He Was Betrayed by Everyone He Loved...the Doctor's Advice Will Smash Your Ventricle

Dear Doctor:  I feel like a fool.  I am 19 and I did something to protect my best friend from the police and now I am suffering the consequence.Without my knowing, my friend did something incite my neighbor to call the police.  When they saw the police lights, my friend hid upstairs.   When the police knocked on the door, I protected him and told them I was the only one home.  Days later, the police came to arrest me.I had done nothing, but ended up taking the fall.  My family did not support me.  The blamed me and accused me. My friend did not come to my defense.  I was deeply hurt.

When I went to court, my friend did not comee forward to protect me.  I was falsely accused, convicted and fined to protect my friend.  In return, I don't even feel the gratitude.  I feel used and betrayed by these people.   What can I do? --  Sucker

Dear Sucker:  Many have fallen into the same trap.  The desire to trust and protect your friends and family is a natural instinct, but as you have learned it is a mistake.  The disconnect between what should be (the ideal) and what is (the real) is the cause of your sense of betrayal.  You should be able to trust and help your friends and family, but in reality, you cannot.

Nearly every person in the world, whether they are your friend, sister, or even Mother is out for themselves.  This is the survival instinct.  It's not their fault.  Most everyone is hard wired this way.   Some can hide or fight this instinct, but it may emerge at any time.  For this reason, you cannot trust anyone.  Not with the important things.

Harden your emotions.  They make you weak. Your desire to protect others will only hurt you.   Protect yourself from future pain and incident.

As you can see, to sacrifice yourself for others is not the smart way to go.  You are not a Jesus, don't even try it.  In the future, let others suffer for their own mistakes.