Category: Abuse

#1198: “How do I deal with work burnout and make my partner* happy?” (*My partner = my boss, who is *a* partner in the law firm where I work)

~ JenniferP

I'm putting this one behind a cut. A Letter Writer is dealing with some major work burnout and anxiety,  and mentions disordered eating (bulimia) and childhood abuse including sexual abuse in passing (no details, just, mentioned). This is a tricky one. Dear Captain Awkward - So – the most important person in my life is … Continue reading #1198: “How do I deal with work burnout and make my partner* happy?” (*My partner = my boss, who is *a* partner in the law firm where I work)

#1191: Guest Post:”My Mom’s Boyfriend is a Sex Offender!”

~ sayheylenee

If it's not obvious why from the subject line, we're putting this post behind a cut so people can choose whether to engage further. FYI there are mentions of past assaults and predatory behavior in addition to describing sex offender registries and designations. Upsetting stuff, though the LW is doing a good job with an impossible … Continue reading #1191: Guest Post:”My Mom’s Boyfriend is a Sex Offender!”

#1182, #1183, #1184: “Do I have to be friends with my sibling?” or, Advice For Relationships You Don’t Want to Lose But Don’t Want To Work At.

~ JenniferP ~ 172 Comments

Hi Captain, For over a decade, I had a really bad relationship with my sister. She struggled with addiction and suicide ideation and, often, was just plain mean. I enabled her by making sure I was always available to her during her emotional crises and never saying no to anything she wanted. I got a … Continue reading #1182, #1183, #1184: “Do I have to be friends with my sibling?” or, Advice For Relationships You Don’t Want to Lose But Don’t Want To Work At.

#1175: “My teenager says their father (my ex of 1.5 decades) is sending me a V-Day Present. Help!”

~ JenniferP ~ 112 Comments

Dear Captain Awkward, My teenager has informed me that their father told them he plans to mail me jewelry for Valentine's Day. Their father and I have been divorced for nearly a decade and a half and I've been in three committed, long-term relationships in that time. I have less-than-zero interest in my ex-husband romantically … Continue reading #1175: “My teenager says their father (my ex of 1.5 decades) is sending me a V-Day Present. Help!”

#1166: “My mom kidnapped my kid for 30 minutes. How fired is she?”

~ JenniferP ~ 450 Comments

Hi Captain! My quirky, genius, self-centered, deeply insecure, pathological boundary pushing mother took my 5 year old "out" without telling me while we were visiting over the holiday. I didn't know where he was, he was in his pajamas (it was 40 degrees out), she did not have a jacket for him. She did not … Continue reading #1166: “My mom kidnapped my kid for 30 minutes. How fired is she?”

#1149: “We decided to leave our abusive ex and move to another state, only she came with us and is living on our couch?”

~ JenniferP

This letter contains emotional abuse of people, potential physical harm of animals (now stopped/interrupted/not ongoing/the animals are ok for now!, but still I know some people can't safely read about that), and enough WHAT THE FUCK that you'll need a comfy chair and a cold washcloth, at minimum. If you want the teachable moment without … Continue reading #1149: “We decided to leave our abusive ex and move to another state, only she came with us and is living on our couch?”

#1148: “Navigating the aftermath of the abuse in the social circle.”

~ JenniferP

Hey there, Captain Awkward - My dear roommate (Clay)'s ex-boyfriend was abusive. He had mental health issues, and emotionally manipulated roommate (they/them) in various ways. I spent a lot of time helping my roommate to process the feels and vulnerabilities emerging around what happened in their relationship - and potentially over invested myself in their … Continue reading #1148: “Navigating the aftermath of the abuse in the social circle.”