Ok, my bad. After thinking about it, I realized I have fallen back into the notion that the way I think is how the world in general thinks too - that everybody holds the same things important in life. I see people at work with critical duties who don't take it seriously. They could care less and I'm sure it conveys to their relationships as well. I think the majority of people are completely self-absorbed. If you're a person who cares deeply and you're surrounded by human flotsam, you're going to get taken advantage of and abused. If you're moving to a new area, trust your radar and distance yourself so that you don't have to end up amputating these pathetic clingers. That's the best anyone can do. If you do have to cut someone off, they have asked for it. Don't feel bad about protecting yourself. They won't feel the hurt as much as you do or they wouldn't have been messing you over in the first place. I think Scorpios are mostly defensive and don't go on the attack unless provoked so any knife being pulled out and used was in Scorpio's back to begin with. Handy for amputation. A person is better off alone than with fair weather friends and moochers who are only there for what they can get from you.

I'm in the process of mulling over a decision like this concerning a woman I recently dated. My heart is heavy. Very saddened by the affairs I'm a witness to and how the woman involved is reigniting old, self-defeating habits.

I find myself torn between distancing and protecting my heart or attempting to truly be friend but from a distance.

I've chosen the latter at this point. She's in an explosive, seemingly dangerous situation but I feel that we can reconvene after the shit-show. Could be years for all I know.

But it is painful. I've been on both ends. There is only 1 or 2 people that I have amputated that deserved it. All others I reneged and we are again friends, better than before. It's a really fucking hard thing to do because both parties are still attached and aware, and it cannot be shaken.

I appreciate everyone's advice and words. It helped with my personal dilemma.

I’ve only been truly amputated once. He did me a favor as far as I’m concerned. I didn’t know how to sever that unhealthy connection at the time, and he did know. It felt like a release to me. 

This has been my case with "friends" I take my friendships seriously, most do not.

I am starting to reconnect with an old friend who disappeared when my husband got sick. I am nervous about it because I was a dumping ground for when she was dealing with her daughters drug addiction. People tend to lay their heavy energy on me and right now I am just not up for it. The years before that we had the most fun together. If we could return to that it would be great. 

Being amputated to me feels like:

- being punched in the stomach

- being bereaved and bereft

- like someone died suddenly 

- feels like crazy-making and there is double-guessing oneself to get some clarity amidst the (great) confusion

- painful as hell

- like you didn't or don't matter

In some cases there is some closure when the person explains why they were amputating. In other cases there is no closure as there is no explanation.

Hope this helps.

Thank you all for this information... I am chewing on every response.