Problems with my best friend

[Ciento Puntos]

So a little over a year ago I met my best friend online. We both agree that both of us are the best friends that either of us have ever had, even though he lives in England, and I in the USA. We both are 17. Lately however I have been wondering if I should continue to be his friend or not. I have been getting really ill lately (extreme nausea and diarrhea), it comes and goes, due to him drinking alcohol. He does not drink often, but does drink a lot when he does, however he does not get drunk. I had asked him not to tell me when he drinks last Christmas and told him that it makes me sick and I don't like him drinking. He got angry with me, but said that he would not tell me about it anymore. However, after he recently got back from a trip to Spain, he sent me pictures and accidentally sent one of him with a beer. It took me a while to get over it, but lately it has been bothering me a lot more because he is going back to Spain in a few weeks, and I know he will be drinking there again. So I am wondering if it would be good or not for me to start to gradually move away from him because soon we will both be 18, and it will be legal for him to go drinking whenever, and I really get worried thinking about that. I feel that this issue is putting a lot of strain on my health. I am not sure what it is that makes me feel the way I do. I think some of it is probably jealousy, however I have had bad experiences with alcohol in the past. My uncle died as a result of heavy drinking, and both my aunt and grandma are suffering from liver damage now from alcohol, and I don't want my friend to end up like that. I also have been diagnosed with depression, and I have a pretty bad case of it, so when issues such as this bothers me, I can't stop thinking about it, and it just keeps eating away at me. So I am looking for somebody out there who maybe has had a similar experience as I have, or have good advice to help me not feel the way I do. I am really close to my friend, so I do not want to stop talking to him, but lately I feel that I need too as I have been getting really sick, and I fear it is only going to get worse. Thank you very much for your help.

[awesomecow]

Oh my gosh That is really sad but i have no advice sorry :( I only have one internet friend but she is really nice and maybe you should send your friend this link to help him see that you are hurting from his bad choices (Hope I helped) If you ever need to talk about anything i am young but I will help you in every way I can! :)

[Short Circuit]

Well there is a big difference about the way some people are raised. Here in the UK, its like a rights of passage for teens to drink and get drunk, whereas in America, it is a taboo subject. I have friends on a messaging site from America, they know I smoke, they dont like it, but accept that I do it. I keep trying to stop, but as it is more addictive than heroin, it is hard to do, but with thier support, I am smoking less and less each week.

Your friend drinks, and you say it is making you ill because he does. It is HIS choice, you can only support him if he wants to stop, you cannot force him to do it, and why should such a small thing come between your friendship? A friend is someone who likes you no matter what, not one who dictates what the other should or should not do.

[SimSailorNick]

If he's willing to give up drinking alcohol to save your friendship, then don't end it but if not, you decide if you'll confront him or get used to the drinking situation.