The Dear Abby advice column recently addressed a reader's distress over a nephew's alleged assault on his grandmother, and another reader's feelings of sluggishness and midlife concerns.
In the first case, a woman known as "Sick to My Stomach" described an incident where her 20-year-old nephew, Conrad, physically assaulted his grandmother, her mother. The confrontation occurred after Conrad's girlfriend ended their relationship. According to the letter, Conrad arrived at his grandmother's home visibly upset, began yelling, and pushed the grandmother, causing her to fall on her hand and bottom. The grandmother's boyfriend witnessed the event and intervened.
Abby, written by Jeanne Phillips, advised the concerned niece that her mother's desire to protect her grandson by remaining silent is a mistake. The columnist stressed that Conrad's temper is out of control and he needs professional help before he causes serious harm. However, Abby noted that no action can be taken unless the grandmother decides to file a police report.
In a separate query, a 48-year-old single man from New Mexico, identified as "Not Myself in New Mexico," wrote about feeling down and sluggish despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including managing Type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise. He is the full-time caregiver for his disabled nephew.
Abby suggested that while the man is attentive to his physical health, his persistent feelings of sluggishness and mild depression warrant a discussion with his doctor. If no physical cause is found, Abby recommended consulting a licensed psychotherapist.
The Dear Abby column was founded by Pauline Phillips and is currently written by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips.