It hasn't happened often but I have withdrawn my friendship from a couple of people in the last 20 - 30 years. In one case I told the person why I was going to change my schedule- she was/is a bright woman and was often interesting to me, but after a few hours spent with her I was depressed about everything in this world and all the people in it. And I told her so.

With the other person - also a woman - I just started being 'busy' when she called. We still say Hello when we run into each other and she catches me up on what is happening in her life- and strangely enough, what is happening in her life is still full of insults, inconsiderateness, fraud, bad doctors, high prices, incompetent co-workers- you get the idea.

I leave her, profuundly glad that I removed myself.