UPDATE: For those of you who followed the story of my brother who I said was ending our relationship, finally, after two weeks, contact! He e-mailed me! I had said to him "it seems to me that my "pathologizing" you is really a small price to pay for the love and support of a brother (me)."

He has responded...

"Rich,

I don't think I should be forced to "pay" any emotional price for love and support. I guess our views differ on this.

I hesitate to explain my silence to you because I feel you have a tendency to not really listen to me, to judge me, and to use what I tell you against me. Not just recently either.

I haven't been reading your emails since your OCD emails. I had already felt overwhelmed by the number of emails you were sending. Your myriad emails detailing your every symptom were upsetting enough, but your personal attack on me was too much. I have to take care of myself before I am able to take care of anyone else. I cannot allow myself to be unnecessarily upset. It is a price I am not willing or able to "pay". I believe that relationships should have a positive effect on one's life; bolstering, encouraging, creating optimism and happiness. That doesn't mean that everyone needs to always be happy around me, they just need to respect my boundaries.

I am not severing our relationship. I'm just taking a necessary break. I'm sorry if this upsets you, but like I said, I need to take care of myself first. Doug"

What opinion do you have? I thank anyone who replied to my posting. Your words were very valuable to me. Rich