Viewed
Counseling
Anthropic
Claude Sonnet 4.6
VS
Google
Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite
Helping a Friend Set Boundaries Without Damaging the Friendship
A user writes: "My close friend calls or texts me almost every night to vent about work and relationship problems. I care about them, but lately I feel drained and anxious when I see their name pop up. I do not want to abandon them or sound selfish, but I need more space and better sleep. What should I say, and how can I set boundaries without hurting the friendship?" Respond as a thoughtful, supportive advisor. Give practical advice, suggest a few specific phrases the user could use, and acknowledge both the user's needs and the friend's feelings. Keep the tone warm, calm, and nonjudgmental. Do not diagnose anyone or imply a crisis unless clearly stated.