Hi, I have a friend who is incredibly heartbroken. His girlfriend and he broke up after a very long relationship, and I don't think it was a clean breakup, but he has not told me what happened exactly (I suspect she was cheating on him). Let us call him George to make this flow more easily.
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posted by kbennett289
on Mar 19, 2013 -
19 answers
I'm sure that my friend (who lives cross-country) is dealing with un-diagnosed untreated mental illness. I'm 99% sure it's bipolar disorder, based on lots of information and evidence. I don't want this thread to be about diagnosing, but rather about how to help (I think we can agree that the steps I should take to help would be largely the same regardless of what he's grappling with, right?).
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 10, 2013 -
7 answers
"Emotional affairs" and being a good partner to someone with severe depression: I need a friend, but this new friendship is moving fast and I'm about 99% sure that my partner will be massively upset if she finds out. What do I do?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 1, 2012 -
23 answers
[emotional blathering filter]
YANAT, but I need a little help untangling my jumbled feelings.
How to deal with deep feelings of resentment and sadness and get back to focusing on what's really important to me?
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posted by Calicatt
on Oct 17, 2012 -
12 answers
My extremely-gifted best friend halfway across the world was depressed and then recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Now she's nearly suicidal. I'm in over my head and I don't know what to do...
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posted by luciphercolors
on Aug 31, 2012 -
11 answers
How do I deal with my (very insecure and overly sensitive) friend's tendency to take things said in passing as deep, personal criticisms? I used to be able to take it in stride but his recent prescription steroid treatments have ramped this trait up to stratospheric levels.
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posted by anonymous
on May 4, 2012 -
8 answers
Do people prone to depression and similar illnesses tend to (unwittingly?) form social groups together?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 3, 2012 -
6 answers
Should I try to reconnect with someone I went No Contact with? It's been a couple of months and the person is depressed and isolated.
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 12, 2011 -
20 answers
How do I deal with criticism from a friend? How do I ensure that said criticism is meant to be constructive and not just spiteful?
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posted by Vrai
on Jul 15, 2011 -
41 answers
My friend is deeply depressed and is trying to cut herself off from me and her other friends. How can I try to help her? Key questions: 1) Any suggestions on how to try to convince her that I genuinely want to stick around and be her friend and it's not just out of obligation, and/or other other ways to respond to her trying to push me away? 2) She's given up on hope of any treatment or improvement-- I think she might be borderline and that DBT could be a good fit for her regardless-- any suggestions of what I could send her about DBT and/or BPD (or anything else) that would have the best chance of getting through to her and giving her hope that things can get better?
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posted by EmilyClimbs
on Apr 8, 2011 -
15 answers
"You hate your life; happy birthday!" Help me compose a message for a friend in need.
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posted by OLechat
on Nov 13, 2010 -
14 answers
What more can I do to help a very dear friend who suffers from bipolar disorder and is currently having a very difficult time, both as a result of his illness and due to outside factors? I am also bipolar, so I kind of know what he's going through. Lengthy but informative explanation of his circumstances and history follows.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 22, 2010 -
6 answers
The New Year is approaching and I need some guidance on how to move forward with my life.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 26, 2009 -
13 answers
Every night that he comes home and winds up browsing the internet for hours, I feel like I'm going to scream.
Am I a nagging worrywort, is my boyfriend mildly depressed, or both? And what's the best way to work on it?
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posted by brisquette
on Nov 17, 2009 -
39 answers
What happened to my ability to trust in and connect with people? How do I regain it?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 30, 2009 -
9 answers
Okay, so my friend cried in front of me. This isn’t usually a big deal for me, but for some reason this little episode has totally unnerved me. A huge plate of overthought beans await inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 8, 2009 -
53 answers
I went through a bad depression and my two of my best friends stopped talking to me when I told them how I was feeling. Should I try to save the friendships?
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posted by Jaleesa
on Oct 2, 2008 -
30 answers
I had a shitty birthday today that seemed to confirm all my suspicions about my friendships, and my life in general, and now I'm not sure how to rebound.
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posted by Ash3000
on Aug 10, 2008 -
68 answers
I’m worried about an old friend of mine who lives far away and has been going through some tough times. I want to be a good friend to her, but I fear that she might rely a little too much on my long-distance friendship.
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 14, 2008 -
7 answers
My best friend, who lives about 300 miles away from me, and I had made plans to get together for Christmas, along with our other best friend, for whom I paid 600 bucks to fly out here so we all could be together. Now 300-mile away best friend has e-mailed me with a weak excuse and cancelled his visit here. I know he's not adjusting well to his new home, and seems to be isolating himself from everyone, including me. I'm hurt and angry. How best to address this situation?
posted by anonymous
on Dec 19, 2004 -
7 answers
A very good, close friend of mine for at least 16 years, recently revealed something to me . . .
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posted by yesster
on Jul 30, 2004 -
32 answers
