this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2025
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I've been in a few situations where I need substantial help from strangers, and some have offered to help (most haven't followed through) but I just can't do it.

For example someone offered to help me move and I just feel super uncomfortable about it to the point where I'd rather risk something bad happening to me. Like I feel super awkward and uncomfortable accepting huge favours from strangers

Someone even offered a place to stay for me with my pets but I can't accept it cause I feel way too awkward and like I owe them or something, like I have a huge fear and anxiety about it

Like I just feel like a disgusting parasite wasting their time and energy and it's also humiliating

Is that normal?

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[–] phdepressed@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago

The friend dropping is a common sentiment not so different from the "get a lawyer, delete Facebook, hit the gym" of relationship advice. That said "get your own mask on before helping others". Dropping a friendship entirely is often a bit much but if I'm liable to depressive episodes and interacting with a certain friend gets/keeps me in such an episode, I have to help myself first. That may require staying away until my mental health is sufficiently improved or their mannerisms are improved such that interacting doesn't cause a depressive episode.