In the quiet moments of this holiday time, it can be helpful to stand back and take a look at what’s important (and not so important) in your life. In fact, this sort of self-reflection can and should be a … Continue reading →

‘The holidays are so stressful! Shopping is such a chore!’ I hear this from so many people, especially those with large families. Does it really have to be that way? Well, there is an alternative. It may be shocking, but … Continue reading →

In AMC’s award-winning TV series Mad Men, the lead character Don Draper — a man with deep internal conflicts and significant character flaws — starts to write down his thoughts and reflections about people and events in his daily life. … Continue reading →

Holiday festivities can often include increased time with family and friends. For many, this can be enjoyable and satisfying, but this increased interaction can also bring frustration over (or questions about) the rationale behind what a person says or does. … Continue reading →

Feeling anxious or uneasy? A persistent feeling of anxiety can sometimes stem from nothing more than mental conflict brought about by the presence of two or more contradictory ideas. You might not even be aware that the feelings are being … Continue reading →

Of all the things that people bring up in my office, one of the most frequent subjects is money. There are as many ways to deal with finances as there are individuals involved. One of those ways is to maintain … Continue reading →

A reader in Ocean View writes that her 22-year-old son graduated from college in May and has returned home to live. She loves having him there, but she also realizes that he needs to get on with his life. He … Continue reading →

Dear Dr. Hurd, I am a straight male who is attracted to a woman who is bisexual. She is also attracted to me. I want a committed, monogamous relationship, but am uneasy about making such a commitment with her because … Continue reading →

Dear Dr. Hurd: My brother is 32. He has never held a job a job for longer than a couple of weeks and he, his wife and daughter live with our mother. They scrape by on disability checks, food stamps … Continue reading →

Do you have a neighbor who ‘drops in,’ uninvited? Do you know a child (or an adult, for that matter) who can’t keep her hands off of your property? Do you have friends who call and expect you to be … Continue reading →

People often tell me that they don’t ‘feel motivated’ to do this, that or the other thing. Motivation is a sense of conviction that you have a good reason to do something. And that reason must be connected in some … Continue reading →

Resentful feelings and anger towards friends and family members very often stem from a fear of confrontation. We’ve been so brainwashed into always being ‘nice’ that we can allow emotions and bitterness to build up and erupt into major conflicts … Continue reading →