Teenage marriages, hidden vaping and pornography addictions
DEAR ANNIE >> I am one who married at 19. If “Disapproving” wants to maintain a good relationship with her daughter, she should voice her concerns but assure her daughter she trusts her judgment and will always be there for her.
My mother was not supportive at all. She told me in the limo on the way to church that I could change my mind even if I was walking down the aisle. I chose love; we worked through all the hardships life invariably threw our way, and we celebrated our 50th anniversary last year. Sadly, my mother chose not to be part of our lives and missed all the triumphs we achieved. — Response from a Daughter
DEAR DAUGHTER >> Thank you for sharing your experience. I do hope that you are able to find some sort of forgiveness for your mother after all these years.
People do make mistakes and change. You only get one mother.
DEAR ANNIE >> I absolutely loved your answer to “Betrayed,” who just discovered her boyfriend was hiding an addiction to vaping. Your advice is spot on.
May I suggest one more piece of advice for you to offer her? Please recommend that she go to Al-anon. It's free.
As you know, this group is extremely helpful. Betrayed and Blindsided will find a whole host of help with this group if she is willing to go regularly and be open minded. She will find many people in similar situations. Great friendships can come from attending.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Keep up the good work.
Peace and blessings — AlAnon Fan
DEAR AL-ANON FAN >> Thank you for your letter. Al-anon is a great resource in helping families suffering from addiction, and your reminder will help others who have a friend or family member suffering from addiction.
DEAR ANNIE >> I am responding to “Left for the Television in New York.” This reminds me of a cover story in Time magazine a few years ago, written by a man who said he suffers from PIED ( porn-induced erectile dysfunction). That is pretty selfexplanatory, but it is an issue that most likely has become a concern in many homes globally.
The men can only become aroused or interested in the physical attraction to porn workers or the antics that they perform for the camera. This leaves them disinterested in, or unable to enjoy, the woman right in front of them. I am hoping that an honest conversation and an excellent therapist can help these couples return to the “real thing.” — Concerned about Porn
DEAR CONCERNED >> Thank you for your letter. You are highlighting the importance of why anyone suffering from porn addiction needs to get help immediately. It can lead to all sorts of problems, and, in my opinion, porn is too readily available on the internet.