Q: I’m caught in a cycle of manipulative behavior with my mother and my brother, and I don’t know how to break it. They live close to each other. I live 1500 miles from them. Mom: “When is your vacation time this year?” (Warning lights, but I can’t find a way not to talk about [...]

Q: I recently lost my eldest daughter to suicide, and am now almost convinced that I will lose one or all of my surviving three daughters in the near future. Is this a normal, if irrational, part of grieving, or possibly a mental health issue? (FYI: I have bipolar disorder.) I also believe that I [...]

Q: I am an 18-year-old Polish girl living in South Africa. This means that my parents view everything differently than the parents of my friends. I have strict rules; I’m not allowed to sleep over or go to my friend’s house for parties if boys will be there. My curfew is 11 pm, and my [...]

Q: My boyfriend and I have a 19-month-old boy and soon we’ll be having a little girl. He says I changed after I had my son. I did, but mostly for the better, except that I became really insecure and I developed major trust issues — but he gave me reason for that. I know [...]

Q: I was attacked by my family last night when I voiced my concern for my sister, who is going through separation and divorce proceedings, and has already begun a new relationship. She was married for about 13 years. Although I support her decision to divorce, I am struggling with her decision to engage in [...]

Q: Lately I have been really sad. I even cut myself once, when I was in a really dark place. I haven’t done it again but I’m scared that I will. I feel like my life is just boring — like it should be better, or more exciting. I think I may feel like this [...]

Q: My 5 1/2-year-old is CONSTANTLY angry. He hasn’t been having as many hour-long meltdowns as he was three years ago, but at least then he had ‘normal’ time in between. The meltdowns are completely draining and exhausting; he goes completely out of control, and needs to be restrained at times. Now, he is just [...]