It’s a rare moment when we don’t experience an emotion. Is it based in fact, or is it just a reaction (right or wrong) to some stimulus around us? When you experience an emotion, it’s important to identify the emotion … Continue reading
Well, it’s that time again. Every year for the past 10 years that I’ve had the pleasure of writing for this newspaper, I receive multiple emails and even phone calls asking me to reprint this article. I sincerely appreciate the … Continue reading
I have an acquaintance who owned successful businesses and employed people his entire life. He is now retired. In order to fill his spare time, he took a job working in a small specialty store. Money was not really a … Continue reading
There are few more controversial subjects than that of addiction; perpetually bogged down in political correctness and “feel-good” labels. But, like it or not, America is an addictive society. My definition of addiction has grown out of more than 30 … Continue reading
People are often surprised when I suggest that one of our goals will be to help them think, i.e., trusting their senses, and then integrating reality into abstract conclusions. Rational thought is necessary to intelligently answer big questions like, “Should … Continue reading
People often ask me if clients sometimes lie to their therapists. Though it seems kind of self-defeating — considering they’re paying for the sessions — I’ll admit that I’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out when somebody’s not telling the … Continue reading
Marriage and commitment are very often at the top of the list when I talk to people in my office. And for good reason! Research published by Scientific American Mind shows that in the U.S., about half of first marriages … 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 happen all at … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd, I am afraid of blood pressure measurements. It started three years ago when I had a panic attack. My blood pressure was high, and the emergency medical team mistook it for a heart attack and sent me … Continue reading
People often ask me if older widowed people should remarry. The obvious answer is, of course, yes – if they want to. But some widows and widowers feel it’s disloyal to the deceased spouse. Also, remarriage has a strong and … Continue reading
Depression, anxiety and anger management get a lot of press, but what about bitterness? Things seem to be looking up for the bitter among us: The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has considered classifying bitterness as a mental disorder. A statistic … Continue reading
Much of what people talk to me about in my office is about coping: Just making it through life, day-to-day. Things can get pretty scary out there (have you watched the news lately?) and people can get overwhelmed. From my … Continue reading