One of my favorites from the classic “Peanuts” comic strip is where the eternally grumpy Lucy Van Pelt suffered from “Post-Christmas Letdown” over gifts she didn’t get. It was hilarious and typical of the subtle lessons that many of these … Continue reading
The New Year can be an opportunity to organize your schedule and prioritize your goals. But some get tripped up by making their schedules too inflexible. An organized schedule reflects an organized mind, but if you want to improve your … Continue reading
‘Tiz the season! We all love the holiday camaraderie, but sometimes people will set their holiday expectations very high. Often too high. The requirement for “comfort and joy” can sometimes set the stage for tension, particularly among family and couples. … Continue reading
Just when I start to wonder if my 20 years of writing this column has been worth it, I get an email like this: “Dear Dr. Hurd, I strive to live up to the ideals you promote in your column. … Continue reading
It’s that time of year again, and so many people tell me how the process of gift selection and buying is stressful and/or downright unpleasant for them. (Not everybody does, mind you, but some definitely do.) There’s got to be … Continue reading
We often hear the expression that somebody “takes things personally”. Is it always a mistake to feel that way? It’s not healthy to automatically assume that everything is about you – especially when it might not be. From your perspective, … Continue reading
This time of year gets me thinking about how people view the Thanksgiving holiday. Of course, conventional wisdom suggests that it’s a time to be grateful. That sounds very nice, but I see it as something even more: A time … Continue reading
According to a Gallup Organization survey, 20% of Americans believe that it is possible to communicate with the dead. Films such as “Bless the Child” and “Sixth Sense,” along with TV shows peddling self-proclaimed mediums like John Edward, continue to … Continue reading
My childhood memories always include thoughts of my father. Right up until he passed away, he was active and alert; cutting the grass weekly, keeping-up the house and even expertly managing his computer. When clients ask me for tips about … Continue reading
Recent medical/psychological studies are finally suggesting what I’ve been saying for years: Much of the psychobabble surrounding fashionable labels like “ADD”, “ADHD”, etc. are nothing more than haphazard “diagnoses” of teenagers’ behavior, triggering a flurry of needless prescriptions that benefit … Continue reading
The high holy days of masquerade are upon us! Rarely does a Halloween go by without people asking me about the psychology of costumes and disguise. Ancient mystical beliefs held that if you disguised yourself on All Hallows Eve, a … Continue reading
Next month’s holiday season will bring many of us closer to family and friends whom we love and cherish. Unfortunately, at least for me as a mental health professional, I start thinking about how devastating it can be to lose … Continue reading