Advice Column

I’m 37, single, and feeling stuck in a life that’s “good enough” but not fulfilling. I work from home in events, making $95k, but the job is stressful, socially draining, and doesn’t offer much growth—just small raises and the same old routine. I’m decent at my job, but as an introvert with social anxiety, it exhausts me, and my skills don’t seem to transfer well outside my current field.

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My son is 27 and he doesn’t have any friends or social life.

He spends most of his days at home, usually shut away in his room, just staring at the wall or out the window.

He barely touches his phone anymore. He says being outside feels too overwhelming for him—he complains that it’s too noisy and bright.

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I’ve been seeing a married man for the past six months. I’m completely in love with him, and he says he feels the same way about me. During the week, we’re together in the same city and everything feels perfect.

But on the weekends, he travels to another city to be with his wife. Even then, he calls me, sends pictures, and stays in touch throughout the day. His kids are grown and independent, so there aren’t any obligations keeping him there.

[Read more…] about “I’m dating a married man”

I’m carrying a heavy weight from a decision I made about a year ago, and I don’t know how to let it go.

I remarried a few years back. I have an older son from my first marriage, and together with my husband, we have two young daughters. My husband and my son just never meshed—there was constant tension, and my husband always seemed harsher with him than with the girls. He’d say I was too lenient, and it felt like my son and husband were always at odds.

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This is going to sound really dumb, but I (22m) have wanted to for the past year or so. I just feel empty and I want to try something new and exciting.

My plan is to do it just once and then be done with it. I have a family that I barely speak to due to being estranged (hard childhood) so that makes my decision easier.

No one will be in the cross fire if I take it too far. I know many people will think that I am extremely stupid for making this choice, but I am tired of being bored in my life. I have always felt incomplete ever since I was a child.

Hopefully this will be a good experience, If I choose to go through with it.

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I’m 22 and, honestly, feeling pretty hopeless about dating and relationships. I’ve spent most of my life trying to “fix” myself—therapy since I was a kid, working out, trying to dress better, pushing myself to socialize, and even getting a degree. I’m autistic, have attention and memory issues, and I’m also a minority where I live. I don’t say this to ask for pity, just to explain how I feel like an outsider everywhere, not just in dating.

[Read more…] about “Is Dating Ever Really Possible for Someone Like Me?”

My younger brother (29M) has always been a disaster. He’s creative and “finding himself,” but he can’t hold a job for more than a year, racks up credit card debt, and bounces between short-term apartments and random “business ideas.” My parents constantly made excuses—“He’s got a good heart,” “He just needs more time”—and let him get away with everything.

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I’m a 30F who’s been with my 39M boyfriend for 8 years. We don’t want kids and have both always agreed on wanting to get married. We’ve lived together for 4.5 years. I brought up getting engaged at the 4-year mark, but he said it wasn’t the right time due to work and wanting to marry within a year of getting engaged. Each year since, I’ve brought up engagement, and he always has a reason to delay—work, timing, pressure about the proposal, etc.

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I am a F (39) who became pregnant in my last relationship due to birth control failure. That relationship has since ended, and I am ready to enter the dating scene again. I’m not getting any younger, after all! And admittedly it would be nice to not go through this pregnancy and new baby phase alone.

I just don’t know if there’s any point in putting myself out there while I’m still pregnant… should I wait until after the baby is born and recovery is finished? Or would you date a woman who was already pregnant when you met?

[Read more…] about “I’m pregnant and want to date again”