I finally opened up and admitted I have a problem to someone for the first time in my life. The circumstances that led up to this are not really important to mention, really. 

&amp;#x200B;

After initially seeming to be supportive and saying I could talk anytime, what followed was a particularly cruel manipulation. I would contact them with a simple text first asking how they're doing and apologizing if I caught them at an awkward moment, maybe mentioning I was sort of struggling that day, but then would get no response. I obviously wouldn't push on this, so eventually, I would end up apologizing for what I thought was overstepping the mark.

&amp;#x200B;

They would then get back to say there was no need to apologize, and that they would be there anytime I need them. I would give it w while, then just check in with them randomly, just sort of reaching out to someone really who I thought cared, but then nothing. Or if they did get back, It would be two days or so later, and would simply be a one or two-word response. 

&amp;#x200B;

So this cycle would kind of start again, as I would make sure everything was alright (basically I'm paranoid about bothering people) until I realized that I was just being strung along in what I thought was a particularly cruel game.  Not sure if anyone else has been in this position, but to say it hurts is an understatement.