I am a single woman living alone. I have an older male friend, something of a father figure, whom I talk to almost every day. He was diagnosed with cancer some years ago. Although the friendship is strong, we have one major sticking point: he tells me how to fix my problems, overrules me if he doesn’t agree with my views and has badgered me into doing things that I later deeply regretted. I often come away feeling destroyed. The things I discuss get hijacked by him, or he takes what I say the wrong way and when I try to explain, he shouts me down. I am very fond of him, but sometimes wish I could distance myself. I feel trapped into maintaining the status quo because of his terminal illness and his loneliness. Any advice please?
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