My working-class dad sent me to private school – now I feel that I’ve failed him
Dear Annalisa, When I was 11, my parents decided to send me to a private school. They couldn’t afford to: my dad was from a working-class background…
My best friend and I disagreed over talking about sex – now she’s no longer speaking to me
Dear Annalisa, I’m having a problem with my closest friend, who is refusing to speak to me. We disagree on how acceptable it is to talk about…
My boyfriend controls me and threatens to leave when I see my friends. What can I do?
Dear Annalisa, I met my current boyfriend a year ago, when I moved to his country for work. But I feel I’m going crazy and I don’t…
Biting the skin off my fingers feels like self-harm – but I can’t stop
Dear Annalisa, Since childhood I have bitten the skin off my fingers, often leaving them bloody and painful. I am in my 50s now and my poor fingers…
I’m 40 and my parents are still body-shaming me
Dear Annalisa, I am a 40-year-old single professional woman with an exciting life. A few years ago I started to gain weight despite exercising regularly and eating…
My son has very low self-esteem and confidence. How can I help him?
Dear Annalisa, I have an 11-year-old son who is finding life quite difficult. He has always suffered from very low self-esteem and confidence, even as a toddler.…
I appear successful, but since having kids I feel I’ve lost myself
Dear Annalisa, I have struggled with depression and anxiety since my teens and have had therapyand medication on and off since I was 17 (I am now…
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 