Dear Dr. Hurd, I’ve been down and depressed for a while now. My doctor wrote me a prescription for some pills, and says my depression is a disease. But I feel that the problem is more emotional than medical. I … Continue reading →

So much of what people talk to me about in my office ends up being about coping: just making it through life, day-to-day. Things can get pretty scary out there (have you watched the news lately?) and sometimes people can … Continue reading →

I received an email regarding my recent article about the overweight woman who continued to overeat even though she had lost her physical ability to taste. In the article I suggested that the motivation to overeat could be traced, at … Continue reading →

  1. Speak reasonably; don’t command. For example, instead of saying ‘Just say no to drugs,’ say ‘If you use drugs, you can harm your body and mind. You might get addicted, make less money and have to depend on … Continue reading →

We all tell lies at one time or another. Most likely they’re ‘little white lies’ to spare somebody’s feelings, or to get out of some commitment that we probably should never have made in the first place. The majority of … Continue reading →

A reader emailed about an incident involving her long-time boyfriend. Apparently they have been dating for several years and getting along quite well. As their relationship progressed, they began to discuss the possibility of moving-in together and maybe even getting … Continue reading →

TV sitcoms and movies are full of amusing portrayals of controlling mothers. Interestingly, most of the people who ask me serious questions on this subject are, in fact, mothers themselves, and they’re usually referring to experiences with their own mothers. … Continue reading →

If you feel depressed or gloomy when the days become shorter and darker, you might have a touch of SAD, or ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder.” Every year when winter rolls around, people ask me if there are ways to battle their … Continue reading →

It’s no surprise that losing weight is one of the top New Year’s resolutions. I’ve written before about how a commitment based on anything less than your own self-interest will often be doomed to failure. In other words, we need … Continue reading →

‘I’m gonna go on a diet at exactly 12:01am January 1!’ ‘I’m gonna join a health club, first thing on New Year’s Day!’ ‘I’m gonna get myself organized in the New Year!’ ‘I’m gonna ‘ I’m gonna’.’ How many New … Continue reading →

In spite of the media’s relentless holiday jingling and jangling, we all know that there are still people out there who are single and maybe even live alone. Not every unattached person longs for companionship, of course, but there are … Continue reading →

Addiction is a controversial subject, bogged down in political correctness and ‘feel-good’ labels. But, like it or not, America is an addictive society, and many of us have addictions to something. My definition of addiction has grown out of more … Continue reading →