Are we dating?

[don't be like Dustin and Heather]

Question: I've been talking/seeing this girl for the past few weeks. We send each other texts throughout the day and always chat online, and we've hung out a few times. All my friends are asking me what we are, like is she my girlfriend, friend with benefits, etc. I'm not really sure what to tell them. I really like her but because of our busy schedules, it's hard to meet up. The other night, I met another girl, who seemed interested in me. She asked me if I was dating anyone and I wasn't sure what to say. I would ask this girl out if it's okay with the first girl I've been talking to, but I'm not even sure if we are dating. What should I do? (Las Vegas, NV)
 

How old is too old to go clubbing and partying?

Beer pong as a 40 year old anyone?

Question:  I'm a 32 year old guy and lately I've noticed I've been going out to bars/clubs more than my friends that are my age. Some of my friends are married or have kids, and those that aren't don't like going out and drinking. I don't go out every weekend or go out and get ish-faced like my college days. I usually go out with friends that are a few years younger than me and just like to go out and have a good time. However, when I do go out to the bars, I've noticed the crowd getting younger and younger (either that, or I'm just getting older). Is it sad that I'm going out to the bars at this age?  How old is too old? (Las Vegas, NV)

My friend's boyfriend always puts her down. Is there anything I can do?

Don't tolerate verbal abuse!



Question: I have a friend who goes to my high school and she's been going out with her boyfriend for a few months now. This guy is known for his sarcasm and rude behavior, but now he’s acting that way with her.  Every time I see them together, he’s calling her names and making fun of her at her expense. What's worse is that she laughs it off and clings to him even more. I tried to talk to her about it but she told me he’s just joking around and I don't understand his humor. He isn't abusive or anything to her but I just don't like the way he talks to her. How can I get her to realize this is wrong? (Sacramento, CA)

My boyfriend is pressuring me to have sex!

90210 - Donna didn't sleep with David until she felt it was the right time... 7 years later in their relationship!

Question:  I’m a Sophomore in high school and I’ve been dating my boyfriend for about 2 months.  He’s the second serious boyfriend and recently he’s been pressuring me to have sex with him.  We’ve made out a few times and recently, he’s been wanting more.  I definitely don’t want to have sex with him yet, but he keeps being pushy about it and that’s making me not want to even more.  I told my friends about it and they made me paranoid that he might break up with me because I won’t.  What should I do?  I don’t want to lose him… (Columbus, OH)

Whose side do I choose - my best friend or my boyfriend?

[Source]

Question:  I have been going out with my boyfriend for a few months and we fight just like any couple. I always turn to my best friend (who’s also my roommate) for advice, and now she's grown this hatred for him.  It’s so bad, my friend and boyfriend can't be in the same room together. Now, my friend will snap at him at everything he says and then my boyfriend will argue back. It’s gotten so bad, my best friend has threatened to move out because my boyfriend is always around.  I can't stand it! I feel like I have to choose between the two of them. How can I handle this without choosing one or the other? (Scottsdale, AZ)

All my friends are prettier than me...

Take Ms. Gaga's advice - Lady Gaga - "Born This Way"

Question:  Recently, I've noticed all of my friends have been getting hit on when we go out to clubs - except me! It seems whenever we go to a bar/club, they are all talking to guys the whole time. I feel like no guys notice me. I'm not sure if it's just me but I feel like I don’t have sex appeal =( I know this might be my own insecurity but I can't help wonder why I don't get the same attention. Can you offer any advice? (Irvine, CA)

Who's got BIEBER FEVER??? My damn roommate! It's driving me bonkers!

"I know you love me! I know you care!"

Question:  I’m a college freshman and I share my dorm with a girl who is OBSESSED with Justin Bieber.  It’s out of control – Justin Bieber posters (all over her side of the wall), Justin sheets and bedding, the wallpaper on her computer… Justin’s face!  The music she plays 24/7? JUSTIN! She even wears Justin Bieber socks… like, WTF? We are 19 years old! Every time my friends come to my room I always have to tell them that none of the Justin Bieber stuff is mine.  SO embarrassing.  I want to request a new room to live in because it’s just so annoying.  Am I overacting? (Edmonton, Canada)

INTERVIEW: Author of "101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about his Woman!"

Check it out here!

The Social Shrink interviewed the author of “101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about His Woman!,” Jaymes Ian Woode, which comes out this Valentine's Day. This book talks about many of the odd behaviors that guys just don't seem to understand about women and a hysterical take on how to deal with them. Take a look below for our interview with Jaymes and how clueless guys can make their lives easier:

I have social media drama

Social Media opens up an easy platform for people to talk smack!

Question: What should I do when people start bitching about me in their twitter and blogs with their friends? I think they've misunderstood me a big time. I rant angrily about some girl and they kept indirectly saying about “some ugly bitch me & _____ were talking about really doesn't know her ugly roots, she's talking great of herself now” which I think they're talking about me through social websites. It all seems not right and guess what? I privatize and change names of my blog, tumblr, twitter and all my social websites. Now I'm feeling so damn depressed of what had happened.  My friends told me maybe I was too sensitive but I got the feeling they're talking about me. Am I being paranoid now?  -very disturbed pre-adult teen :(

I'm single this year and dreading Valentine's Day!

[Source]

Question: This is the first year in a long time that I will most likely be alone for Valentine's Day and I hate it! I feel like calling up an ex and hanging out with him just so he can take me out on Valentine's Day though I know I don't want to pursue anything with him after that. All of my friends have bfs/gfs and it is driving me crazy, especially this time of the year! I've been talking to a few guys but not so sure if they are the type to do anything for Valentine's Day. How can I get through this stupid holiday?! (New York, NY)

I hit "Reply All" by mistake!!!

Question:  So my friend sends a mass email to all of our friends about her birthday party.  She goes off on how she wants to go this really expensive restaurant, then go out to a swanky bar, and has all of these requests.  Basically, she’s telling us to pay for her for all these things which is fine since it’s her birthday, but… a little demanding! Anyway, I meant to respond to my one friend basically saying “WTF – she’s being so demanding!” but accidentally hit reply all and it got sent to all of my other friends – including the friend I was complaining about!  HELP!!! (Palo Alto CA)

"You have been tagged in a Facebook photo album" = evidence that my friends went out without me!

Can you friends see tagged photos of you on Facebook?

Question:  Me and my two best girl friends are known as “The Trio.”  We do everything together! The other day, I logged onto Facebook and saw that my two friends were tagged in some guy’s photo album.  There were all these photos of my friends out at a bar with some random guys, drinking, having fun and all I could think was… no one ever invited me! I was so shocked and annoyed. My anger then turned to confusion… were they trying to exclude me on purpose? They never exclude me in anything, should I confront them about it or let it go? (New York, NY)

My best friend is in love with me

Question:  My best friend recently told me she has feelings for me.  Not only that, she then proceeds to say that she’s in love with me! When she first told me, I told her that I don't feel that way back. I recently broke up with my girlfriend so I’m assuming she thought it would be a great opportunity to let me know how she feels. Unfortunately, I just don't like her like that and don't want to ruin our friendship.  Even though I don't feel the same way about her, I do value our friendship a lot. I still want to be friends with her (we've known each other for over 15 years) but I feel like things are so awkward between us now. Is there a way I can repair our friendship without leading her on? (Irvine, CA)

Social Shrink: What an awkward situation! That is what’s tricky when you are close friends with the opposite sex.  You have to give her credit for waiting until you broke up with your ex to tell you.  Remember how Julia Roberts told her best friend in "My Best Friend's Wedding" she loved him the day of his wedding?  That couldn't have been worse timing and all this drama ensued.  Although she poured her heart out to you and you didn't reciprocate those feelings, it doesn’t mean that your friendship can’t be repaired if the two of you work on it.

My friend is crazy! How do I deal with a friend who's all drama?

[Source]

Question:  I have a friend that is extremely moody and I'm not sure what to do. One day we will be out at a restaurant, eating, talking, having a good time. When the waiter doesn't get the food to us in two minutes flat, she'll do a complete 180 and flip out on him! She then got up and expected me and all of my friends to leave the restaurant with her. When we didn't want to, she threw another fit! Psycho!

I'm all about getting what I want and being high maintenance but she is out of control! Lately, it's been getting worse which is why I am writing. She's always been sort of like that but I find myself avoiding going out in public places with her a lot more now because I never know how she will act. The other night we went to a bar and all the lines to get drinks were so long, she started pushing people so that she can get to the front and almost started a fight and expected all of us to back her up. When we go out, she acts like a 5 year old and we are 20 years older than that! She is a good friend so I can have fun with her and talk to her but one minute she'll be cool, the next she'll go psycho. People have even called her crazy before and told her during arguments that she needs to be medicated. I don't know if we need to go that far but I don't know what to do. She has been wanting to hang out a lot lately but I'm not so sure if I can deal with her being in public. Help, what should I do? (Sacramento, CA)

My roommate is a BITCH!

[Source]

Question:  Me and my college friends are renting a house from our school for the semester and we all decided to do this because we started off as really close friends. I get along with most of the girls but there is just one that has been irritating me so much lately! I find myself getting annoyed at everything she does, she constantly gets in other people's business, snaps at others for no reason, is just a bitch in general... the list goes on. While my other roommates feel the same way, they are all friendly and fake to her because they're afraid of confrontation. Sorry, but I'm not like that!

So yesterday, my roommate left some books out on the couch in our living room.  When I went to go watch TV, I moved them to the side. She saw me do this and completely blew up at me, saying I was selfish and to leave her things alone. One thing led to another and we were screaming at each other.  My other roommate had to pull me away. Now, my roommates want me to apologize to her... ME! When I've done nothing wrong! She was the one who left her books there, and she was the one who started arguing with me. The way I see it, she was lucky that I kept it to yelling and not going further than that. Help, I don't know what to do with my roommates because it seems like they all turned against me and are on her side all of a sudden when I've done nothing wrong! (Boston, MA)

No plans this holiday season? VOLUNTEER!



Find your local organization to volunteer!



Question:  This year I am away from my family for the holidays because I recently moved to a new state and haven't accrued enough vacation time to travel back home. I moved for my job and so I don't have many friends here. At first, I didn't think it was such a big deal but now that Christmas is getting closer, I feel more distant from my family and home. Having no friends or family in the area, it's hard to have a good holiday, do you have any suggestions? (Oakland, CA)

Social Shrink: Not to worry!  Just because you are alone doesn't mean your Christmas will be ruined. No one should be alone during the holidays. Look at this as a great opportunity to do something new for the holidays and make new friends.

One of the most fulfilling and high-impact ways to spend Christmas is volunteering in some capacity. If you are good with kids, you can dress up as Santa and hand out gifts at the Children's Hospital.  Or, if you like to cook, you can help prepare meals at your local homeless shelter. Offer to help pass out gifts to families at your local toy and gift drive.  Plenty of places are always looking for volunteers, especially during the holidays!

My best friend is being labeled a "slut"

Lindsay Lohan's reckless behavior only lead her to more problems.

Question:  I have a sorority sister that everyone in my school is labeling as a "slut." I don't want to call her one because she is my sister and my best friend - but the way she acts around guys is so crazy!

She has a different guy over at least a few times a week.  If she has a boyfriend at the time, she'll cheat on him.  She will also hook up with guys that have girlfriends already. Really, I wouldn't be surprised if she hooked up with another sister's boyfriend and just hasn't told anyone! I don't know what to do because she is also my best friend and when I try to tell her that none of us approve of her behavior, she takes it as us being jealous or says it's just because she can get guys so she can't help it. Even the guys she has hooked up with talk about her and how she's "been around," and now most of them just want to have sex with her because they heard about her escapades.

When she is single, she gives her number to every random guy she sees - like one time me and my sisters were at a club and this one guy was just standing there, asking every girl that passed by to give him their number (and believe me he was UGLY!). While the rest of us were laughing in his face, we turn around and she is inputting her number in his phone! Help, I don't know how to have a serious conversation with her without her thinking it's because we want to be just like her. I am legitimately worried about her well-being, her reputation and her future. (Amherst, MA)

Social Shrink: Wow, that was quite the vent session you had yourself there!  Your friend sounds like a handful for sure! Especially since you already brought this up with her before and it seems she takes it on the defensive.

My girlfriend only has guy friends - should I be worried?

[Source]

Question:  I started dating my girlfriend 3 months ago.  She's always had a lot of guy friends (and I'm not a jealous guy, I don't think), but over this past weekend one of her guys friends who lives out of town went to visit her and gave her a present for no reason.  What should I think of it? (Phoenix, AZ)

My friend is a flake.

Don't let unreliable friends effect your life!

Question:  I have a good friend who I’ve been friends with for years, but he is a huge flake.  If we ever make plans to hang out, he always either forgets and can’t make it, or he’s a complete no-show.  If I ask a favor like a ride to the airport, he’ll agree but then back out last minute.  What pisses me off is that whenever he needs something from me, I always follow-through and keep my promises.  I’m sick of being left hanging out to dry but I don’t want to make a huge fight about it either.  What should I do? (New York, NY)

Social Shrink:  Is it possible that your friend might just be a little ‘out there’?  What I mean is that if your friend has been like this ever since you’ve know him, you shouldn’t take it personally if your friend is absent-minded, forgetful, or just not very good with following-through.  If he does this with all of his friends, he may have deeply ingrained organizational habits that are just a part of who he is.

Should you fight your friend's battles?

[Source]

Question:  My best friend's ex-boyfriend cheated on her and when I first heard that, I wanted to kick his ass!  Then I wanted to beat up the girl he cheated with.  We all go to school together and everytime I see my friend's ex or the girl he cheated with, I always yell rude comments to them or give them dirty looks.  My other friends think I'm going too far, but I'm doing it for my best friend.  Shouldn't I defend my best friend?  She's the one that got screwed over!  (Laguna Beach, CA)

         

        Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Social Shrink:  Have you heard the news recently about Chelsea Handler calling out Angelina Jolie as a "homewrecker"?  Chelsea went off on Angelina at her show last Friday in defense of her good friend Jennifer Aniston.  Maybe it's a PR stunt or she's trying to be funny, but Chelsea is rehashing something that happened a few years ago.  Are her intentions good?  Perhaps, since she's doing it for Ms. Aniston.  Is her approach the best?  Probably not.