Since about 1980, there has been a phenomenal interest in and writing about shame, a topic that had received little prior attention. We have more understanding of the results of childhood neglect and abuse, and how that relates to addiction, the self’s inner relationship with the self, and the significance of shame. We now have […]
By Saskia Davis, ©1984 Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to inner peace and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. 1. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on […]
I come from a family of worriers, and I’ve done a lot of worrying in my life. I now do it less than ever, but there was a time when I thought I was a “worry addict.” Of course, a feeling of any kind can be “addictive”—we can use one feeling or mood to alter […]
It was like any other Monday morning. I got up and got in the shower and began planning the day ahead. After a few minutes I started feeling dizzy while I was shaving. My heart started racing, my breathing became short and erratic, and an unexplainable sense of fear overcame me. The anxiety seemed to […]
Two lawyers who were very respected members of the Bar were both patients seeing the same counselor. Each had come because of loneliness, depression, and burnout. Neither was aware that the other was also seeking help. As the sessions progressed both men talked about their deep caring about many of their clients and their love […]
We tend to respond to issues because of media attention to public figures. Recently, William Bennett, former cabinet secretary and spokesman for virtue and morality, has come under fire because of reported eight million dollars in gambling losses at various casinos over the years. But Bennett’s financial losses from gambling are part of a much […]
One of the great changes in our culture over the last decades has been the shift in our understanding of will. Psychology has grown as a field with many varying schools, but for the most part, the field does not discuss or consider the idea of will. Starting with Freud, will was repudiated as the […]
One of the hallmarks of our country is its commitment to freedom. Many immigrants to America came here in order to pursue religious freedom. Much of our economic growth and success is attributed to our system of economic freedom. We place a high premium on public education and on the opportunity for each person to […]
I want to share with you about the problem of overeating. I could start off with a lot of statistics which you have probably read most of already, and there will be room for some of them later, but I would like to start at the other end of the spectrum. Silvie Granatelli is a […]
Gambling is now legalized in Virginia and South Carolina and a casino thrives in Cherokee. It is logical that there is an increase in problem gambling. Gambling is defined as any betting or wagering, for self or others, whether for money or not, no matter how slight or insignificant, where the outcome is uncertain or […]
How can I overcome my lifelong habit of procrastination? What can I do about my partner who is developing a serious drinking problem? How can I breathe new life into my declining practice? How can I get myself organized? Why do I always feel overwhelmed? How can I deal with my overbearing boss? I think […]
Co-dependency refers to an emotional and mental dysfunction which, just like addiction, can cause disastrous effects on the quality of life. Almost everyone knows how substance abuse can destroy careers, families, reputations and finances. Yet what is much more insidious and harder to decipher are the effects of co-dependency. The best definition of co-dependency which […]