A longtime companion is watching someone close drift into joblessness and solitude. Despite gentle, persistent efforts to help, that guidance continues to go unheeded, raising questions about the future of their friendship.

Friendships can face unexpected strains when communication becomes one-sided. In an advice column by R. Eric Thomas, one reader wonders if it is still worth pursuing a connection with a friend who only reached out after a year of silence.

One mother-in-law questions whether her daughter-in-law’s Friendsgiving celebration has left the traditional family dinner in the dust. Now, she worries it feels like serving leftovers after a more exciting meal.

A bond stretching back more than three decades has been shaken by post-election tensions when one friend admitted difficulty spending time with “people like me.” In a letter to “Dear Annie,” the writer grapples with whether political differences have made this once-solid friendship unsalvageable.