"....I LOVE helping people in any way I can and I want to help her to be the best person she can be...."
Being there. Done that. Doesn't work. Sadly, you can't change people from who they really are. If people can change or be changed that easily, the world would have being a paradise since Jesus was a baby.....
To change yourself to be the best that you can be, is extremely hard. It takes a tremenduous amount of self discipline, that most people simply don't have.
So, for one person to think that he/she can change another person to be the best that person can be, is light years beyond wishful thinking, my friend.
If you love someone, set her free. If she returns to you, then it is mean to be.
Cut this one loose. If she is mean to change to be a better person, it will happen. And your paths will cross.
No matter how sure you think you can affect things for the better, the odds are against you, UNLESS and UNTIL she makes changes by herself. You can't change people for the better. They have to do it themselves.
If you think wasting 2.5 year is bad, then try thinking about wasting the next few decades of your life.
"...I truly believe that when she really loses me (I cut all communications with her), she will realize everything. I just know that as long as I keep speaking to her, I will keep feeding this same cycle & never get out of it, nor will things ever change...."
Well then... get on with it.

What are you waiting for? It is a can't lose situation.