SHOULD MY SON BE MORE REBELLIOUS?

AS a teenager, I never rebelled or misbehaved and my teenage years were generally quiet and happy.

Recently I've been feeling very angry and frustrated and the counsellor I've been seeing says I was suppressing my normal feelings, which is why I feel like I do now.

My 16-year-old son seems to be going down the same path; he's quiet and seems happy to let things just wash over him.

I've suggested he needs to be a little wild occasionally, but he says he doesn't need to.

He has lots of friends and gets on with people of all ages, including me and his dad - he still says he loves us both quite regularly.

Should I be encouraging him to break out and understand that it is healthy to rebel and if so, how do I do it? -DR

FIONA SAYS: I am surprised your counsellor says your present unhappiness is caused by the fact you didn't rebel when you were a teenager, when you say they were "quiet and happy" years.

As far as I know, there's no edict that says adolescence must be a time of rebellion, even though many youngsters experience it.

You say you saw a counsellor because you've been feeling angry and frustrated.

I suspect something more recent has upset you - unless of course you've buried something that is only now coming to the surface.

Either way, if your son is happy, has a good circle of friends and gets on well with other people, I suggest you stop worrying about him and concentrate on getting to the root of your own issues.

Just be thankful you have a happy, well-adjusted son who loves you.

WILL I EVER MEET SOMEONE NEW?

MY boyfriend and I have just broken up after three years together.

We loved one another, but our lives were too different; he is a sports fanatic who works nights, whereas I work normal hours and am bored to tears by anything to do with sport.

Even on those rare occasions when we could get together, either one or the other of us was too tired to enjoy it, so the split became inevitable.

We met when I was 19 and he was my first boyfriend; I can't imagine being with anyone else.

I've always been desperately shy, so just don't see how I'll ever meet anyone new. - DL

FIONA SAYS: Life might seem bleak right now, but you are still very young - I estimate from what you've said that you're in your early twenties, so there is plenty of time for you to meet other people.

You've proved yourself capable of having a loving relationship, so the chances are you can have another.

Most people have several relationships before they settle down, so try and accept this parting as natural.

It would seem you and your ex-boyfriend had little in common anyway, so perhaps this break was for the best.

To increase your chances for meeting someone new, I suggest you try spending more time with old friends and try to get to know some new ones.

The more people you know, the greater the chances are that you'll meet someone to suit you.

As for your shyness, there is lots of advice online you could try or, if you're really struggling, speak to your GP about counselling or psychotherapy.