How do I tell when protecting or guiding him is truly necessary, rather than interrupting his choices because I am uncomfortable or want him to obey?

I would want to know if other parents have had that too, a hot stretch where their kid suddenly seemed years older.

How can I honestly tell my close friend that I cannot lend him the money without making him feel that I am refusing or rejecting him?

My longtime friend, whom I have known since high school and still consider very close despite living apart, wants to borrow money to buy a new home while waiting for his old home to sell. I do not have enough money to lend him, but I am afraid that telling him this will make him feel rejected.

Why do I react so strongly to other people's awkward moments, and what might this reaction mean about me?

At work, when colleagues are sharing their opinions and suddenly cannot continue speaking, I feel intense secondhand embarrassment for them.

How can I tell whether this loss of interest is a temporary pause caused by my current pressures or whether something important in me is disappearing?

For about a year, poor job prospects, high household expenses, and caring for my child have left me sitting in my car after work, unable to feel interested in hobbies or friends. I have put those parts of my life on hold, but I am unsure whether they can return.