I see many smart and well-meaning people in my office. From time to time I’ll encounter a person who is well-adjusted and psychologically healthy, but who feels sorry for him- or herself. If he or she is indeed mentally healthy … Continue reading
I received this email from a Delaware Coast Press reader: “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 … Continue reading
Rarely does a day go by that people don’t talk to me about their jobs. I always say that the best motivation for work is happiness and fulfillment, no matter what your job. Though that fulfillment might not happen all … Continue reading
Interestingly enough, the topic of abandonment is a fairly common topic of conversation in my office. Let’s take a closer look at what therapists mean when they speak of “abandonment issues.” In general, it has to do with childhood experiences. … Continue reading
A new year inevitably brings promises of resolutions kept and goals achieved. More often than not, these promises and achievements are never met. Could it be that it takes more than just a calendar to generate motivation? A motivational speaker … Continue reading
Champagne and a couple dozen cocktail wieners can sometimes result in pretty outlandish New Year’s resolutions. It can be a challenge to say what you mean and mean what you say when you’re balancing a lampshade on your head. But … Continue reading
I used to love the annual “Peanuts” comic strip where the perpetually grumpy Lucy Van Pelt suffered from “Post-Christmas Letdown” over gifts she didn’t get. In like fashion, the holidays are winding down, but for some of us, remnants still … Continue reading
The holidays and the approach of the new year can be an opportunity to organize your schedule and prioritize your goals. But some get tripped up by making their schedules too inflexible. An organized schedule reflects an organized mind, but … Continue reading
“I’ll be home for Christmas” can sometimes set the stage for tension, particularly among family and couples. The seasonal pressure to make everything (and everybody) instantly cheerful and merry can be stressful. Couples fight for a variety of reasons, but … Continue reading
Most of us tell lies at one time or another. Most are little white lies to spare somebody’s feelings, or to get out of a commitment that we probably should never have made. The majority of people feel guilty after … Continue reading
On online quiz suggests that constant concern about fire or burglary in your home or about catching a disease could be signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Though some attention to detail is perfectly reasonable and even necessary to avoid … Continue reading
A popular misconception about psychotherapy is that it’s just about one’s past. This probably stems from the clichéd image of the bearded Freudian psychoanalyst quietly dozing in his leather chair – not to mention the circus parade of insipid “self-help” … Continue reading