Dear Abby: My happy new-mom moments are hurting my struggling friend

DEAR ABBY: My best friend and I got pregnant, each with our first child, with our due dates a week apart.We felt blessed to be going through this amazing experience at the same time.

Our babies are now 2 months old.I am adjusting well to motherhood.

I feel it’s coming naturally to me.My friend is having the opposite experience.Ever since the birth of her daughter, she has been distant, anxious and depressed.

She’s a different person.I don’t know how to help her.

I don’t know what she’s going through. To make matters worse, she told me that when I make comments about being super happy and loving breastfeeding (as she struggles with it), she thinks I am rubbing it in her face.I care about her dearly, but am I not allowed to speak my truth because she’s struggling? How do I support her and still be forthcoming about my own positive experience? — ONE OF TWO NEW MOMSDEAR ONE: There may be a physiological cause for your friend’s anxiety and depression.

Childbirth can lead to a hormonal imbalance that can be corrected.It’s important that she talk to her obstetrician about the negative emotions she’s experiencing.

Please don’t wait to urge her to do this, because the problem could worsen. Allow me to offer a final thought: You would be a more sensitive friend to her if you share your joy at being a new mother with friends other than this one — at least for a while.You don’t need to censor your social media, but please find other things to talk about when face to face with her.** ** **DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have friends we consider our “BFF couple.” The husband, “Brian,” recently became unemployed, which has left him more time to travel.

Brian and his wife fly to see his dad in Florida several times a year.Although they live an hour closer to the airport than we do, Brian asks every time for my husband to drive them to and from the airport. My husband is retired, so his schedule is a bit freer than most, but now he is driving...