendship due to friend’s unhinged request, reflecting on betrayal and disappointment

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Woman looking sad and reflecting on ending a 22-year-long friendship after an unhinged request from friend

Woman sad ending 22-year-long friendship after friend's unhinged request, feeling hurt and conflicted about the situation.

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Woman sad with long-time friendship ending after friend’s unhinged request, feeling hurt and distanced from toxic bond

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

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Sad woman reflecting on ending a 22-year-long friendship after friend’s unhinged money request in a private message.

Woman sad about ending a 22-year-long friendship after a difficult and unhinged request from her friend.

Woman sad and thoughtful, reflecting on ending a 22-year-long friendship after an unhinged request from friend

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Text comment advising to distance oneself from a friend who is a hanger-on after an unhinged request in a long friendship.

Woman looking sad and contemplative while ending a 22-year-long friendship after an unhinged request from friend

Comment expressing sympathy for loss and advising a woman ending a 22-year friendship due to an unhinged request.

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Woman sad ending a 22-year-long friendship after friend’s unreasonable and unhinged request causing emotional distress.

Text post by Glittertwins expressing refusal to financially support anyone outside of children, reflecting emotional strain in a long-term friendship.

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The conversation with the friend didn’t end there

Text message showing a woman feeling sad and shocked about ending a 22-year-long friendship after an unhinged request.

What came next only deepened her disappointment

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Text excerpt showing a woman sad after ending a 22-year-long friendship due to a friend’s unhinged request.

Woman sad and stressed sitting on couch, holding her head, reflecting on ending a long friendship after tough request

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

Woman sad ending a 22-year-long friendship after friend makes an unhinged request, feeling hurt and disappointed.

Text excerpt showing a woman sad about ending a 22-year-long friendship after a friend’s unhinged request.

Woman sad and reflective after ending a 22-year-long friendship due to friend’s unhinged request.

Image credits: winterhaze

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