Cutting off draining friends saved my mental health

I didn’t realize how badly some people were messing with my head until I finally stopped letting them in—and I’ve never felt more free.

For the longest time, I kept certain people in my life out of guilt, habit, or because I didn’t want to seem rude. But the truth is, some of them were doing nothing but taking. Always venting, always needing something, always expecting me to drop everything. And whenever I needed support? Crickets.

I became the emotional dumping ground. The one people called when they needed to unload, but never checked in with. It slowly wore me down, and I didn’t even notice how much it affected me until I hit a wall.

So I started setting real boundaries. Said no more often. Let go of people who made me feel anxious or drained every time we talked. Cleared out my social circle—not in a dramatic way, but in a quiet, firm, respectful way.

And the difference? It’s like night and day. I feel lighter. Calmer. More in control of my own time and energy. I spend time with people who actually lift me up now, not ones who leave me feeling like I’ve run a marathon after a 10-minute call.

If anyone else is struggling with emotional burnout or feeling stuck around certain people—this is your sign. You can walk away from the ones who don’t treat you right. You can put yourself first without being selfish. In fact, it’s one of the most respectful things you can do—for yourself and for your peace of mind.

Highly recommend it 💯