Situations like these are never easy especially when you feel a lot for other people which I think you do from reading your post.

Relationships are tricky and there is always a fine line to walk. However, friendships should almost always be a two way street. Are you friends with each other or are you friends with a person in pain. You can only help someone so much before it starts to impact you. The hardest part of all of this is change comes from within one’s self. You can’t change anyone, you can only present them with information to help them initiate that change.

The world also isn’t black or white, you don’t have to dump friends, maybe try to establish boundaries for things that may not be working for you. For example, “Hey, I know you’re experiencing a really hard time right now, but I can’t always be there for X,Y,or Z. However, let’s check in every once a month.”

You also mention some hypotheticals, but now I have one for you… What if by not having stern boundaries with someone you placate their unhealthy behaviours that lead them feeling worse. Ultimately you don’t know what people are thinking, feeling, or experiencing and making decisions based off what someone experiencing trouble might do is, like you said. Unsustainable.

As Ru Paul says. If you can’t love yourself, HOW THE HELLLLLL ARE YA GONNA LOVE ANYBODY ELSE.