Posted by greywolf on May 31, 2007, at 11:48:14
In reply to Helpless, posted by Squiggles on May 31, 2007, at 11:14:07
You're no good to anyone else if you don't take care of yourself first. You cannot live someone else's life for them. You can only offer the help that is within your power to give.
Accept the limitations on what you can accomplish in this situation. Accept that if circumstances allowed you to do more, you surely would. Support your friend to the extent that it is safe for you, personally, to do so. Enlist the support of others to share the burden if you can; if not, pray that the support you offer is enough to help your friend through any rough patches.
But, whatever happens, never forget that you have a permanent obligation in the first instance to protect yourself from harm. That's the best way to ensure that you can spend a healthy lifetime giving love and support wherever you think it's needed.
Greywolf
poster:greywolf
thread:760534
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070524/msgs/760556.html