…ning and enabling, in the absence of any empirical evidence, alcohol abuse simply cannot be called a disease. Now before you fire-up your email, this certainly does not mean that I’d encourage someone with a known alcohol problem to return to drinking just for the heck of it. As with any dangerous behavior – and alcoholism falls into that category – potential risks and benefits must be weighed. Alcohol reduces inhibitions and impairs judgment. And… Continue reading →

…different Some children are oppositional, while others show remarkable self-discipline. The persistently difficult child needs consistency more than anything else. Resist the temptation to control everything he does. Instead, choose your punishments. Pick out the most important offending behaviors, and punish him swiftly and consistently for them. Holding your ground on one issue, such as bedtime or homework, can often lead to success in other are… Continue reading →

…ng to conclusions. Bipolar refers to a mood condition that isn’t nearly as common as people think, and is best diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional. These statements also suggest the mistaken idea that moodiness is, in itself, somehow wrong or bad. Of course, someone most of us would consider moody might actually have a problem managing his or her emotions. But if the easy solutions fail, psychotherapy and in extreme cases, medicati… Continue reading →

…st do the bulk of the work if your kids are to grow into healthy and happy adults. Be sure to “friend” Dr. Hurd on Facebook. Search under “Michael Hurd” (Rehoboth Beach DE). Get up-to-the-minute postings, recommended articles and links, and engage in back-and-forth discussion with Dr. Hurd on topics of interest…. Continue reading →

…has undesirable characteristics, that’s fine. But if you dislike your boss simply because he or she is your boss, then it’s time to step back and reconsider. The point is simple: The reason you have a boss is because you’re unable or unwilling to be self-employed at this time. If you were self-employed, you’d answer directly to your customers. Your boss, especially in a large company, serves as a buffer between you and the customers. In other word… Continue reading →