My friend won’t stop sending me photos

I completely understand why you want this to stop. I had a similar thing with one of my relations. Normally I could tolerate it but when life got a bit tricky it was exhausting.

Eventually I told her it was overwhelming me and suggested we have one decent conversation a week rather than lots of snippets and photos. I found that much easier to cope with and now we have a proper chat at a time when I can relax and enjoy it.

So sorry you're having such a difficult time.

I'm also sorry you're having a difficult time.

I think the use of the word "overwhelming" is good, that way you are expressing your experience, not picking on her. "I find constant texts and photographs overwhelming, I'd rather catch up with (people) or (you) every few weeks".

I fear that this yet another one of those one way friendships, I have had several.

These people have rhino thick skins and seem to think they are endlessly fascinating but you are not. I have found that you really have to spell it out for them as they do not take hints or read situations well.

As I have mentioned on other threads, my DD calls them emotional vampires.

I have a friend like this but I think she sends the same to all friends in her contact list. Jokes, memes, photos etc etc. Last week she sent me stuff about her “fabulous” holiday to vietnam and Cambodia, knowing my husband was due home from hospital after 3 months in hospital and we won’t be holidaying for the forseeable.

She does things before she thinks. Always been the same. We’ve been friends since we were 12 so I don’t think she will change now.

Come off WhatsApp? Being contacted and expected to respond is exhausting mentally.Otherwise only respond rarely and ignore the pics and text.Tell her that your DH comes first and family.

Are friends like that really friends? I would say not.

Tactless is the word. We presently have the sale of our house going through and have had an offer accepted on a lovely bungalow, but our daughter and her husband have just had their house sale fall through, again, and have had a really hard time in general, so we steer clear of our own good news.
Same goes for a good friend whose childless daughter miscarried, again, no talk of my GCs or pics of them on whatsapp.
Do you respond to her pics etc., if so, don't. And don't look at your whatsapp thread with her constant pics on it until you feel you want to. She can tell if you have seen her pics etc., due to little ticks, so staying off it for a while would be a good idea.

Return the favour by sending her pictures she will hopefully get the message. Your friend may get bored looking at random pictures of birds etc that you see when going for walks.

So, if we're unhappy we don't won't to share our friend's happiness?

My daughter has decided not to have children but I love seeing pics of my friend's grandchildren and always send a card and a gift.

Could you perhaps tell your friend that you have reached the maximum storage on your phone and say, as much as you like to see her photos, ask her not to send any further photos as you don’t want to have to pay for extra storage.

Olivia, I am so sorry you are having a hard time, it's one day at a times some times I know.
You won't be losing much if you lose your friend. I wouldn't look at them if it upsets. I would concentrate on what is important, the odd photo ok but every day very tactless to put it nicely.
I'm getting fed up with What's app and don't keep photos in my photo file, except the odd good one.

Ziggy62

So, if we're unhappy we don't won't to share our friend's happiness?

My daughter has decided not to have children but I love seeing pics of my friend's grandchildren and always send a card and a gift.

I think it is a proportionate thing. People are happy to see some pictures - and exchange some - but it can get relentless and overwhelming.

Like Primrose I have a dear friend where we have been friends since we were 12/13. We have supported each other through thick and thin for nearly 70 years. My friend never married but she is a supernumery grandparent, and a very generous one to her brother's grandchildren and is worse than the most doting of mothers. She doesn't send the photos by phne,, but whenever we meet out comes the tablet and it is non stop brother's grandchildren. The problem I am not a photo person. I do not take non-stop pictures of my grandchildren and neither do their parents. we get a photo or two each month, usually on FaceBook, which is fine by me, but I cannot retaliate.

I grin and bear it, we have been friends so long, and through so much. It is easing up as the children grow up and leave school.

Yeah, it sounds a bit obnoxious and gloaty to me, to constantly barrage you with unrequested photos of herself and her boyfriend and her all-around great life. To me, it sounds like something a teenager would do.

How about a little white lie/social excuse? "Sorry, Polly Perfect, but I'm going to have to ask you to not send me photos. My phone takes forever to download them and it uses up the battery charge. Thanks! "

Sadgrandma

Could you perhaps tell your friend that you have reached the maximum storage on your phone and say, as much as you like to see her photos, ask her not to send any further photos as you don’t want to have to pay for extra storage.

Oh that's a rather good idea!

I only have my immediate family on Whatsapp. I never give the number to anyone else because I don't want interruptions to my day. When people ask if I use Whatsapp I say "Yes but it's just for family." You could delete your friend from your account and say you've decided to simplify your life because you are going through a very difficult time.

Hello Friend - I'm finding messages completely overwhelming at the moment due to Husband & Daughter's health concerns so I'm taking a break from all social messaging until further notice. I'm sure you understand

That shouldn't offend anyone

I delete WhatsApp photos I do not want and I have set my phone not to save WhatsApp.

I am truly sorry that you are having such a difficult time and totally understand you not wanting to be bombarded with anyone else's photographs.

Can you just say 'please stop sending the photos now, my phone has limited capacity' (yes, WhatsApp photos take up phone storage ). Alternatively, you could just block her, rather extreme I know but it would put an end to the problem.

I'm not a Whatsapp user nor will I ever be, for just this reason. Is there a facility for deleting photos/messages that you don't want? Do you really have to answer everything she sends? It's insensitive of her, yes, but bombarding people with the minutiae of our own lives seems to be regarded as normal now, so I doubt if she's doing it to intentionally hurt you.
Maybe you could give each message from her a cursory glance (in case there's something to have to respond to), then delete it and get on with your day.
Reply to her maybe once a week, then once a fortnight. If she comments on your lack of enthusiasm, tell her that, given your home life right now, you really don't have the time or energy to join in with social media. But you know your friend better than I do (!) so you'll know what you can say and how to phrase it.
I hope you continue to cope with life - I know what it's like and you have my sympathy.

Oops, sorry, I also meant to say -- don't look at Whatsapp except maybe once a day - set a few minutes aside, if that's possible, then deal with what's there and don't look again until tomorrow.

That is insensitive, I would just say you want a clear head now and don't want constant photos, I especially wouldn't want photos of other people's kids/babies. constant contact is demanding but you need to look after yourself

I delete the majority of photos, videos etc. sent by friends. The photos I retain are close family ones.
The OP should either ask her friend not to send photos, explaining it's because of her current family situation. Otherwise, delete them as they arrive and don't respond to the friend on such a regular basis. If the friend questions the OP, again it's an opportunity to explain that she cannot cope with so many photos /messages at this stressful time.

Your response may depend on how much you want the friendship to continue. If you just continue to ignore her, I think she’ll eventually stop but you may lose contact with her. That won’t be easy as you’ll see all the messages she’s sending you but it would be possible.
Alternatively, I agree that you could reply saying it’s filling up your memory and could she please limit what she sends you.
I think perhaps, it’s made you realise understandably, how single minded, if not selfish, she can be, especially when she’s not asking how you are, so personally, I wouldn’t lose sleep whatever you decide to do.
It also dawns on me that she may be not be feeling as comfortable with her life as you may think, if she’s constantly almost asking for acknowledgement. If she was truly content I don’t think she’d have the need to continually send you stuff.
That said, it sounds like you have more than enough to deal with, so she may need to focus in someone else!

Some friends don’t just send 2 or 3 photos - it’s dozens and dozens. I just tick one like in the main and scroll the rest 😂