Emotion: anxiety
Problem: problems with friends
Situation: During the past 2.5 years I have been sober, my mentor along the way turned into my very best friend and now the love of my life...but I am married, and so is she...and I have absolutely no one i can talk to now about this.

assistant: Hi, can I help you today?

user: I'm having alot of anxiety

assistant: I am here to listen and help all that I can. Do you have a specific problem you're worried about?

user: I got sober 2.5 years ago and my mentor became my very best friend along the way and now have fallen in love...i am married and so is she, she has no idea how i feel and i have no one i can talk to

assistant: Thank you for sharing with me today and it sounds like this has happened organically. You seem surprised and that makes a lot of sense.

user: I feel guilty about it

assistant: You seem to have a close bond and have been through sobriety together. That can make you feel very close to someone. How is your relationship with your husband?

user: I have a wife and we have been together for 18 years, married for 5. I did alot of damage to our relationship when I was drinking and i'm not sure it will ever be the same

assistant: Could you be transferring feelings because she has been there for you through a rough time and maybe you feel understood more than you do in your marriage? Can you talk to your wife about your feelings openly?

user: about having feelings for another woman? NO...we have tried some marriage counseling apps things get better then go back.

assistant: I am sorry to hear that. I was also married at one time and had similar issues. We never could get passed some issued like having kids or not. I understand it can be difficult coming to terms with someone. It doesn't always work out.

user: I have changed a great deal in the past 2.5 years even though it's been for the better it's difficult for my wife to reconcile the old and new

assistant: That makes a lot of sense and good for you. That's an awesome testament to your hard work.Does your mentor feel the same way about you?

user: I never intended to have these feelings for my friend...it just developed over time. I would never tell her though and ruin our friendship.

assistant: Do you have sense that she has deeper feelings for you and that might be what you are picking up on and contributing to your feelings?

user: we have a very unique, strong loving, friendship that is completely platonic. she is happily married and has a strong faith, would never cheat.

assistant: Have you considered getting a mentor who you don't have strong feelings for and slowing down your friendship?

user: I don't want to cheat either let me clarify that because i never want to ruin our friendship...but I do need to deal with these feelings

assistant: I can understand. Have you ever consider starting a journal. A place to write your deepest secrets?

user: I have actually mentioned before that I think about distancing myself at times because i have never had such an influential friendship and she tells me she needs me as much as i need her and that she waited her whole life to find a friend like me... I don't journal anymore but I do write alot of poetry to work through things

assistant: You need to put yourself first and distance is important. Sometimes writing your feelings down can make them practical in nature. You may read back what you write and learn about how you feel in a deeper way. Maybe you will learn you are craving attention from your wife and not getting it and that is contributing to this dilemma.

user: I believe you are right about that! thanks for the advice and the chat