A reader wrote in and asked, “Can history be objective? Or will any rendering of history be tainted by the historian’s personal perspective?” Actually, history can and must be objective. But it has to be fact-based. And then, once facts … Continue reading
A reader wrote in and asked, “Why is what you cannot have often more appealing than what you can have?” Wanting what you cannot have is the easy way out. For some, fantasy is preferable to putting the work into … Continue reading
You often hear people say things like, “That Joe. He has problems. But he can be quite a jerk, too, Is that it — or does he have problems?” My question is: Why not both? You have to understand something. … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I consider myself a compulsive talker. A talker that gets myself into trouble. For me it’s not so much an inadaquency as some kind of crazy need to say something or answer someone when an answer is … Continue reading
Anxiety: You cannot take a risk. It’s too painful. What if your risk doesn’t work out? Reason: You’ll be no worse off than before you started. Anxiety: But you’ll feel badly. Reason: Won’t you feel badly if you don’t try … Continue reading
It’s wrong and irrational to pretend that you’re a victim when you’re not; but it also serves an emotional purpose, for many people. By “emotional” I mean irrational. It’s not that emotions are always mistaken or irrational, but in this … Continue reading
A successful person is not someone who wakes up one day and has a brilliant idea, immediately implements the idea — and enjoys massive success, just like that. Great ideas do sometimes come on suddenly, although usually they do not. … Continue reading
Author Alexandra York’s review of Dr. Hurd’s new book: Dr. Hurd begins this very important, very serious book by making us laugh. Taking a hypothetical patient with a problem to seven different therapists and giving us seven different opinions on … Continue reading
Is addiction a choice? The controversy continues. One reader writes in to DrHurd.com the following: “I have done more than average investigation into the concept of addiction. I believe there can be multiple causes, both biological and psychological. This is … Continue reading
Perfectionists make the error of “trying to improve.” Their motivation is one of good intentions, but as the saying goes, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Perfectionists will try to improve not for an objective reason, that … Continue reading
A reader, objecting to my article on how addiction is a choice, makes the following complaints: As a therapist you should know that addiction is generally associated with a disregulation of the reward centers in the brain — i.e., the … Continue reading
First excerpt from Dr. Michael Hurd’s new book, “Bad Therapy, Good Therapy: And How to Tell the Difference”: Dangerous misconception #1: There are cures for all emotional problems. In reality, there are no cures. A ‘cure’ would refer to a … Continue reading