I'll have to wait until tonight to watch the video, unfortunately, so parts of my response may be addressed there.
I'm fine with walking away from people. I'm not fine with walking away from friends. I also have a more strict definition of friend than many seem to, and this whole idea is why I've been fighting to keep it that way. (Loyalty to a few people I definitely love and trust is one thing. Loyalty to everyone because they happen to be nice and part of the same community as me would be impossible.) I don't have enough data to have an opinion on romantic relationships, but suffice to say that the way I've seen most of those go hasn't increased my interest in dating.
I've been in friendships and slightly-more-complicated-friendships that were harmful to me. In all cases, I backed away, changed the nature of the relationship, and let it regrow once it was no longer harmful. This was mostly done with minimal interference or help from the other people, so it's not like they suddenly changed or aided this process.
I've yet to encounter an instance where this doesn't work, but I don't know the specifics of your cases. You're also a generally nicer and more helpful person than I am, which could make a difference. As could the aforementioned definition of friend. Stepping back is easy for me. Walking away might be, but I'm not yet willing to see, and hope I never will be.
I'm fine with walking away from people. I'm not fine with walking away from friends. I also have a more strict definition of friend than many seem to, and this whole idea is why I've been fighting to keep it that way. (Loyalty to a few people I definitely love and trust is one thing. Loyalty to everyone because they happen to be nice and part of the same community as me would be impossible.) I don't have enough data to have an opinion on romantic relationships, but suffice to say that the way I've seen most of those go hasn't increased my interest in dating.
I've been in friendships and slightly-more-complicated-friendships that were harmful to me. In all cases, I backed away, changed the nature of the relationship, and let it regrow once it was no longer harmful. This was mostly done with minimal interference or help from the other people, so it's not like they suddenly changed or aided this process.
I've yet to encounter an instance where this doesn't work, but I don't know the specifics of your cases. You're also a generally nicer and more helpful person than I am, which could make a difference. As could the aforementioned definition of friend. Stepping back is easy for me. Walking away might be, but I'm not yet willing to see, and hope I never will be.
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