A visitor to my website writes:  Dear Dr. Hurd, I recently fell in love with someone fourteen years older than I am. We have been going out for nearly a year, and it’s getting more serious. In the past, … Continue reading →

Columnist Robert Fulford, writing for Canada’s ‘Globe and Mail,’ coined the phrase, ‘To kill a critic: the fantasies of authors.’ Just about everybody hates a critic—not only in the context of plays, books and movies, but also co-workers, friends and … Continue reading →

One of the biggest mistakes parents can make is to tell their young kids to not get “a big head”—implying, “Don’t think too much of yourself.” Then, years later, they’re surprised and disappointed when their children lack the ambition to … Continue reading →

It’s hard to believe, but (for those of you who are counting), this is my 100th column for The Delaware Wave! Though you’d be hard pressed to find a nicer bunch of folks than the Wave staff, I’m equally gratified … Continue reading →

Are you a ‘worry wart?’ If so, then read on. If not, then I wouldn’t worry about it—unless you’re worried that you might miss something good’. Life can occasionally be difficult, and worrying seems for the most part to be … Continue reading →

I continue to get reactions to my article about the Virginia Tech killings. In that column, I stated that a criminal mind, capable of committing—and justifying—such terrorist acts, was almost certainly beyond ‘help.’ While administrators and mental health workers sat … Continue reading →

Stress reduction is not necessarily about doing less in your life. In fact, many people become depressed or anxious simply because they don’t have enough to do. (Just ask anyone having a hard time adjusting to retirement!) It really boils … Continue reading →

Celebrated songwriter Neil Sedaka wasn’t far from the truth when he co-wrote the hit song ‘Breaking Up is Hard to Do.’ The emotional impact of a breakup can be devastating, with feelings ranging from bewilderment to shock, from hurt to … Continue reading →

A visitor to my web site wrote and asked me why I considered the killer in last month’s Virginia Tech shooting spree to be ‘incapable of benefiting’ from psychotherapeutic help. She was surprised that I, as a therapist, would not … Continue reading →

One of the highlights of my weekly routine is the quiet morning where I get to sit down with a cup of coffee and confront my glowing—yet still blank—computer screen. As it stares back at me, I know what it … Continue reading →

Last week, a friend told me about an experience she had at a local fast-food eatery. While standing in line, she was engaged in conversation with an elderly friend who was seated. Their voices were somewhat raised due to the … Continue reading →

  A Wave reader in South Bethany writes, Dear Dr. Hurd, I’ve always been told that it’s wrong, bad and emotionally harmful to hate. But, as I read the news and watch the goings-on in this world, it’s getting harder … Continue reading →