DEAR ABBY: I am a 15-year-old sophomore in high school. Last year I got into trouble for ditching school and had to go to summer school to make up for my lousy attendance. I thought I would feel differently about things this year, but I don't. It's hard to get out of bed in the morning. I never feel like doing anything.
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My parents are having trouble, too. Rumors about my dad having an affair were swirling around town, and at a party, some friends told my mom they were true. They struggled to keep their marriage going, but they couldn't. My dad left.
Abby, my entire family seems to be in deep water with no sign of shore. Is there help for us? -- IN DEEP WATER IN ILLINOIS
DEAR IN DEEP WATER: Divorce is painful, but it is not the end of the world. Tiredness and an inability to concentrate are signs of depression. Please show this letter to your mother. Both of you could benefit from medical and psychological help during this difficult period. If your mother is too distracted to help you, confide in a trusted teacher at school. There IS a light at the end of this tunnel for both you and your mother. You'll get out of the darkness faster with professional help, and please tell her I said so.