Well TL;DR, I had issues with my online friend for a while.

I really wanted space and sometimes I would tell them this, but they would always ask me to call them constantly, to watch a show or watch them scroll through something they were interested in.

I enjoyed talking to them for a bit, but overtime, I started to feel drained. They would rant to me a lot about how they felt in their real life, and they would openly talk about their struggles to me. I tried to help by giving advice, but they didnt try to listen to me. So I got a bit annoyed.

I also just dont really feel a connection with them too much. I feel like I have to pretend to be someone when im around them. They have very very strict ideals and perspectives about life in comparison to me, so its super hard to express myself in a lighthearted way. I feel like I have to be always serious around them or I have to joke around/mention interests that THEY want to hear.

That's why I feel fake around them. I told them that I needed space from them and that I will contact them again when im ready. However, I didnt follow through with my word. I tried to contact them, but I felt like it would be a chore to do so. I didnt feel like it.

So, they texted me and asked if I was still their friend, and that they didnt want to go through this whole situation, implying that they were angry with my lack of communication. I told them how I felt about wanting to reach out but felt as if it was a chore to do so, and how I didnt want to talk to them as much as I did before, but that I do not have any "bad blood" towards them. I also told them that I have this pattern of isolating myself from people whenever I feel uncomfortable or tired, and how I cant manage this pattern.

They responded to my message saying how I could control this pattern, and they also said that I always hide myself with layers of irony and they wished me luck on trying to develop authentic friendships with people who tries to open up to me.

I did not reply to it, because I didnt really feel anything with that response.

AITAH?