My son’s girlfriend has taken over his life and I fear he’s being suffocated
Dear Annalisa, A year ago, our almost 18-year-old son began seeing a girl, who is a year older than him and is his first ‘real’ girlfriend. Soon he stopped…
I’ve started full-time work and it’s non-stop – when do I get some time for me?
Dear Annalisa, I am a 23-year-old woman who has recently finished studying for a masters and started working full-time on a graduate scheme. Although I really…
How can I do more to help my parents when I have a young family of my own?
Dear Annalisa, A few months ago, my dad went into a care home. The cognitive symptoms of his Parkinson’s were getting worse after 18 years and my…
I want a relationship before it’s too late, but I don’t trust myself to stay safe
Dear Annalisa, I would love to be with a partner but am held back by paralysing doubts about my judgment about people and ability to work out…
I want to end my stifling marriage – but can’t bear how much hurt I’d cause
Dear Annalisa, I am in my late 40s, married for 20 years with two teenagers, and I feel trapped. For several years I have known that I…
I have spent my life looking after my depressive, controlling mum – can I move on?
Dear Annalisa, My mother has led a hard life. Diagnosed with clinical depression many years ago, she has made multiple “suicide attempts”, ranging from when I…
I don’t want to invite my father to my wedding but feel coerced into doing so. The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa My sister and I have always had a rather fraught relationship with my father. He failed to form bonds and took no interest in…
My teenage daughter is in a miserable state; she has lost hope. The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa I am desperately worried about my teenage granddaughter, who is in a very miserable state. Her self-esteem is at rock bottom, she has no…
My parents moved to a new area after my mother retired and now she is really isolated. The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa A year ago, once my siblings and I had left home, my parents moved to the other side of the country. They have made…
How can I develop true self-confidence? The Guardian.
Dear Annalisa I am from a dysfunctional family where I was ignored, criticised and never given love or affection. I learned to be quiet, to never…
Annalisa Barbieri 
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