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The original was posted on /r/maliciouscompliance by /u/Leopold_tribute on 2025-10-02 09:25:15+00:00.
Hi all, your stories are so inspiring and I really think it is healing for me. So this is probably not a hugely malicious story, but I am a recovering people pleaser, so for me it is biig.
Context: In May of this year I fell ill and had to go to a clinic for exhaustion depression and burn out symptoms. Before that, I had been quite closed off and had isolated myself, which is a normal behaviour for my illness (I learned). This also meant I didn't check in with my friends or had to cancel plans last minute, because I would get panic attacks, if I went out. Of course I would make up stupid excuses, because I was ashamed of myself. A close friend had planned to leave to travel for six month in May and wanted to meet me before that. I made up something why I couldn't come, feeling guilty for not showing up for her. Because we are Swiss, she never said anything, but she also never said goodbye on the day she left, which I totally understood. A few weeks into my clinictreatment, I decided to write to her and appologise for my behaviour, explaining what my situation had been. She answered with asking me for book recommendations to read on her travels. She didn't ask how I was or acknowledged my appology, but I thought, well she might still be a bit angry or disappointed. So I gave her a few books to read and wished her all the best for her journey. Sadly, since then, my friend has never asked about how I have been or sent just a little hello. She was MIA for several month. I was a little disappointed, but I had also learned in therapy, that the aftermath of a breakdown can mean that you see who really are close friends and who aren't. I have been out of the clinic for a few weeks now, feeling soso much better and actually thriving. Today, I got a message from my friend, asking for more book recommendations. No 'hi, how are you? Do you feel better?' or anything, just 'hey, Google, get me some good books' (not literally, just the tone). It made me giggle, because it was so absurd, but then I thought, how do I react? Just giving her, what she wanted, seemed too 'people pleasy' and not reacting seemed to passive aggressive, because I'm not bothered, I just don't give a (insert here). So to FINALLY get to the point, I know she hates horror or even slightly uncanny stories. So I recommended her books, that are 'normal' at the surface and end with a twist, that makes you gasp or haunt you for ever. I know, it's not much, but I think, I'm on a good path, to not be a push over anymore. Plus, I am really interested, if she ever gets in touch with me again.