I ran this article several years ago, and even to this day I get requests to print it again. And no wonder: With people living longer, many of us are members of the “sandwich generation”; taking care of our own … Continue reading
A Delaware Wave reader emails that she’s resentful over other people’s success. Rich people, TV stars, neighbors who are thriving in business … she feels they are all bringing her down with their accomplishments. Imitation may be the sincerest form … Continue reading
How often have we heard – or even said, “I’ve had a hard day. I need a drink!” Or, “I need a nice big meal — and a cigarette….” In the face of stress, it can be tempting to self-medicate … Continue reading
Clients often tell me that they feel like they’re never going to get caught up. They worry about how (and when) they’re going to achieve all the goals they’ve set for themselves. In other words, “I’ll get to it next … Continue reading
One of the questions I encounter most often in my office involves effective communication in relationships. From my experience, I believe that the answer comes down to the simple act of listening. People often assume that listening is for the … Continue reading
The mindless drivel that is daytime “self-help” TV often leaves people with the impression that their parents are to blame for many of their problems. I suspect it’s a lot more complicated than that, and, by the way, the vapid … Continue reading
A Delaware Wave reader emails, “Dear Dr. Hurd, my “progressive” friends are always telling me to “go with my feelings and say what I feel.” But is it advisable to just blurt out whatever happens to pop into your head … Continue reading
I’ve written before about how aging parents can sometimes become manipulative; appearing to be more “helpless” than they actually are. Interestingly, your responses were 100% in agreement, but many questioned how to verbally approach the issue. Well, sometimes it’s all … Continue reading
I don’t understand all the enthusiasm over multitasking. Housewives and business people brag, “Look at me. I’m multitasking,” implying, I guess, that they’re accomplishing more than they could if they only did one thing at a time. Let’s take a … Continue reading
Barely a day goes by that somebody doesn’t ask me what a psychotherapist does. Though I’m tempted to mumble something about secret handshakes, decoder rings and electric shocks, I go ahead and try to answer the question truthfully. One of … Continue reading
People often tell me that they feel used because someone gets something out of being with them. But wait … there’s nothing wrong with self-interest! Every relationship, whether business or personal, needs to be mutually beneficial. However, choosing to intentionally … Continue reading
The emotional impact of a breakup can be devastating, with feelings ranging from bewilderment to shock, from hurt to abandonment and anger — even rage. I speak to many people in my office, and sometimes it’s startling to hear the … Continue reading