Tag: mental illness
My Friend Has Mental Health Problems: How Can I Help Her?
When a friend has mental health problems it can be hard to know how to help, especially during the pandemic.
How to keep friends when you have a mental disorder
A young woman with a mental disorder worries about alienating her friends.
Generalized anxiety disorder and problems making friends
A mom worries that symptoms of a generalized anxiety disorder are hindering her daughter’s relationships.
Should my friend have explained the circumstances of my divorce?
After divorce, a woman’s husband accuses her of adultery and her friend doesn’t come to her defense with mutual friends.
My friend has Borderline Personality Disorder
It can be very stressful to maintain a friendship with someone with a borderline personality disorder. QUESTION Hi Irene, I have a friend who was first diagnosed with schizophrenia and then with borderline personality disorder. Some days, she seems perfectly cheerful. Other days she has hallucinations and is suicidal. I’ve been trying to be as […]
A Haunting Death: Could friends have saved Amy Winehouse?
People were shocked to hear of the death of singer Amy Winehouse. What are your thoughts about whether the support of good friends might have averted this tragedy? Choose one answer below or write in your own thoughts. <a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/5278742/">A Haunting Death: Could friends have saved Amy Winehouse?"</a>
A grown woman feels guilty she can’t be her mom’s best friend
Sometimes we have to come to terms with an imperfect mother and set boundaries to maintain a reasonable relationship. QUESTION Hi Irene, My mom and I have had a very complicated relationship. Even before my parents had an awful divorce 14 years ago (and they still can’t attend any events together), we butted heads. […]
When a friend backs away from someone with bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder can interfere with friendships.
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, […]
