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
Dear Dr. Hurd, My mother is 91, lives alone, doesn’t drive, and is in pretty good health. Since she moved here, she has become very manipulative. She exaggerates her hearing and vision problems, and invents situations to get what she … Continue reading
In spite of the upcoming holidays’ requirement for fellowship and fun, there are many people out there who are single and maybe even live alone. Not every unattached person longs for companionship, but some out there do prefer to not … Continue reading
A Delaware Beaches reader emails that her doctor wrote her a prescription for depression and tells her that it’s a “disease.” But she tells me that her problem is more emotional than medical, and she hates the way the pills … Continue reading
With the holidays just a few months away, I’ve been thinking about something that we all seem to crave: Unconditional love. Readers, listeners and clients tell me all the time how unconditional love, especially for a child or a parent, … Continue reading
The subject of grieving and loss comes up quite often in my office. During these sessions, I learn so much about what people want (and don’t want) to hear. Most often, they simply want you to “be there.” They need … Continue reading