Archive for April, 2011
When someone has an emotional problem: Does that change the rules of friendship?
QUESTION Hi Irene, How do you deal with a friendship that has become toxic, either due to depression, borderline disorder, or both? I have been close with my friend for seven years and our relationship has slowly eroded over time. Her emotional issues—lack of accountability, twisting situations, and never being able to act, say, […]
Managing relationships with ‘friend-in-laws’
QUESTION Hi Irene, I have a friend who I have been close to for 11 years. About eight years ago, I met her husband’s brother and fell in love. We are now married. At first this seemed great, my best friend was becoming my sister-in-law! I started to feel over time that I couldn’t […]
Why would someone have no friends?
I am so happy to have found your blog! I have a problem that has been ongoing for my entire life, pretty much. I have no friends. Well, let me restate that: I have no friends who keep in touch without me doing all the effort and even then it is spotty! I am 35 years old.
Friends: From almost-sisters to almost strangers
QUESTION Dear Irene, My best friend of 18 years always called me "the sister she never had". We live in the same city and used to talk on the phone at least 5 to 10 times a day and got together frequently. About two years ago she and her husband began divorce proceedings. I tried […]
Toxic friends: There’s one in every bunch
The more people in a group, the more likely the possibilities of personality clashes.
Guest Post: How to handle toxic teen friendships
Teens are hard-pressed to know when they should phase out a friendship—even toxic teen friendships.
Surprise! She’s back…
QUESTION Dear Irene, Recently discovered your column (it’s awesome) and hope you can help me gain some perspective. I was introduced to my husband by my good friend. She was dating his best friend at the time. She and her boyfriend broke up, but we continued to be friends until I stopped hearing from […]
Legacy Friends: Keeping old friendships alive
QUESTION Hi Irene, My best friend from college (who later was my maid of honor) and I had a fall out three years ago. After 13 years of friendship, she completely shut down and stopped speaking to me. My moving out of state, her moving to another state, my having a baby, and her career […]
Guest Post – A young mom takes stock of her friendships
By Lisa Shoreland Why does it seem like the further into adulthood one gets, the harder it is to establish and maintain friendships? As a kid, friendships begin as a simple exchange of a sentence or two on the playground. In junior and senior high school, the circle of friends evolves into groups of […]
