I’m so stressed after being made to choose between my Pakistani family and my Polish boyfriend

DEAR DEIDRE: MY family have found out I am in a relationship with someone of a different race. They say I have to choose between them and my boyfriend.

I am 25, the man I love is 28. We are totally serious about one another and want to be together always. The problem is his family is Polish, though he was born in the UK, and my family came from Pakistan, though I was also born here.

What makes it worse is my dad has cancer and the last thing I want to do is add to everyone’s distress.

I have tried talking to my family but they say I must marry someone from our community.

If I go against this, they will all disown me.

This is tearing me apart. I cry a lot and feel stressed.

DEIDRE SAYS: You must feel so torn, caught between two cultures.

Maybe your family will come round if you stand firm but only you can decide if your love and determination to live your own life are worth the risk.

You can find support and understanding through Karma Nirvana who help those facing this sort of dilemma ( 0800 5999 247).

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