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
A reader emails, “My family has been encouraging my brother to seek psychotherapy for problems we feel that he has, and his doctor agrees with us. My brother is resistant to that, and we can’t understand why he doesn’t see … Continue reading
A reader emails, “I have friends who are in relationships and have no qualms about cheating. If I even had a partner, I’d be respectful of him and would never lie. It just doesn’t seem right that they get to … Continue reading
A reader of this column writes, “I’m frustrated with my teenage son. Is it unfair for me to remind him that though I encourage independence, I’m still paying for everything, and that he’s obligated to at least listen to my … Continue reading
I recently came across a fascinating case involving a friend who has been very overweight for years. Though the typical reaction is that she overeats because she loves the taste, this doesn’t apply to her. Several months ago she contracted … Continue reading
TV sitcoms and movies are full of amusing portrayals of controlling mothers. Interestingly, most of the people who ask me serious questions on this subject are, in fact, mothers themselves, and they’re usually referring to experiences with their own mothers. … Continue reading
People sometimes tell me how concerned they are that they — or their children — not be “losers”. They’re almost always surprised when I tell them that losing can actually be good for your mental health. In a competitive sense, … Continue reading
When it comes to teenagers, one of the subjects that comes up in my office is interpersonal relationships — especially sex. In a study presented at a meeting of the American Public Health Association, researchers at the University of Kentucky … Continue reading
Do you sometimes put off until tomorrow what you should really do today? Well, you’re not alone. People often tell me that their procrastination is so bad that it causes problems and stress in their jobs and in their personal … Continue reading
A reader sent an email asking me why some health professionals refer to her son’s behavioral problems as a “disease”. She says it makes her son feel worse about himself and even seems to deepen his depression. The whole idea … Continue reading