indecision
This started as a response to Sam, but I think it's become a post in its own right:
Sam,
Thanks for your concern and words of wisdom. When I stop and think about it, neither of these choices seem like great ones. But I may end up doing both anyway.
I think both cases come down to fear of confrontation -- or maybe abandonment. I'm afraid to confront my doctor with, "Hey, I think what you've been doing isn't working. I know this isn't by the book, but would you try this?"
I'm now afraid to confront my friend with "I'm going to renege on my agreement to get an apartment with you." This person is currently charged with assaulting his girlfriend (who would be my other roommate, and is way too young for my friend.) He was very intoxicated at the time. I now see that he is an addict and alcoholic. He says he has been sober since the incident (a couple months ago), and after I questioned him, he said he was "staying sober for myself, and nobody else." I'm not sure that I believe him, but his girlfriend has made it clear that she won't tolerate him drinking or using either.
Anyway, I don't think anything he could do would make me use or drink. Still, I don't think living in an episode of Jerry Springer would be great for me either.
I don't know what I'm going to do now. I told him I'd have my completed apartment application ready today or tomorrow.