Nearly everyone seems to agree that self-confidence is a good thing. But few ever take the time to define it; or even ask what it is. The idea ‘self-confidence’ implies confidence OF something or IN something. The obvious implication is … Continue reading
Category: Psychology & Self-Improvement
“I’ve Misplaced My Sense of Purpose and Can’t Seem to Find It”
Dear Dr. Hurd: What is it that happens to us mentally as we mature, that the mystique of events and accomplishments lose meaning and that emotional passionate edge we felt in our youth doesn’t ignite us any longer? For example, … Continue reading
“Therapy Drift” and What New Research is Telling Us
A 2009 study of psychotherapy patients in the U.S. and Great Britain found that many patients are “subjected to a kind of dim-sum approach — a little of this, a little of that, much of it derived more from the … Continue reading
Intellect vs. Your Emotions — What to Do?
People say this all the time: ‘I know, intellectually, that such-and-such is true. But I don’t feel it.’ The next question is usually, ‘How can I make myself feel it?’ This is what reasonable people often expect a psychotherapist to … Continue reading
Attention Seeking or Visibility Seeking?
Sometimes, when children act up or adults become emotionally distraught, the question arises: Are they just doing it for attention? I would say yes, this is often true. But the issue isn’t ‘attention’ so much as visibility. People have an … Continue reading
You Can’t Have Your Apology and Eat it, Too
A few months back, the owner of a popular specialty store in my town got into a little conflict with the owner of a neighboring store. The neighboring storeowner initiated the conflict with a rude and abusive phone call, rife … Continue reading
How to Really Talk to an Alcoholic
Q: How can I approach someone about their beer drinking without having them go on the defensive and possibly turning their back on me? I feel it is increasing because he lives alone and at present is not working regularly … Continue reading
The Sum of Human Knowledge
It doesn’t take a village to know the truth. The truth comes from facts. Facts will form into concepts, and concepts can identify truths of reality via the use of logic. Any individual has the capacity for discerning truth, provided … Continue reading
“Doctor, Please Pour Me a Drink?”
Somebody sent me the following story (author unknown) entitled, ‘Psychiatrists vs. Bartenders.’ Ever since I was a child, I’ve had a fear of someone under my bed at night. So I went to a shrink and told him: ‘I’ve got … Continue reading
Count Your Blessings? Or Seize the Day!
What does it mean to call something (or someone) a ‘blessing’? Usually, the term has a religious or supernaturalist reference. In other words, to call something a blessing is to speak of it as an almost causeless wonder. In my … Continue reading
Is Therapy Worth the Effort? (Part 2 of 2)
Conclusion of yesterday’s column ‘Social justice’ is usually code for ‘self-sacrifice.’ You would be encouraged by such a therapist to sacrifice, wherever possible, for the sake of ‘the social good’ as against the good of the individual; specifically ‘the social … Continue reading
Is Therapy Worth the Effort? (Part 1 of 2)
A reader wrote and asked me if for a person with serious emotional issues related to his or her life situation, is there any help to be had from most therapists? He stated, ‘My experience when I was younger was … Continue reading