Advice for the relationships that don't come with a manual

Relationships generate some of the hardest questions we get, because there's no form to fill in and nobody to call for a ruling. A friend who only reaches out when they need something. A parent who keeps crossing a line you've drawn. A roommate who's stopped paying their share. A partner you love whose spending scares you.

We approach these the same way we approach everything else: what's really going on, what matters most to you, which options are realistic, and what could make things worse. Often the useful answer is a better conversation, and our Communication section covers how to have one. Sometimes it's a boundary. Occasionally it's a lease, a joint account or a custody question that needs a lawyer.

We don't diagnose anyone, and we won't tell you what someone else is thinking. If a situation involves your safety or someone's mental health, contact your local emergency number, a crisis line, or a licensed counselor or therapist. That isn't us passing the buck. It's the right next step.