Casual acquaintance became a friend and almost immediately turned to me for help with 20+ years of drug and alcohol addiction (they were an often-functioning ad

Casual acquaintance became a friend and almost immediately turned to me for help with 20+ years of drug and alcohol addiction (they were an often-functioning addict, on whom it didn't physically show). 9+ months later, they are still sober. Unfortunately, the friendship didn't survive. They really pushed my own boundaries, early on, but I hung in there, hoping and waiting per advice for their circumstances and perspective to settle down. But, while they are no longer using substances, they are still, in my now more informed perspective, using people. Once they had other means of support, they didn't have time for me. Still hope it all proves to be of benefit to their kids. As for me, things I really needed to do, this year, nonetheless got placed on hold. This may even have contributed towards negative judgment towards me -- despite my circumstances making all the time I committed to them possible, in the first place. Lesson learned: Take care of yourself, first. As also observed, ultimately, in the activity and choices of the person I was helping. They certainly took care of themselves -- sometimes at the expense of those around them who were willing to help.