Note: This is the second of a two-part series. Often couples want opposing things. They want a close passionate relationship with their spouse or intimate partner—and they want the instant stimulation and feelings of connection they get from social media. And all too frequently, those two desires are in opposition to one another. That is, […]
Quiz: Are You Afraid of Commitment?
Note: This is first of a three-part series. Dear Neil: I am a 43-year-old educated, attractive and professional woman who has never been married. I have left most of the men I have been involved with through the years. Is there a way to tell if I am afraid of commitment? Anxious In Portland Dear […]
Quiz: What Is Your Sexual IQ?
How much do you really know about sex? Sure, you know the basics about the birds and the bees, but how savvy are you about all the rest of the stuff that goes on between the sheets? Answer these questions, taken from Pepper Schwartz’s The Lifetime Love and Sex Quiz Book—and see how much you […]
How jealous are you? Take this lovers’ quiz
How jealous a person are you? Is jealousy a problem in your relationship? How often has jealousy been a problem in your previous relationships? Take this quiz to see how affected you are by jealous feelings. On a scale from 1 (no jealousy/no) to 7 (extreme jealousy/yes), figure out which number best fits how you […]
Help! My Boyfriend’s Behavior is Crazy Making
Dear Neil: I am dating a man who has major trust issues and erratic mood swings. He’s bought me things that I warmly accepted, and then has accused me of being a user and thinking of him like he was an ATM machine. He’s thrown hurtful insults at me that will never go away. Although […]
Jealousy Keeps You Stuck in Your Own Insecurities
Dear Neil: I get very insecure when I catch my man even looking at another woman, and it gets worse at a social gathering when he is engaged in a conversation with a female. I don’t believe he has been unfaithful, but I’m fighting these jealous feelings way more than I would like. Any suggestions? […]
Romancing The Stone
Dear Neil: My boyfriend rarely calls or contacts me, rarely invites me to get together, and seldom is romantic. He is preoccupied with his work, and because of that we seldom actually see each other. I want him to be my soul mate, but I’m not feeling special, valued or important to him, and I […]
Why Am I Attracted to Withdrawn Men?
The Allure of “Unpredictable Love” Of the thousands of letters and emails I get from readers around the world asking for relationship advice, the most frequent center around someone in a relationship pushing away or running hot and cold. Here are a few examples: My boyfriend and I have been together for a year. After […]
When One Person Withdraws From a Relationship
Has this happened to you? Two people fall in love with each other. But then one person runs away, pushes the other person away, escalates with anger or personal attacks, or withdraws. The person who has not withdrawn becomes enormously puzzled by this obvious change of heart and frantically attempts to charm, buy, entice, cajole, […]
Quiz: Are You a White Knight?
You remember the tales, don’t you? About the knight in white armor rescuing the damsel in distress and carrying her off into the sunset. Are you a male (or a female) white knight? That is, do you have a pattern of rescuing intimate partners? Take this quiz to find out. Decide whether the following statements […]