ArcaMax

Dear Annie: Looking at me now, you would never think I struggled with mental illness. I am a second-year graduate student studying counseling psychology, and I spend my free time as a competitive equestrian, teaching therapeutic riding, practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu and helping with at-risk youth therapeutic groups.

The truth is, as a young ...Read more

Dear Annie: I beg you to tell adult children not to massage their curiosity and egos by milking the accursed internet to chase down the other end of their parents' ancient love affairs.

I recently got a 75-year-old memory bomb -- a phone call from the daughter of an old flame from the 1930s. I had no idea there was a child from this romance. ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am a 66-year-old male. Six months ago, I lost my life partner, my love of 33 years. I was at "Michael's" hospice bedside 24 hours a day.

I always thought I had a good relationship with my partner's family, especially his sister, "Josephine." But a few days before his death, Josephine told me, "You haven't done anything for Michael...Read more

Dear Annie: My grown son is an alcoholic. It has not interfered with his job so far, but it seems to be getting worse. His father drank himself to death, and I'm so worried he will go down the same path. He absolutely won't discuss it.

Last Mother's Day, he promised to give up drinking, but a month later, I saw him guzzle two beers at a family ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm 63 and fat, have been divorced for 20 years and live at the poverty level on social security. I am depressed and do not see the point of anything. My three adult children are grown and are truly great people. I see all of them about once a week. I also have two wonderful grandchildren. They are my only success, but they have ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm in my late 50s, divorced with no children, and have acquired a fairly substantial estate. A year ago, I decided it was time to put my final documents in order. I looked to extended family members to divide my estate, but decided to test them first.

I contacted my sibling and then my cousin and then another cousin, etc., telling ...Read more

Dear Annie: Two months ago, I discovered that my husband had been texting and calling my oldest son's girlfriend. My son told me about it after his girlfriend asked him, "What's wrong with your father?" She said it began last June, but claimed it was only one phone call and a few texts. It made me feel ugly and unwanted.

I suspect she is ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am desperate for advice about my husband's lies. We have been together for 27 years. From the beginning, he knew that complete honesty is very important to me. I told him about my past relationships, and he told me about his. In all of our time together, he has maintained the same stories, but with enough variation to make me ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am one of 12 siblings, but the only one with multiple sclerosis. For two years, I have been without work, so I sit here daily, hoping for a visit. I know my siblings are busy, because I see photographs on social media of their many travels and moments I can only imagine having.

I'd like to ask them when was the last time they came...Read more

Dear Annie: My next-door neighbors are breeding and selling dogs illegally. Sometimes they have as many as 18 dogs in the house. The problem is having to put up with all that barking, and even worse, the smell permeates our driveway, porch and yard. It is disgusting.

We are retired and have a beautiful home. We cannot enjoy our own yard because...Read more

Dear Annie: An acquaintance of mine (I'll call her "Minnie") drops by our home once a week and stays for several hours. If we offer her a beer, she protests a little bit, but then says, "Well, OK," and then asks what kind of wine or liquor we have. She somehow makes it seem as though she is doing us a favor by accepting what we offer and then ...Read more

Dear Annie: My sister and I have always been close. Usually, little things are forgotten, but on two separate visits, "Susan" and her husband caused me a great deal of anxiety.

The first was three years ago, when they came in for her husband's birthday. I planned a party at a nice restaurant, bought gifts and made a cake. Prior to the meal, my ...Read more

Dear Annie: My daughter is getting a divorce and moving into an apartment that allows her to have two cats. The problem is, she has four cats. She asked whether I would take two of them.

I live in another state. It would be difficult to get the cats here, and I don't think I can handle them. The idea of cat hair everywhere, smelly litter boxes,...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm a 50-year-old male, not particularly tall, with a stocky (not fat) build and blond hair. I'm still a virgin.

I have dated several women over the years, but nothing intimate ever came of it. I have a good job and am well heeled. I'm not super-handsome, but I'm not unattractive, either. My personality isn't too bad, but somehow, I...Read more

Dear Annie: My 84-year-old mother had a stroke several months ago. Her insurance covers hospitalization, doctor visits, prescriptions and therapists, but I have to cover the co-pays. Mom now resides in a group home, and I am also paying the difference between the cost of the home and what Mom's pension covers. Mom can barely speak, so I handle ...Read more

Dear Annie: My wife and I have been married for 35 years. We were in our late 20s when we wed. I was living on my own, and she was living with her parents and brother in a filthy house.

My wife promised that our house would always be clean. But after 15 years, it started looking like her parents' house. She never throws anything away. I am ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been the stepmom to grown stepchildren for 20 years. Their father died a few years ago. We live in the same town, and their mother, his ex, is also here.

I am ready to give up on any relationship with them. I invite them to do things, communicate often and support them and the grandkids on social media. I send birthday and ...Read more

Dear Annie: Recently, our 18-year-old son chose to take his life soon after his high school graduation. Now we are left trying to pick up the pieces and move forward. We live in a small community, and everyone is well aware of what happened.

Our youngest son just started the sixth grade and came home sad. He says he feels that he doesn't have ...Read more

Dear Annie: I love my in-laws to pieces, but it bothers me that they are too nice. No one who lives in their household pays for anything.

When my husband and I lived with them, we always helped out, but now that we've moved on, my in-laws are having a hard time paying the bills. But they won't ask any of their kids to fork over. My brother-in-...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married to "Phil" for 15 years. Between the two of us, we have eight children. Our youngest is still in school. The problem is, I'm not happy anymore. I've made mistakes, stupid ones, including flirting with other men. Phil isn't completely innocent, either, but he claims if I weren't talking to these other men, he wouldn...Read more