Many people assume that mental health is a matter of either medicine or moral weakness. The medicine side assumes that pills can eradicate mental illness. The moral side assumes that troubling emotions stem from weakness of character. Neither side is … Continue reading
I received an email from a teenager who tells me that his parents treat him more harshly than they treat his older brother. They are not abusive, but they consistently hold him to a stricter standard. His brother gets Cs … Continue reading
All the recent publicity about criminal acts in schools and elsewhere is inevitably accompanied by some of the victims commenting publicly that they “hope someone will put the criminal on a better track.” Unfortunately, research over the years has exposed … Continue reading
People ask me all the time, “So what’s better? Psychiatric drugs or talk therapy?” Regular visitors to this page know that ideas and thoughts are the cause of emotions and actions, and that psychiatric drugs cannot be the primary tool … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd, My mother is 89, 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
Is it a sign of true friendship to ignore a friend’s flaws? Not necessarily. If someone is your friend, doesn’t it make sense to try and stop her from making a mistake? You can’t control her or do her thinking … Continue reading
I have a friend who has been single for years. She is attractive and popular. In spite of her independence, she very much hopes to one day be in a comfortable relationship, maybe even get married. A worthy goal, but … Continue reading
A visitor to Bethany Beach sent me an email where she tells me that her next-door neighbor freely allows her dogs to do their “business” on her lawn and driveway, and makes no effort to remove it. The writer feels … Continue reading
On this Valentine’s Day, it’s all about loving relationships. And one of the subjects that couples always bring up in my office is how to make – or keep – a marriage happy. My first reaction is to remind them … Continue reading
According to a study done by LinkedIn.com, three-quarters of employees dislike or hate their jobs because of the boss. Of course that makes for great little cartoons on Facebook, but let’s take a closer look: If you dislike your boss … Continue reading
People often ask me how they can find an effective therapist in their area. Of course this gives me a great opportunity to promote my most recent book, “Bad Therapy, Good Therapy (And How to Tell the Difference).” Short of … Continue reading
Pop psychology loves to tout the purpose of therapy as “dealing with the past.” I suspect that at least part of that comes from the feel-good prattle that pervades Oprah, Ellen, and the rest of daytime TV’s vast wasteland. But … Continue reading