You've spent your entire life being taught that you should be there for your friends and always be willing to lend a helping hand. At some point, however, that helping hand has turned into giving people the last surviving piece of your heart and you've destroyed yourself in the process. You've always thought this is okay, and you'll continue to think that until it kills you.
So, a small piece of advice; stop. Stop letting people tear you apart and have the last of you. You MUST learn to save some of it for yourself. Take a pizza for example. You and your friend split the cost of the pizza half and half but when it finally arrives, you decide to give the entire pizza to your friend. This is fine the first time, the first couple of times even. Then, eventually, you start running out of money and starve because you just can't stop giving. There comes a point when it's not worth it anymore.
Another thing; when are your friends going to start to give back? You spend every second of every single day making sure to do everything in your power to keep your friends happy and in a good place. You give and give and give but when do they come around and support you for a change? When do they reach their hand out to hold you up?
When you are losing a piece of yourself to them every single day, it's their responsibility to give a piece of you back when you need them the absolute most. Make sure that if you're going to give away everything you have, you are giving it to the right people who will eventually return the favor. An even exchange of lending a hand is an essential to having a successful friendship.
Don't get me wrong, giving is a good thing. Being there for your friends when they need you is a good thing. It may possibly be the most rewarding feeling that you'll ever feel in your entire life. However, treating yourself is also a good thing. Taking time to yourself is a good thing. Saying no to something that you don't want to do is a good thing.You're all too willing to give to your friends so why are you less willing to give to yourself?
If your friends can't give back to you, learn to give back to yourself. In the end, it's all about what's best for you and how you're going to get through this crazy thing we like to call life. Take it from a girl who knows this situation all too well, you are what's most important. Friendships can come and go so be sure to save some of your love and caring for yourself before you give everything to people who never deserved the tiniest bit of it.