I think this is excellent advice. I had dinner with my family and their Pastor over the weekend. She was talking about a mentally ill parishoner who attends church services and causes chaos for the other attendees. It is a tough situation because they feel they need to tolerate this guys behavior, even though he is a threat to the entire "church community". That is not the case though. 911 exists for a reason in cases like these. I am not a religious person, so I do not mean to offend, but you are not doing this person any good by tolerating his behavior. That has nothing to do with God or any kind of religion. I am also a Social Worker and I work with the severe mentally ill. One of our cases was referred by a churchgroup because of her behavior and she actually has gotten better now because she was able to get the help she needs. I know that this may not apply directly to your situation, but often people who have mental health issues also are preoccupied with church and religion, and will manipulate people at their church to avoid getting the help they need.

Thanks, guys. It sounds really cold, you're right, but dude needs boundaries. I was going to call him back this week, but...never mind. It will only do more harm than good. I can't always be the heroine in the scenario. My other friends are going to put me down b/c they told me to be there for him since I'm the only one he wants, but if I don't want him, there's no point. They'll get over it and so will he (I hope).

What's up with your friends trying to push you on to this dude? Sounds like you may need to practice the same behavior on them ;).

Oh, because we're all friends together. Actually my best friend (who gave him my number) is his best friend. He tells her all the time how good I make him feel, but when he started creeping me out, I kept it to myself, not putting our business out there. So to her, it's one-sided, no one except the pastor (who has relocated to Kansas) knew what was really going on. Since this is the first time she's hearing about this, she doesn't know what it used to be like so she can't see why I'm worried.

You are probably a really nice average girl and all . . . but . . .

I think you like the attention and are looking for ways to justify remaining in contact.

Or maybe you like the very tiny drama this is? PErhaps being able to talk to your friends about this and having them wrapped up in your problem makes you a center of attention?

Because everytime you talk to him, even by just answering, you encourage him. Even if you just pick up the phone to tell him to stop calling, you encourage him.

If he is truly suicidal, which I doubt, he is going to end his life regardless of what you do. He'll come up with some reason, like a flat tire or something.

You are way to invested in your break-up. You are broken up, its over, move on. You guys are broken up and you are still talking to him, talking about him, and writing about him. Thats uhm . . . well maybe not insane, but certainly not the actions of someone really trying to move on with their life.

Honestly, like winneythepooh said, just avoid contact. ITs virtually impossible for someone to reach you if you are actively trying to avoid contact.

Re: Case of the Ex
 

No disrespect but that didn't really make any sense. Our relationship is not the reason I'm talking about this now. I'm talking about my current problem, which my past relationship is the root of, there's a difference. And to say that I'm not trying to move on with my life shows that you clearly didn't read the post that started this thread:

If I was trying to keep this going, I wouldn't be asking for advice on how to stop it. I've only tried to justify our contact once, b/c the situation could become life-endangering and the only reason my friends wouldn't understand is because I've kept much of it from them, not flaunted it as you implied. And even despite all that I still said I'd stop contact with him, which I did. So, no offense, but your post strikes me as completely off-base, pointless, and a bit offensive (as you basically called me a self-absorbed drama queen who likes having guys threaten my life and theirs).

It's OK...James just likes to stir things up. :p

There's no reason you should have to put up with this. I can understand if you feel like you need to "be there" for him because he's having a hard time, but I think in this case it would just be opening a can of worms. Even if your friends think you're being heartless, you really need to cut this guy off. But yes, talk to your paster, or somebody, about what's going on--maybe someone can help the poor dude.

Thanks, I'm making progress. Well, at least I'm not so indecisive. I'm still not sure of what I'll do when I see him in person, he's not the type to go away when ignored (he'll just follow me till I say something). I don't know what I'll say to him if that happens, but I've stopped returning his calls, and that's a start. And I haven't from him in some days, that's good. Thanks everyone, it's a huge relief to actually have a plan.