DEAR ABBY: The man of my dreams, whom I have been with for seven years, has started cutting himself. I feel like I am losing my grip on reality, since in the past he has always talked to me when he had a problem. He is on anti-depressants, but they seem not to be working.
What can I do to help him see that he can talk to me, and this is not something he needs to continue? He is a quiet person, so no one knows about this -- just me and his daughters. Please help me. I am scared that one day I will come home and he will be dead. -- CRAZY WITH WORRY, HAWKINSVILLE, GA.
DEAR CRAZY WITH WORRY: It is far more important that the man of your dreams start talking to a mental health professional than it is that he confide in you right now. When people are so depressed that they start cutting, it is an indication that they need an intervention that's beyond the ability of a friend with a willing ear.
The place to start is to discuss this with the doctor who is giving the man of your dreams those anti-depressants. I urge you to see that it is done now, because he could seriously hurt himself, or worse.