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…
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…
Becoming deaf has made me feel insecure. How can I regain my confidence?
Dear Annalisa, I recently became deaf as a result of meningitis. I’ve got the cochlear implant and I’m doing therapy to hear well again. I was already very…
My husband unfairly blames me for our son’s eating disorder
Dear Annalisa, My husband and I have two teenage boys, the youngest being 14. Our younger son has struggled with anxiety and low self-esteem, issues that…
How should I tell my bigoted mother that my daughter has come out?
Dear Annalisa, About 10 months ago my 27-year-old daughter came out as gay. This was a surprise as she had previously only dated men but we have adjusted to…
I’m a woman in my 30s and I haven’t got any close female friends – it’s making me sad
Dear Annalisa, Do “romantic comedy friendships” still exist? I am perpetually hopeful, but losing faith. I love my alone time, and enjoy coffees with women in my neighbourhood…
My 15-year-old son keeps appearing naked in front of me ‘accidentally’
Dear Annalisa, Over the past few months, I have observed changes in my son’s behaviour. He is 15 and his father and I separated when he was nine. He keeps appearing…
Annalisa Barbieri 
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