Holidays – Your Quick Survival Guide (part 2 of 3)
The holidays can be difficult. Here are some short-term tips to help you get through the holidays.
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Holidays – Your Quick Survival Guide (part 1 of 3 Understanding the Problem)
Idealized Expectations During the Holidays One of the biggest concerns on many people’s minds at this time of the year is how to survive the holidays. Sure, in the popular media there are depictions of families happily gathering together in a cozy setting to enjoy very special time together. Increasingly, however, those images are being …
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Low Self-Esteem, Fear of Rejection and Lack of Intimacy: Three Common Sources of Relationship Problems
These three common issues: low self-esteem, fear of rejection and lack of intimacy seem to constellate in many relationships and often cause subtle, gradual but very significant damage to the relationship. They can act quietly, like an undiagnosed illness in the background – eating away at the fabric of the relationship. Often, what is left is bickering and fighting – which may actually be an unconscious attempt at establishing some form of intimacy – even if it is a negative way (better than not at all!).
The Biggest Relationship Problem Couples Face
While there are many issues which can cause relationship problems for a couple, we explore one in particular. This problem underlies many, perhaps even most of the other issues.
Stress and Personification in Our Current Culture
Recently, a friend told me about a book she is reading. Apparently, the gist of the book is that technology is changing so rapidly, it is causing stress to most people in our society. She asked me if I see this in my clinical practice. (I would like to outline and expand upon my response …
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Anxiety and Aggression, the Surprising Connection
Anxiety comes from a number of possible sources. It is most often thought of as a recognition by the mind (either consciously or unconsciously) of danger. If a task of the mind and body is keeping one safe, this makes perfect sense. Even a tiger in a cage might cause a sense of anxiety. Freud actually …
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Mi Abuelita, the Canaries of Telegraph Hill and Immigration
Our culture is largely made up of immigrants. Somehow we adapt, there are losses and there are gains. Our culture adapts and we adapt – although both do not happen simultaneously. Therein lies the rub, there is often a tension between these two.
Relationships: To Love and To Work
Freud was reportedly asked about the definition of psychological health. His reported response was for a person to be able to love and to work. Some authors state this was more or less a throw away answer. However, Freud worked with enough patients to know what he was talking about. Let’s explore this a bit. …
10 Important Reasons Being in a Relationship is So Hard
Have you ever wondered why being in a relationship is so hard? We are going to explore 10 important factors. But, first let’s start with a metaphor. I wake up in the morning and decide to check my email. Sometimes my computer drops the connection with my router; it is confused by the signals of all of …
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10 Differences Between Your Friend and Your Therapist
Many people think talking to a friend is like having a therapist. However, there are many differences, 10 of which are outlined here.