Tag: emotional problems

When a friend with mental health problems makes you a scapegoat

Published: October 5, 2014 | By | 14 Replies Continue Reading

If you have become the scapegoat, you may need to back off from the friendship.

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Can parents be friends if the kids don’t get along?

Published: September 12, 2011 | Last Updated: September 12, 2011 By | 2 Replies Continue Reading

Problems with kids’ friendships often spill over to their parents   QUESTION Dear Irene, My son and another couple’s son don’t get along. The other kid has some issues and has tried to hurt my son either verbally or physically several times over the past few years (put his hands around his neck a few […]

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Love my friend, not her problem child

Published: March 18, 2011 | Last Updated: March 18, 2011 By | 3 Replies Continue Reading

QUESTION Hi, Irene. My husband and I are good friends with a couple and enjoy their company. However, they have a 5-year-old child who is completely unmanageable. He is mean to my daughter, violent toward other kids, loud, and demanding. The children of the other parents in our group of friends hate to be around […]

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Making Friends: When Should I Disclose My Emotional Baggage?

Published: September 12, 2010 | Last Updated: February 9, 2023 By | 2 Replies Continue Reading

QUESTION Dear Irene: I have difficulty making new friends because of all of the heavy stuff I have to reveal to them. I’ve tried two basic approaches. The first is the “early hook:” making a good first impression. What I mean is that upon first talking to someone, I’m uncharacteristically pleasant, relaxed, and outgoing. I […]

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