Good on ya Bix ,
learning to protect myself, stopping being a lightening conductor for others emotional bad weather was a help to my sobriety.
These days i can empathise with an issue, maybe share what i did about something but nowadays i don't pick up and carry other peoples mess:-
*steps to the side and calmly carries on with my great sober day*
It's a work in progress and you got to guard it strongly especially on the difficult days .
m