ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I have a longtime friend who has become quite difficult to be around because she talks nonstop about herself. She is a single professional woman who is intelligent and talented. But I think living alone causes her to unleash all of her thoughts on me. Honestly, I sometimes don't even make an effort to talk about what's going on in ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am in middle school, and a girl on my softball team was the victim of a terrible incident. Her dad was killed in a car crash caused by a drunk driver. She has been heartbroken ever since.

I constantly wonder if I can do anything to help her. I hate it when people are sad. Should I do anything besides comfort her with words? ...Read more

Dear Annie: Our oldest son, "Adam," lives two hours away with his wife, "Eve," and their three children. One child, "Hayden," is Eve's from a prior relationship. She married Adam when the boy was 3. The biological father is irresponsible and alcoholic but loves Hayden and sees him when he can.

Hayden is now 13 and a good student, and he works...Read more

Dear Annie: My sweet, kind 33-year-old college-educated husband has regressed into a teenager. He has always been a marijuana user, but a year ago, he befriended "Jake," and now the two of them smoke marijuana daily. They spend their evenings riding skateboards, playing video games and hanging out with college kids.

I would like to buy a ...Read more

Dear Annie: As a military war veteran and someone raised in the midst of inner-city violence, I have suffered from and learned a great deal about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There are many misconceptions about this common and treatable illness, and I want to make sure your readers know the truth about PTSD and how to get help if ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married to the love of my life for several years. Our children are all grown and out of the nest. I recently learned that over the past few months my husband has had numerous telephone conversations with a female acquaintance. I know this woman, too, although not very well.

I travel for work several times a month, and ...Read more

Dear Readers: Happy Father's Day to all the men in our reading audience who have had the pleasures and responsibilities of raising children. This includes fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers and those who have stepped in as father figures for those who needed them. Bless you all. Having a caring father is not only one of life's great joys, but ...Read more

Dear Annie: I recently had to move back into my parents' house due to financial hardship. I'm 23 years old and have rarely asked them for any sort of help. But I receive a lot of grief, sarcasm and jokes about my current position, and this is from my entire family.

Meanwhile, I have two older brothers who rely and depend on my parents for ...Read more

Dear Annie: About a year ago, I ran into a woman I used to spend time with in high school. We are both married, although she is going through a divorce.

Since that day, she and I have been talking quite a bit. We discuss a lot of different things, all on a platonic level. The problem is, I believe I am becoming infatuated with her again. I ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been together for five years. For the most part, we have a great relationship. The problem is, my husband is seven years older and had a few bad relationships before we got together. Because of this, he is always telling me I am a cheater and cannot be trusted.

Annie, I haven't done a single thing in my past ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a friend who has a divorced daughter with two children. The ex-husband has a good job with the government. My friend is very strapped for money and sends as much as she can to the daughter. The daughter claims the ex-husband does not pay child support regularly.

I feel the daughter should go to his employer about the child ...Read more

Dear Annie: My son's estranged wife has reported him to child protective services six times and to the police for various things she's invented over the past three years. Due to her false accusations, he has been arrested three times. He has been found innocent of all charges, but she persists.

She charged him with violating a restraining ...Read more

Dear Annie: In January, my boyfriend and I moved in together after four months of dating. We both have young daughters, and we love all of them. His ex took off two years ago and has no interaction with the children. Their grandmother and great-grandmother, however, have played an active role in the girls' lives. Due to my boyfriend's work ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been doing a lot of family-tree research and recently learned that my ancestors owned slaves from the early 18th century until the end of the Civil War, when my last slave-owning ancestor was shot in the head by Union troops.

My problem is, one of my brothers married an African-American woman, and they have two young ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I are going through a divorce after 23 years of marriage. We just grew apart. We have four children, ages 12 to 21.

The problem is, my wife feels I do not deserve any of the marital assets because she was the primary breadwinner. She made a nice income, but it also meant she spent a considerable amount of time away ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 16-year-old girl in high school. I have so much to be thankful for, but recently, I have been feeling like something is wrong with me. Quite frankly, I am depressed. I am always tired, anxious and nervous, and I have outrageous mood swings. I have lost all focus, ambition and motivation, and sometimes it just hurts to ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband is a high-ranking officer in the military. He has worked hard to achieve his current position and is highly respected.

The problem is, his family treats him like a child. In a few months, there will be a formal ceremony to mark his change of command. My in-laws will be in attendance, and they are certain to embarrass ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have worked for many years at a small family-owned company. I believe my boss has been the victim of a scam, but I can't tell her.

For several years, my boss has been communicating with a gentleman who claims to be Nigerian. He keeps telling her he is supposed to come to America in the near future and will bring her a check for ...Read more

Dear Annie: I was overweight throughout most of my childhood and became morbidly obese after high school. When I was in college, I had terrible self-esteem and a horrible body image. I never dated.

Three years ago, I had gastric bypass and have since lost more than 200 pounds. I've been trying to start dating, but the individuals I have ...Read more

Dear Annie: Five years ago (after 20 years of marriage), my wife and I separated because she found out that I had been regularly indulging in phone sex and that I had slept with another woman. In addition, I'd made constant demands of her for sex.

When she asked me to leave, I was determined to completely change my life. I sought help and was...Read more