ADVICE
Do you have a question or problem that you need advice on? I am not a counselor/psychologist/etc, however, I will gladly listen to your problems and offer the best advice I possibly can. If I do not know the answer, I will refer you to someone who does. If you have a dilemma that you need assistance with, send me an email with "Dear Dawn" as the subject line. I will respond to your email here, on this page, but I will NOT put your name or any information about you on the reply message if you would like to remain anonymous. Responding to your email here on the site, rather than by email, will help others who may be in the same situation. This way, I can help multiple people at once. =) Remember to check here on the "Dear Dawn" page for a response to your email, typically within 48 hours. I will keep the 10 most recent questions/answers here on the page at a time, deleting the older ones. If you have any questions, just let me know. I am here for you!!!!!
Dear dawn, my best friend of 4 years is dating a jerk. Yesterday he actually asked me to sleep with him!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should I tell my best friend?????? I know it will break her heart and i love her very much, don't wanna do that, please help me
TORN
Dear "TORN"
I'm very sorry to hear that your best friend's boyfriend has put you in this situation. I commend you for wanting to do the right thing & I can tell you genuinely care about your friend. If I were you, I would have a heart to heart with the boyfriend. I would tell him that he has ___ amount of time (24 hours, for example) to fess up, to your best friend, about what he did. I would also tell him that if he hasn't done it within 24 hours, I will do it myself. If he tried to "get with" you, then I'm sure he's tried & possibly succeeded with other girls as well. Your friend deserves better than that, no one deserves to be cheated on. If I were in the same situation as your friend, I'd want to find out as soon as possible- not days, weeks, months, or even years down the road. I'd also rather be TOLD about it then possibly walk in on something happening. Good luck to you and your friend, if you need anything else please do not hesitate to write me again.
~*Dawn*~
TORN
Dear "TORN"
I'm very sorry to hear that your best friend's boyfriend has put you in this situation. I commend you for wanting to do the right thing & I can tell you genuinely care about your friend. If I were you, I would have a heart to heart with the boyfriend. I would tell him that he has ___ amount of time (24 hours, for example) to fess up, to your best friend, about what he did. I would also tell him that if he hasn't done it within 24 hours, I will do it myself. If he tried to "get with" you, then I'm sure he's tried & possibly succeeded with other girls as well. Your friend deserves better than that, no one deserves to be cheated on. If I were in the same situation as your friend, I'd want to find out as soon as possible- not days, weeks, months, or even years down the road. I'd also rather be TOLD about it then possibly walk in on something happening. Good luck to you and your friend, if you need anything else please do not hesitate to write me again.
~*Dawn*~
Dear Dawn, I have never publicly ask for advice before but judging by your facebook you really do seem to actually care about helping us so I figured why not give it a shot...... I have a friend at school who just told me she is planning to kill herself and I don't know what to to do about it. I don't want to rat her out but I also don't want her to do it either! What should I do?
Britney
Dear Britney,
Do you know what your friend is going through, that she feels is bad enough to end her life? Regardless of whether you think she would actually go through with it OR the fact that you do not want to be a "rat"- you need to do something to help her. Suicide is a very serious matter that should NEVER be taken lightly. Be supportive & understanding, do not be judgmental or patronizing. Encourage her to talk about her feelings. Tell your friend to get help- from a school counselor, a hospital, a minister, or even by calling 911. If she doesn't, do it for her. And most importantly- NEVER promise to keep her suicidal feelings a secret, even if she threatens to never speak to you again. The safety and well-being of your friend is the most important thing, especially if her LIFE is at stake. I guarantee that even if she does get angry at you at first, after her mental/emotional health is restored, she will thank you for getting her the help she needed. With a caring and supportive friend like you, your friend is going to be just fine. Help her get the help she needs and she will be back to her old self in no time. Best of luck, I am always here if you need a listening ear. ;)
~*Dawn*~
Britney
Dear Britney,
Do you know what your friend is going through, that she feels is bad enough to end her life? Regardless of whether you think she would actually go through with it OR the fact that you do not want to be a "rat"- you need to do something to help her. Suicide is a very serious matter that should NEVER be taken lightly. Be supportive & understanding, do not be judgmental or patronizing. Encourage her to talk about her feelings. Tell your friend to get help- from a school counselor, a hospital, a minister, or even by calling 911. If she doesn't, do it for her. And most importantly- NEVER promise to keep her suicidal feelings a secret, even if she threatens to never speak to you again. The safety and well-being of your friend is the most important thing, especially if her LIFE is at stake. I guarantee that even if she does get angry at you at first, after her mental/emotional health is restored, she will thank you for getting her the help she needed. With a caring and supportive friend like you, your friend is going to be just fine. Help her get the help she needs and she will be back to her old self in no time. Best of luck, I am always here if you need a listening ear. ;)
~*Dawn*~