Tag: controlling

A troubled marriage can make for troubled friendships

Published: June 24, 2012 | Last Updated: May 14, 2020 By | 2 Replies Continue Reading

A troubled marriage can affect friendships QUESTION Dear Irene, I am so happy I have come across this blog and your book, Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend.  It is nice to know there is a place to go for understanding and support when female friendships go awry. I, too, have a […]

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My sister is being controlled by a possessive friend

Published: October 3, 2011 | Last Updated: October 3, 2011 By | 2 Replies Continue Reading

It’s frustrating to watch when a friend or family member is involved in an overly possessive relationship.   QUESTION  Dear Irene, I have three sisters and we are all close. We’ve never had problems with each other’s friends. My younger sister, who is 25, has a possessive, controlling friend who is also her business partner. Since […]

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Handling a friend who needs to have the upper hand

Published: December 6, 2010 | Last Updated: September 6, 2013 By | 1 Reply Continue Reading

It can be challenging to deal with a controlling friend who always tries to have the upper hand.

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Hard to say goodbye: Ending a 20-year friendship

Published: December 12, 2009 | Last Updated: February 4, 2013 By | 12 Replies Continue Reading

I have spent countless hours trying to understand what happened to my friendship. I’m 63 and Donna is 67. We met at work and shared the same office for about ten years.

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A friend’s unexpected move

Published: November 11, 2009 | Last Updated: June 15, 2015 By | Reply Continue Reading

A woman feels jolted by her close friend’s unexpected move.

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Friends don’t judge—or do they?

Published: April 15, 2009 | Last Updated: August 1, 2013 By | 11 Replies Continue Reading

Some people feel just the way you do—that friends don’t judge each other. Others feel just as strongly they should be honest and tell a friend when she is doing something risky or hurtful.

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Reader Q & A: Unable to let go

Published: February 22, 2009 | Last Updated: February 22, 2009 By | 4 Replies Continue Reading

QUESTION: Dear Irene, About a year and a half ago I broke up with a friend and I’m still not over it. I was hoping you could offer some insight. I’ve known this girl since 6th grade when she stopped speaking to me over some boy. We became friends again in 7th grade but she […]

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Reader Q & A: No way out?

Published: January 9, 2009 | Last Updated: January 9, 2009 By | Reply Continue Reading

QUESTION: Dear Irene: My "best" friend and I have been friends since last year. Sometimes I feel like I love her; other times, she’s my worst enemy. She comes from a controlling and abusive family and I was always there for her to get through it. I just turned 18, and I realize more and […]

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