some people can't seem to see how complaining only makes things worse learn to tune it out, don't become one of them.

Set this guy up my girlfriend so they can spawn whinny crying babies and hopefully, ok busted I'm praying they snap, drive the car off a cliff and save humanity from another generation of mexicant's.

I love mexicans.

Or do what I do when my lady moans on about air being too thick or something dumb like that. I stick my middle fingers in my ears look at her and say " I can't HEAR you, I have some birds stuck in my ears"

is what you have on your hands. Lest we forget the man is both an Energy Sucker and is Mindfucking you to get involved in his drama. Boundaries and distance.

Tell him he's irritating and negative....and to leave it all at home. Boundaries and distance, yes. Be assertive, take charge.

Why don't you just calmly tell that person you have things going on yourself and can't take on anything else. You can say it kindly but you must always maintain your stance. Boundaries. Work is not a place for spewing personal stuff anyway. Or maybe, hopefully, they will have read your complaint and wondered if you're talking about them. That'd do it!

I'm on your side. Quite frankly, there are far too many complainers - period. Life is pretty damn good. I'm in the same boat as you - study full time and work part time from home. I've scaled back my life considerably because I lost my job two years ago and decided to finish off my degree in the downturn. I've taken on a roommate which I cannot wait to be free of and I spend zilch money on myself other than food and sustenance. However, I know we have it very good in Vancouver. Try living in some other country - third world or failed state where getting raped or tortured on a daily basis would be considered "normal." I say, grow up people and be thankful.

@OP instead of praying this person will quit or get fired you could choose to handle yourself and your reactions, judgments and negative perceptions about this person differently. You're the one choosing to be the way you are because you're ..." always trying to build this person up and keep up a happy face..." What you don't realize is you could be learning from this person. You're coming off as though you're a know it all and how dare someone else be where you used to be. Have some compassion! How do you think other people felt about you when you were where he/she is now? Wow. How soon you forget. And the other thing you don't realize is, you're actually showing this person who you are by what you do and what you do not do. You're actually showing this person how you want to particpate by allowing yourself to get dragged into it. No one is making you do anything you don't want to do! If you don't want to be part of there are lots of ways to keep your distance and set healthy boundaries. You are allowing this person to "suck the life out of you" already. If you don't like it -- stop it! You're doing it to yourself. Rather than have hatred and resentment, choose to live life with compassion.

i understand your frustration, i oftentimes find myself in a very similar situation. there is a one sure way to avoid conflict, get your co-worker to stop complaining, all a most effortless way. when you see them next time and they start whining, say something to the effect of "you know, if have been going through some difficult time too, i am glad you are hear, i really need someone to talk to about this. it has been really hard for me, i have been so exhausted, i find that i am not eating as well as i want to because of this, and it really concerns me because food is like fuel for our body, and i need to make sure my body runs at highest potential under these circumstances. life is so complicated right now,....". the thing is, every word of it is true. i doubt that you will ever be able to finish what you wanted to say. this co-worker of yours is living off sucking out your energy, but they do not want to share theirs, so they will start avoiding you or avoiding talking to you. just don't make up any problems, and don't share your real ones (ppl like that have bed energy and you don't want that affecting you).

just ask your boss to move you to another cubicle? Problem solved.

Maybe you can state that you're really busy, or you need to focus on something, you need to concentrate and he's distracting you. You don't have time in your work day to listen (then you run the risk of him asking you to go for a beer or something after work). Depending on your personality, you could just say without a hint of malice in your voice "I come here to work and I don't have the time to spend on being your sounding board." "I really like to keep my private life private" also works. It's all in how you say it.