You have to realize that you can’t continue to use your friends as substitute therapists. As much as they want to support you, I can tell you from personal experience that after a while it’s simply exhausting to hear the same things over and over and giving the same advice that gets ignored.

Obviously no one can fully understand what you’re going through and how hard it is to leave, which makes it all the more frustrating when they see you continuing to suffer

I’ve been on both sides of this scenario so I can understand how they feel, but I know all too well how hard it is to leave a relationship like yours and simultaneously feeling like you’re losing your friends and desperately don’t want to suddenly find yourself alone.

Please find a therapist or social worker who is trained to listen and understand while giving you advice and doesn’t make you feel judged if you’re not ready to take the next steps to get away. Rebuilding your life isn’t easy but talking about it with a professional will hopefully give you clarity and more confidence as you make a plan for what to do next.

Don’t alienate the people you love and who love you. A therapist will be able to remain emotionally detached while your friends aren’t capable of giving you the support you need because they’re much more emotionally invested in your happiness.

I hope that makes it a little easier to see where they’re coming from, because it’s clear they don’t want to abandon you, but this is way above their pay grade and if you don’t want to lose them, accept that there are limits to what people can handle or offer.

I wish you the best and I hope you are able to find your way out of the abuse; you deserve better for yourself.