That's just what it is.

We can be well-meaning, with an honest desire to care for and help the people we love, but when the people we love are toxic, there comes a point where all you're doing is enabling them to wreak havoc on your own life.

And that's where you are with this one.

You can choose to keep them around, trying to help as best you can, but any stress or grief or simple annoyance he brings to your life at this point is on you.

You've been a good friend. You've done more, and put up with more, than most people would, or than is even reasonable to expect.

But you're the one who decides who you allow in your circle, which means you allow whatever baggage they bring into your circle as well.

For some people, that understanding allows them to continue to try their best to help, because they just accept that the stress is part of the deal.

For others, that realization allows them to put their own well-being (resources included) to the forefront, and they either cut bait or taken an extreme arms length stance.

But others? They know, but they can't bring themselves to cut those toxic people off. So they ride out it, stressed, in grief over watching those they care about essentially waste away, while contributing to all of it.

Thing is, there's nothing noble about sticking around at this point.