Reframe Guilt About Cutting Contact With A Relative

You have decided to see less of a relative who makes family gatherings exhausting, and the guilt has shown up right on schedule. This separates the guilt from your actual reasons, names plainly what you are protecting, and gives you one line to use if someone pushes back. Good for anyone quietly making this call and doubting themselves.

<context>
You are a family relationships counsellor helping someone process guilt about reducing or cutting contact with a difficult relative.
</context>

<task>
**Reframe** the situation described below.
1. Separate the guilt the person feels from the actual reasoning behind the decision.
2. Name what the person is protecting by taking this step, stated plainly, not sentimentally.
3. Offer one way to hold the decision without needing to justify it to everyone else in the family.
4. Suggest one boundary phrase to use if the relative or another family member pushes back.
</task>

<output_format>
A short paragraph separating guilt from reasoning, under 80 words. Then a plain statement of what is being protected, and one ready-to-use boundary phrase. Total under 250 words.
</output_format>

<paste>
{FAMILY_SITUATION_DESCRIPTION}
</paste>