Category: Asking Eric

Dear Eric: I had a bad falling out from a very toxic job a few months ago. Since it ended, I’ve been dealing with feelings of shame and betrayal, but I’m doing what I can to clean the fallout from my brain. I’m in therapy, I’ve taken up some new hobbies, and I’m reconnecting with old friends. I’m taking some time off from full-time employment (I still have a small side hustle), but I have some savings and I’m taking care to protect my “on ramp” for a future job search.

Dear Eric: We took our son and his family in and several months later they found a new situation and moved out. The trouble is they didn’t take all their stuff and after nine months they seem unable, even unwilling to do so. Half of my two-car garage is full and a defunct and non-maintained stand-up swimming pool is an eyesore in my yard.

Dear Eric: My husband and I have worked hard to create consistent communication in our relationship that has lasted 10 years. We have both struggled to get to a good place, which we thought we had achieved.

Dear Eric: When we moved to our new home, we realized we had a great view of our town’s Fourth of July fireworks. Last year we invited a diverse group for a barbecue and fireworks viewing. One of the guests, a relatively new acquaintance, thought it was too hot to stay outside all evening, coming outside just for the fireworks.

Dear Eric: I have gotten snarky comments over the years whenever I post pictures of my children and grandchildren enjoying ourselves, e.g. “Oh, you went on vacation and did not tell anyone. I wanted to go, too.” I usually ignore these comments. (I guess with retirement I can finally read the comments versus zooming through them). But it’s starting to rile me up. Should I say something?

Dear Eric: I spent more than two decades as a substance-abuse clinician. Both my niece and then later my sister reached out to me because my niece has been using opiates heavily which cost her a job and almost led to her being incarcerated.

Dear Eric: He is now using our elderly mother as a therapist, talking to her for hours on end about all his worries and anxieties. This is a huge burden on her, and we have discussed it; she is enabling him, and agrees that this is true, but cannot stop herself. Her decision.

Dear Eric: Both my wife and I pleaded with her brother “Sid” to come home, that their son needed them. The social workers, Bobby’s doctor and his counselors have tried to persuade Sid and his wife to come home to no avail. He’s ignored my messages and has talked to his sister twice to check in.

Dear Eric: I work in an outpatient center where I, along with a few others, see multiple patients (lactating parents working on feeding their babies). On my lunch break, I choose to close the door, put my feet up and close my eyes for 30 minutes. Several times, a coworker had opened the door (when starting her shift, looking for an open exam room) without knocking, which caused me to startle, and we both scared each other.

Dear Eric: My cousin and his second wife moved to the small town where I live. She has everything going for her, yet she can’t seem to stop complaining. My cousin urged/asked me to befriend her, so she’ll be happier here.