Abby hears from a reader whose friend has endured 40 years of an emotionally abusive marriage with intermittent "normal" periods, while a senior dog sitter is feeling lonely for human companionship.

DEAR ABBY: My father-in-law passed away, and I have never been particularly close to my mother-in-law. I have encouraged my husband to visit his mother and maintain a good relationship with her.

DEAR ABBY: I am an adult child of an alcoholic. My mother is a mean drunk. While growing up, I had to act as her therapist and deal with her co-dependency.

A grieving parent asks Dear Abby how to help her son, who has isolated himself after witnessing the murder of his brother. Abby suggests ways to encourage him to find support and healing.

Advice Dear Abby: Legal divorce is one thing, but it needs to come with emotional divorce, too Published: Mar. 13, 2025, 6:00 a.m.

Advice Dear Abby: Out of nowhere, older man in relationship accuses me of emotional immaturity Published: Apr. 21, 2025, 6:00 a.m.

Dear Abby advises a man who’s girlfriend is angry at him for spending money on his kids.

DEAR BLEEDING HEART: I am so sorry for the unrelenting trauma you experienced. Your children may mean well, but they are clueless about what the effects of physical, emotional and sexual abuse can be.

DEAR ABBY: I lost the love of my life recently. He died here in our apartment. I am heartbroken. I’m crying a lot but trying to keep myself together. I get scared being here in our apartment by ...

DEAR ABBY: Last year, my son, his girlfriend and two others were murdered outside a city where “things like this don’t happen.” My other two boys received a call to come immediately to their ...

DEAR ABBY: I see a psychiatrist and psychologist for generalized anxiety disorder, major depression disorder and borderline personality disorder. According to my doctors, my psychiatric disorders ...

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips.