Author Archive: Irene

Author Irene S. Levine, PhD, is The Friendship Doctor, dispensing expert advice on The Friendship Blog.

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A message from the Friendship Doctor on International Friendship Day

Published: July 30, 2022 | Last Updated: August 21, 2022 By | 6 Replies Continue Reading
A message from the Friendship Doctor on International Friendship Day

This post about International Friendship Day is reprinted from the archives of The Friendship Blog.

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Feeling Left Out Of A Group Of Families

Published: July 13, 2022 | Last Updated: February 11, 2023 By | 3 Replies Continue Reading
Feeling Left Out Of A Group Of Families

A woman winds up feeling left out of a multi-family friendship. While relationships like this one can be fulfilling, they are also far more complicated to maintain than ordinary friendships.

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Resolving Tension Between Friends

Published: May 27, 2022 | Last Updated: May 27, 2022 By | Reply Continue Reading
Resolving Tension Between Friends

How do you handle tension between friends? A reader, who has reached her boiling point, asks what to do to resolve the problem.

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How To Say No To A Friend: It’s Never Easy

Published: May 10, 2022 | Last Updated: May 11, 2022 By | Reply Continue Reading
How To Say No To A Friend: It’s Never Easy

Saying NO can unravel a friendship but sometimes there’s no way around it. Here are some basic tips on how to say NO to a friend.

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Handling Pushy Overbearing Friends

Published: May 7, 2022 | Last Updated: May 7, 2022 By | Reply Continue Reading
Handling Pushy Overbearing Friends

A reader asks how to deal with pushy overbearing friends that make her feel like she’s pushed into a corner. QUESTION Hi Dr. Irene,A few years ago, my husband and I met another couple in a community group. We’re not especially close to Jim and Libby but we have enjoyed going out for dinner with […]

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Not Just Friends Anymore: A Disappointed Co-Worker

Published: March 31, 2022 | Last Updated: March 31, 2022 By | Reply Continue Reading
Not Just Friends Anymore: A Disappointed Co-Worker

They’re not just friends anymore. A guy is disappointed by his co-worker and can’t imagine why she’s keeping him at a distance. 

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Struggling With An Ambivalent Friendship

Published: March 18, 2022 | Last Updated: February 9, 2023 By | 13 Replies Continue Reading
Struggling With An Ambivalent Friendship

A woman is upset about an ambivalent friendship. Here are some tips to recognize and react to an ambivalent friendship.

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Regaining Trust In A Friendship: Is It Possible?

Published: March 7, 2022 | Last Updated: December 4, 2022 By | Reply Continue Reading
Regaining Trust In A Friendship: Is It Possible?

Regaining trust in a friendship is possible if the relationship has a strong foundation and people discuss the alleged breach.

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How To Deal With A Flaky Friend

Published: March 6, 2022 | Last Updated: March 7, 2022 By | Reply Continue Reading
How To Deal With A Flaky Friend

Do you have an unreliable, flaky friend? It’s a pretty common complaint I hear about from readers and even among my own friends. And it’s something that often frays friendships and even ends them entirely. What is a flaky friend? A flaky friend is someone who tends to be unreliable and unpredictable. In short, you […]

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Dumped Without Explanation: Is There Anything To Do?

Published: March 1, 2022 | By | 24 Replies Continue Reading
Dumped Without Explanation: Is There Anything To Do?

A woman feels dumped without explanation by a close friend and wonders how to move on.

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