Why are some people inclined to jump out of airplanes or risk thousands in the stock market, while others find it difficult just to meet new people? Why do some of us avoid risk at all costs, while for others … Continue reading →

Dear Dr. Hurd, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m a compulsive talker. My crazy need to say something or answer someone (even when no answer is required) often gets me into trouble. When I talk I get carried away. … Continue reading →

Like an old friend who visits every so often, we’re again saying goodbye to the quiet season. Stress-free left turns and easy access to our favorite haunts is soon to be a thing of the past — at least for … Continue reading →

Parents of teenagers sometimes tell me that they don’t feel appreciated by their kids. “Look at all I’ve done for them,’ they say. ‘Why can’t they show gratitude?” As reasonable as this may seem, it contains a huge error. Gratitude … Continue reading →

It’s good for your mental health to appreciate material things such as your car, your clothes, your house — whatever. But, wait ‘ wasn’t I supposed to say something like, ‘Things aren’t really important. It’s your ‘inner life’ (whatever that … Continue reading →

A website visitor emails that her relative, a young woman of 19, has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She asks if it is a valid diagnostic label or just another excuse to justify bad behavior. Psychiatrists define bipolar disorder as … Continue reading →

We all know at least one person who likes to disagree, simply for the sake of disagreeing. That person is easy to identify: disputing minor facts such as the weather, carrying on an argument over something that doesn’t matter to … Continue reading →

Readers ‘of a certain age’ will certainly remember mood rings. Back in the ’70s everyone seemed to be sporting a ring, a pendant, earrings, bracelets or even lipstick containing thermotropic liquid crystals. Depending on the temperature of your skin, the … Continue reading →

A Cornell University study asks, ‘Why do teens do stupid things?’ Well, not so fast. Not all teens do stupid things, nor is there anything about being young that makes stupidity inevitable. It’s true that teens don’t have the knowledge … Continue reading →

Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate all the positive aspects of being together. But every day I see many of the negative aspects as well. It’s not my intention to cast a shadow over this romantic holiday, but … Continue reading →

How often have you heard somebody say, ‘He’s not a bad person, but I still don’t like him’? Most often, the missing element is respect. To genuinely like or love someone, they must first earn your respect. Like beach erosion, … Continue reading →

We read every day about notorious and documented failures of drug and alcohol rehab, made even more public by Hollywood’s perpetually neurotic glitterati. Is it all a scam? Well, in fact, some people do successfully untangle themselves from drug and/or … Continue reading →