ArcaMax

Dear Annie: I read your postings in our local newspaper every day, and I've noticed that you often tell people to seek help from a professional counselor before making big decisions.

I agree this is an important step, but I've found that counselors and psychologists are so busy that they either aren't taking new clients or they only want to ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am struggling with conflicting feelings over feeling disrespected by family members. I was not especially close to my sister, but we did see each other occasionally and text/talk on social media.

My stepdaughter was attacked and bitten by my sister's dog a couple of years ago. My stepdaughter's biological mother chose to sue my ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm sitting here contemplating my life. I'm 65, ill and live alone with my little dog. Fifteen years ago, my only daughter asked for space while completing her master's thesis. I gave her space, but since then, I've only seen her about five times. I've begged her to talk to me and asked for her forgiveness, but nothing has changed....Read more

Dear Annie: I really don't like having my picture taken because I don't feel photogenic. I've asked my husband multiple times not to post any photos of me on his social media without my permission. However, every now and then, he disregards my feelings and posts them anyway. Each time, I remind him of how I feel and ask him to respect my ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm struggling with a painful situation involving my sister. About a year ago, she abruptly stopped speaking to me, and there was no discussion or clear explanation about why this happened. Since then, she has kept her distance not just from me but also from our entire family. She's excluded us from all major family gatherings, ...Read more

Dear Annie: I proudly served in the military for nearly 40 years, and during that time, I experienced a wide range of challenges and rewards. Now, in civilian life, whenever people find out about my service, their immediate response is often, "Thank you for your service." While I deeply appreciate the sentiment, I find myself unsure of how to ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am writing to you basically needing advice on a matter of snobbery and arrogance.

This in regard to one of my relatives. They say money changes people, and in this case, I think it has.

I'm now past 70 years of age. I have a male first cousin near my age. We grew up in the same Midwestern town only a few miles apart. Let's call...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been with my husband since high school, so we've been together for 14 years and married for seven. I love him very much, but I'm starting to hate him.

He is angry every day. He comes home from work and doesn't pay attention to our children. I do all the cleaning in the house. He's been getting into his religion again; I'm ...Read more

Dear Annie: I enjoy your column, and I appreciate your perspective. I have a family member whom I have loved dearly and shared family tragedies with.

Over the years, he has become a severe alcoholic. I have had to create boundaries, namely not answering rambling phone conversations. I respond to long voice messages with texts. I express my ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have a sister-in-law who can't seem to attend any family gathering without cornering someone for a confrontation. For years, that someone was me. I waited for my husband to step in, but after nothing changed, I finally decided to set some boundaries. Looking back, I wish I had spoken up sooner, but I hesitated because she's my ...Read more

Dear Annie: I am the mother of two wonderful sons, both married to equally wonderful women. While I am grateful for the love and partnership they have found, I can wholeheartedly relate to the sentiments shared in "One Grieving Grandmother to Another."

Both of my daughters-in-law are incredibly close to their own mothers. It's a beautiful ...Read more

Dear Annie: It's been seven years now that I've engaged in this personal yet somewhat controversial choice, and I still can't help but wonder -- am I crossing a line in certain settings, or is this just my anxiety playing tricks on me again, amplifying what might be nothing more than mundane thoughts?

To give you some context, I've always ...Read more

Dear Annie: I married a man who was an only child, and throughout our marriage, his parents never let go of him. They wanted to be involved in every aspect of our lives and visited our home daily. I managed to set some boundaries at first, but after we had a child, their involvement became unbearable. They would arrive at our house by 7 a.m. ...Read more

Dear Readers: I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your many responses to "Left Speechless," the 55-year-old mother who felt herself struggling with how to reply to strangers when asked if she is her childrens' mother or grandmother. We have such a supportive and insightful Dear Annie community (filled with many wonderful mothers!).

Here were ...Read more

Dear Annie: I've been married for 22 years, and my husband and I have three teenagers together. My issue is, I caught my husband cheating three years ago and found out that his affair had lasted six years. He claimed that he wasn't getting his needs met at home. Nonetheless, it broke my heart and my trust.

I don't know what I have to do to ...Read more

Dear Annie: This is not a letter to play the victim, so please hear me out. My mother has caused me so much hurt for as far back as I can remember. When I was a kid, I was sexually abused by my brother. I told her, and she said I was lying. I used to think I was adopted because there was no way a parent could be so mean to a biological child. ...Read more

Dear Annie: My adult daughter was very close friends with a woman, her husband and their two teenage daughters. When her friend moved across the country, my daughter was heartbroken. However, they continued to talk, text and email almost daily. My daughter even traveled across the country and considered the possibility of moving to a nearby ...Read more

Dear Readers: A great number of you wrote in about abusive partners and how you finally opened up the cage and flew out.

Here are two letters that I found especially interesting:

Dear Annie: While I respect "Married" for finally leaving her abuser -- I've been there myself -- I need to point something out. She mentions staying until her ...Read more

Dear Annie: My son is married to a wonderful young woman, and they've recently started a family. She comes from a very large family; she's the youngest of nine. Our family is much smaller, consisting only of myself, my son and my daughter. We don't have any extended relatives like grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins. It's just the three of ...Read more