As we struggle to cope with entering the New Year with optimism that we’re in the last stretch of this pandemic, we search for ways to feel connected. The idea of social distancing, a fear of person-to-person contact, and “staying in” can prey on our sense of loneliness, boredom, and purpose. I have asked many…
DetailsMy patient’s parent recently complained about her adolescent daughter’s angry outbursts. These episodes occurred particularly during discussions about taking showers and completing assignments for school. Early adolescence is a time when children often desire more independence. As it turns out, defiance was not the problem. Fear was the culprit. Let’s call my patient, Pearl. Some inquiries…
DetailsAs I enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family, it struck me how much has changed over this past year. Rather than having everyone together in our home, laughing, eating, and celebrating such a joyous holiday, we set up in our garage. My wife and I ate at one table, and across the garage were my grandchildren…
DetailsBefore becoming a psychologist, I always thought narcissism was a disorder of excessive self-love. This premise was likely based on hazy recollections of high school readings of Greek mythology, where Narcissus, known for his youthful beauty, spurns nymph Echo’s love and instead becomes so enamored with his reflection that he perishes from the unrequited romance.…
DetailsSTELLA! STELLA!! For most of us, the repeated scream of STELLA! brings to mind Marlon Brando’s iconic portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in the marvelous film adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. For me, Stella was my first guitar with whom I parted over 50 years ago. Yet, a few nights ago, my Stella…
DetailsThe pandemic has challenged children to face many different learning options. In New Jersey, some districts offer only virtual, some hybrid (a combination of virtual and in-person), and a small percentage of schools full in-person instruction. Many parents have expressed concern about their child’s ability to concentrate given the current restrictions placed on traditional educational…
DetailsThat’s not a misprint or a joke. I’m not sadistic (as far as I know), so please bear with me. To briefly set the stage: it is October of 2020, and the dizzying array of stressors associated with 2020 continues unabated. COVID-19, political unrest, racial tensions, economic insecurity, and their downstream consequences have resulted in…
DetailsBefore you think there is a new diagnosis being hoisted on the public, please be rest assured that “depressive dystopia” is my term for how I view our current collective condition. COVID life has helped create a societal malaise that has pushed our emotional tolerances to a state of constantly uncomfortable surrealism. Sometimes it feels…
DetailsPassing judgment on those around us is human nature. We are continually making our own choices and observing the choices of others. We like to think we’re making the right decisions, and we often use ourselves as a benchmark for others. How can we feel good and “right” in our choices without passing judgment on…
DetailsIt is often said that parenting is not for the faint of heart. Parents face many difficult decisions and dilemmas when raising their children, only made more challenging by the instant gratification that technology brings to their world. As a parent of three girls, I often struggle with the role that technology plays in their…
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