ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I am writing in response to the letter from "Concerned Care-Daughter," who said she was approaching caregiver burnout. It sounds to me like she is very empathic, and her older sister may have some narcissist traits. Narcissistic traits include being dismissive of other people's points of view and being very controlling.

My mother ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm recently divorced. We have two wonderful children ages 6 and 11. I try to spend as much time with them as possible because it's important to me, even if it means spending time with my ex-wife.

The woman I am dating is also divorced. She has a bad relationship with her ex and doesn't think I should spend any time with my ex, even ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been on antidepressant and bipolar medication for 12 years. The problem is, I feel I am being overmedicated. I want to sleep all day. I am also legally deaf. I live with my parents because I am unable to drive. My depression and resulting destructive spiral caused my grades to go south in college, which has interfered with my ...Read more

Dear Annie: I would love to hear your comments on my situation. My husband, "Craig," is an attentive, considerate and truly loving partner. The one quality that causes me to lose sleep is this: He is in his late 70s, yet he enjoys the attention of young women, ranging in age from their 20s to their 60s. When he and I spend time alone, we get ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have a friend who lived in my home most of the time for about six years. During that period, she rented out rooms in her house. She paid her bills, and I paid mine, but I covered her living off me. At the time, it didn't bother me much because I could afford it, although I would have preferred to save that money.

I have since sold ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am 74, slim and in perfect health. For the past six years, I have been living part time with "Fabio," my 81-year-old Italian boyfriend. I have supported him through lung cancer and other medical problems. Now he has decided he needs someone 60 or younger to entertain him.

A year ago, Fabio secretly joined a singles group. He ...Read more

Dear Annie: I was in a long-distance relationship with "Jerry" for six years. He frequently spoke about commitment, but when he still wasn't ready to do anything after all that time, I broke things off. That was a month ago.

Although our breakup wasn't particularly acrimonious, it has been difficult emotionally. I used to spend summers with ...Read more

Dear Annie: A close friend's father died suddenly two months ago, and she's been distant ever since. We're relatively young, and this is my first experience having a close friend lose a parent. I'm not sure what to say to her. I hate seeing her in pain. I've tried to tell her that she's strong, but she shrugs it off. What do you say to offer ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I work retail and have bipolar disorder. (I have been stable for nine years.) A few Christmases ago, a customer called me hateful because I wished her a Merry Christmas. (She doesn't come into the store anymore.) My manager and co-workers explained that she was in a bad mood that day, and it wasn't my fault.

Due to my illness, I am ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married for two years to a man I love, and we have a new baby daughter. I should be happy, but I am not.

Annie, I do not like sex. I didn't like it on my wedding night, and I don't like it now. I was raised in the Catholic Church, and sex before marriage is a sin. My husband respected my wishes. So how is it that just ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife does not work outside the home. We have hired help to take care of the house cleaning and yard work. She cooks sometimes but more often she buys prepared food. She does not do my laundry. She does not pay our bills. There are not many demands on her time.

My wife is a hoarder. With a great deal of effort, I've been able to...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have been dating a great guy for two years. We each have two kids from a previous marriage. I am still legally married (separated almost three years) and am in the process of divorcing. My ex is stubborn and vindictive. He's dragging this whole thing out for no good reason other than to spite me.

I brought up the issue of moving in...Read more

You know how some women love a project? A closet to do over, a friend to make over, a bathroom to remodel. Well, Olivia was one of those nonstop do-it-yourselfers. But it her case, the project wasn't a room or a house. It was men.

"I have straightened up, molded, educated, reformed, enlightened and motivated my last nine serious boyfriends," ...Read more

Dear Annie: Our best friend's son just got married in July. We gave them a generous check as a gift at the beginning of June when we saw the son and his fiancee at dinner. We were not going to be attending the wedding later in the month due to a prior engagement.

The thing is, we have never received a thank-you note, text or email. Should we ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My companion of many years and I are retired and live a few hours away from some of his family. When one of them plans a visit, she always insists on taking us out for a meal. She doesn't ask if we would like to eat out but rather commands it. Then she insists on paying for the meal.

I enjoy cooking and visiting with family during ...Read more