A colleague of mine who ran an outpatient substance abuse program once said to me, “Shame is the root of all these addiction problems. Scratch the surface, and you’ll find shame. And the problems created by the substance abuse just … Continue reading
Japan has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world, and it is the leading cause of death among those aged 15-39. More Japanese school pupils commit suicide on September 1 each year than on any other date, … Continue reading
“It is what it is.” I like this statement, when it’s used the right way. It suggests something that’s undeniably true. Things are what they are. Facts are stubborn things. People and objects are of a certain nature, and we … Continue reading
Just a few days ago, I was asked to write a column about heroism. Heroism of the sort displayed routinely by those in the military, police and elsewhere. And then the incident on the French train happened: Recounting how he … Continue reading
Do you notice how we say things can change our view of them? For example, just the other day I heard a parent say about his 13-year-old son, “He has anger issues.” What triggered the comment was an unexplained, and … Continue reading
I’m always saying that in psychology and daily life, philosophy matters — particularly ethics. Here’s an example to support my point. Psychotherapist Amy Morin, writing at psychologytoday.com, has a sensible article entitled, “5 Signs You’re Trying too Hard to Please … Continue reading
“He pushes my buttons.” “She knows how to manipulate me.” We’re all familiar with, and at some time have felt, these particular expressions. What do they actually mean? Emotions move us. (The Latin root of the word, “emotion,” literally means … Continue reading
Many people sincerely believe they work better under pressure. Some experts and researchers beg to differ. Dr. Bill Knaus, writing at psychologytoday.com, says: Avoiding pressure may be a primary reason why you delay. However, there comes a time when you … Continue reading
Louis Pasteur, scientist and researcher, has a beautiful quote: “…After all these efforts one finally achieves certainty, one feels one of the deepest joys it is given to the human soul to experience.” Pasteur would know. He was a groundbreaking … Continue reading
Too many people complain, “If life were only perfect…” By “perfect” they usually mean a state of existence in which everyone is infallible, and where nothing has to be earned. In truth, such a life would be boring. Of what … Continue reading
According to research from the Centers for Disease Control, teenage suicides have doubled from 1994 to 2012. Edward Shorter, Ph.D., writing in “How Everyone Became Depressed” reports: Male rates are far higher than female, and suicides among male adolescents rose … Continue reading
A writer by the name of Elizabeth Pettingill, writing for wakeup-world.com on 6/18/15, writes: There is such a thing as being too nice, too giving and too caring. To overcome depression you must stop the habit of bending over to … Continue reading