Dear Eric: A man shares his experience of being diagnosed with a curable illness that manifested as anxiety, leading to his wife leaving him. Seeking help and treatment, he was hopeful that his wife would understand and reconcile with him. However, she accused him of using the illness as an excuse and has been punishing him by trying to take their daughter away and getting him jailed for contacting her. The man wonders if it’s fair to be punished for an illness he was unaware of and has now overcome.
In response, the advice columnist expresses empathy for the man’s situation and acknowledges the difficulty of managing anxiety. While no one should be punished for having an illness, other factors in the relationship may have contributed to his wife’s actions. The columnist advises the man to focus on being present for his daughter, seek legal counsel for custody arrangements, and respect his wife’s boundaries to ensure the safety of all parties involved.
Despite the challenges he has faced, the columnist encourages the man to embrace his role as a father and strive to be the kind of parent he wants to be. The man is urged to continue seeking support and guidance as he navigates this difficult situation. (Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.) ©2025 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
