Q: What are your thoughts on the psychology behind the old saying, ‘the grass is always greener,’ where people search endlessly for something better than what they already have? Is that an unhealthy mindset? I know that it’s always good … Continue reading
Someone once offered me a great analogy of being in a dysfunctional relationship. People asked her why she stayed in it so long. She replied, “It’s kind of like being in a room with a bad odor. After awhile, you … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: When someone in a romantic relationship expresses no preferences for both small things and values, are they compromising or self-sacrificing? Is it wrong to resent a love interest who consistently does this to themselves? Dr. Hurd’s … Continue reading
Freedom is crucially important for mental health, as well as the other things psychotherapists and psychiatrists “treat.” For example, consider a person who’s depressed. Depression is a state of learned helplessness. In a free country with a booming economy, and … Continue reading
Several readers have asked me to be more specific about the difference between “short term compromises” and all-out sacrifice, the latter of which I’ve written should not be part of romantic love or marriage. A short-term compromise is doing something … Continue reading
I’ve been doing some research on the upcoming DSM-5. The DSM-5 is the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association. It’s used by all psychotherapists and mental health professionals in diagnosing mental disorders, syndromes and other problems. The current version, … Continue reading
The sad thing about the upcoming presidential election is that Mitt Romney is losing — for the wrong reasons. Basically, Romney is so far losing because Obama supporters have been successful at painting him as a “rich guy who’s out … Continue reading
Contrary to the so-called wisdom of the ages, romantic love is not about sacrifice. True love and sacrifice are utter opposites. While occasional, short-term compromises are necessary in all forms of human relationship, a romantic partner never asks you to … Continue reading
If the Republicans lose the election, save this article for reference and insight at that time. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan keep trying to argue that they are the better ones qualified to “save Medicare.” Here’s the problem with this … Continue reading
Obama supporters claim it’s ‘shocking’ for Mitt Romney to suggest that people would vote for Obama to keep the free loot coming. Why is it shocking? The welfare state of the United States is now a massive entitlement state. No … Continue reading
There’s a type of personality I call the ‘contrarian.’ The contrarian is someone who disagrees for the sake of disagreeing, nearly all of the time. Most of you probably have encountered this type. Such a person is usually a rationalist. … Continue reading
Conclusion of previous columns Herbert Hoover and George W. Bush History has a way of repeating itself. George W. Bush was the Herbert Hoover of his time. Like Hoover, Bush said that we needed individualism and capitalism, but not ‘too … Continue reading