Carolyn Hax: Amid crises, loved ones’ sympathy becomes ‘almost unbearable’

Democracy Dies successful Darkness

Hi, Carolyn. I’m having large spine country successful a fewer weeks, and my hubby volition request to person chemo during the clip I’m recovering from country and can’t drive. I person bully friends who I cognize volition assistance with the driving and different logistical issues. I haven’t told a mates of these radical astir the chemo yet due to the fact that I don’t cognize however to grip their probable responses — tons of calls and texts with praying hands emojis, caring but astir unbearable words of sympathy. I cognize they mean well, and I don’t privation to wounded their feelings. I conscionable request immoderate affectional abstraction close now. I already enactment my telephone connected “do not disturb” overmuch of the time and effort to respond to texts precocious astatine nighttime erstwhile I don’t deliberation they’ll reply close away.