Dear Courtney,
My sister has been dating this boy for the past 8 years and they've been engaged for the past 4 months, but they recently broke up and now my sister is extremely depressed. I hate seeing her like this and I was wondering what I could do to make her feel better.
J. 17 WI
Dear J.
It is very considerate of you to want to help your sister out of this jam.
I find it interesting that they dated for such a long time (8 years), but then when it came time for the commitment of marriage, the relationship blew up. There is a temporary feel to dating and so there is always an out.
However, there is permanence to engagement that some people simply cannot handle because of other deep issues that usually have nothing to do with the partner. Your sister may be experiencing this.
If it isn't too late, I would suggest couples counseling for them. If that isn't going to happen, then certainly some private counseling with a professional therapist to get past the depression and uncover the deeper feelings of loss, remorse and regret.
Your E-Love Advisor
Courtney