Psychedoutnj

-I need a bit of candid advice. Long time listener, first time caller. I've worked in the the mental health field for a while now. Mostly substance abuse patients. A few months ago I got a new patient who became very dear to my heart. I can't reallt explain why. We just bonded instantly - in a non-romantic way. I struggled to keep over- familiarity away, since that's a big no-no. Eventually he was moved for other reasons and it was a non-issue. I worried about him from a distance, but I knew I was too attached, so I stayed away. -However, I saw him a week ago. He was depressed. Hurting. And that caretaking urge kicked in as strong as ever. I don't know WHAT I was thinking, but I went home to do christmas cards, and I sent one to him at our facility , in an attempt to be encouraging and uplifting. -i regretted it as soon as I got home. Not only did I cross boundaries, but I broke a huge rule at my facility. I'm thinking about quitting. Should I really be working in mental health if I can't keep my distance? Maybe there's too much going on in my life right now that's causing me to need to take too much care of other people. I don't know. But I have no clue what to do now. Turn myself in? Quit? Ride it out since he'll be gone soon enough and learn my lesson? That's taking a chance that he won't turn me in or use it to blackmail me. I'm so embarrassed and full of guilt that I became "that person."