After my best friend, Ronnie, was diagnosed with cancer the first time, we made a pact: That though we were separated by geographic distance, we would hereafter, for the remainder of our lives, devote a weekend together each year to our “Jubilee.” In the Bible, each 7th year’s growing season was to be kept fallow… Read more »
At the end of the year, families come together. Memories are ignited. Children, who are now adults, can regress to thinking of their parents as the givers and organizers. As the family gathers, they are sadly reminded that mom and dad are frail or enfeebled with illness and disability, and a myriad of emotions are… Read more »
Many times in my office parents say their goal is for their child to be happy. As a therapist, I have to wonder if being happy is really what we want? When are our children happy? When they get a birthday present; get a cookie they wanted; win at a game. If life consisted of… Read more »
The phrase is emblazoned on holiday cards, ornaments and light displays: Peace On Earth. It is a noble wish, to be sure, the value of which few, if any, would dispute. (You never quite know what’s rattling around in those terrorist’s brains, so I suppose it’s best to leave a margin of error.) Certainly the… Read more »
As any of you still shopping for that perfect present for that certain someone knows, this time of year is designed for thinking about others. Thoughts of getting away or doing something for yourself seem, at best, foreign and, at worst, selfish. Odd as it may seem, taking real, quality time to “escape” from your… Read more »
With Thanksgiving behind us, most of us are slowly awakening to the realization that Christmas is right around the corner. And thus begins the Running of the Holiday-Crazed. Similar in many ways to Pamplona’s famed Running of the Bulls, but with only slightly fewer steaming piles to maneuver around. Sadly, this analogy was more on… Read more »
One of the scariest experiences in a woman’s life is being told, “I’m sorry, you have breast cancer.” From this moment forward, nothing in her world will ever be the same. As earlier diagnoses are being made, more women are facing this scenario. Yet, with more knowledge and early detection on our side, more women… Read more »
I awaited this time with dread. My family was going off to Europe without me, and I had visions of myself being home alone with my dialysis machine, (the reason I couldn’t travel) miserable and depressed. As it turns out, I’m actually feeling great, rediscovering what it is that I want to do with my… Read more »
Having a relationship with a toxic person In her routine clinical practice, this author often comes across young men and women who have everything — good looks, intelligence, lots of clothes, sound bank balance, loving husband or wife — and yet, they have nervous breakdown or bouts of depression and anxiety. In most of the… Read more »
Can we identify people who are at high risk for ending their own lives and get them the help they need? The answer is Yes. We can. It is now possible to more accurately spot these individuals and effectively intervene than it has ever been. This hopeful answer is especially important today in the wake… Read more »