Best find another friend

Time and separation. There is no easy way. Sometimes necessary things are just hard... but necessary.

im pretty sure its like a cold, its gets better within a week on its own, but if you see a Dr, its 7 days or less. Except, this might take a few months, and its not contagious.

Walk away, hard to do but it has to be done.

Get out! Take a class! Meet/join new people, re-instate old friendships. Wallowing in what "might have been" is not only a pointless waste of your precious life, but is guaranteed to leave you depressed!

Keep busy with your own life. Tackle that to-do list, and the many neglected items I'm sure are on it.

You have to fully divest yourself of that person and their life.

Be strong...we can overcome anything. Don’t beat yourself up over it...some things become inevitable when people change out of all recognition. We must remove ourselves from situations that become harmful to our own health and well-being, even when it causes us pain to do so.

Slowly back away. And if asked be truthful. It is difficult and painful.

I don't know but if you have any tips on disengaging from someone you've known off and on for 40 years, and are sure, now, that you don't really like, because they come across as petty and basically mean, I'd appreciate hearing it.

With difficulty

Easy

I got over it by promising myself I would not let the painful lesson be wasted; I'd see it coming next time and not put myself in the path of such again... and then being faithful to that promise. Not by becoming hardened, but by becoming wiser.

Recognize that you are grieving. Be kind to yourself.