DEAR ABBY: I'm at my wit's end with my daughter, "Fran." She excelled in school and had a chance to go to college, but she chose to be married instead. Fran is now 35 and on her fourth marriage. I have seen my daughter through one violent marriage, amphetamine addiction, and one episode where she overdosed on medication and I had to rush her to the hospital to have her stomach pumped.
Fran can't hold a job because she has trouble getting along with others. My deepest concern is that she will commit suicide. She has been verbally abusive to me, but I can't just write her off. Fran is my daughter, and there are grandchildren to consider.
She refuses counseling. She says all they do is talk, and they can't do anything. She also thinks she is smarter than the counselors are. The children's father is no help. He's an alcoholic. Can you help me? -- WALKING ON EGGSHELLS IN THE MIDWEST
DEAR WALKING ON EGGSHELLS: Your daughter's "overdose" on medication was an indication that she's a danger to herself, and she should have been held for psychiatric evaluation then. She appears to be very troubled, and very much in need of professional help. Your concern is that she might hurt herself. Mine is that she could harm the children. Since your daughter refuses to get help, I think you should involve Family Services. Perhaps that will wake her up.