Fighting Fear

Confronting phobias and other fears

by Fredric Neuman, M.D.

Homosexuality and AIDS

A response to a post decrying a presumed denial of AIDS in homosexual men. A brief, personal history of this epidemic Read More

Homosexuality in the 21st Century

Changing attitudes towards homosexuality have left bigots somewhat at a loss. Their confusion is based on some misunderstandings—which are cleared up in this blog post. Read More

Some Considerations in Treating Health Anxiety

Different kinds of psychotherapy end up doing the same thing: correcting misconceptions about oneself and about the world. Confronting fears is critical to the treatment of health anxiety, which is disturbing not only to the health worrier, but often to all the members of his or her family. Read More

A Tale of Irony

A fictional tale of spying, torturing, and literary criticism. Read More

Swallowing Toothbrushes

An account of various people who got into trouble by inserting things into themselves Read More

The Treatment of Health Anxiety

Two mistakes doctors make in treating Health Anxiety. Six treatment principles drawn from the Health Anxiety Treatment program at the Anxiety and Phobia Center. Things to do and to avoid doing. Read More

Determining What Is Normal Behavior and What Is Not

Mental illnesses, or emotional illnesses, are disturbances of behavior and of feeling and thought. They are disorders of function that do not correspond readily to precise physical impairments and that seem, therefore, intangible. At the same time, they are elusive, because they seem to be only exaggerations of the way ordinary people think and behave. And so they are. Read More

I Almost Forgot the Crystal Skulls.

An account of the crystal skull that was able to predict macroeconomic trends. Read More

First Sexual Experiences--and Menarche

An account of a way of taking a sexual history and the meaning of certain experiences, including the first menstrual period. Read More

Suggestions for Dealing With Disobedient Children

Some accounts of ineffective—and effective—ways of dealing with disobedient children Read More

Psychic Phenomena in My Family: Out of Body Experiences

Number six in my brother's psychic adventures Read More

Low Self-esteem

A response to a previous blog comes from a woman who has severe "low self-esteem." I offer some suggestions, and illustrate some examples of overcoming this problem,including anecdotes from my own life. I mention the "faker syndrome," which is an example of low self-esteem. Read More

Why Some People Can't Find Anyone to Marry

There are a number of factors contributing to the inability to find someone to commit to. Read More

How Far Should You Trust "I Love You"?

An examination of what the phrase "I love you" means. Different relationships are described, including some disappointments in love. Read More

A Story About the Very Old and the Very Young

An old man worries about how his granddaughter will manage when he is no longer around. Read More

Lessening Stress at Work (or School)

An account of how dividing work properly into the right category reduces stress. Medical school is used as an example. Read More

What Does It Take to Fall in Love?

Various accounts of people falling in love unpredictably although knowing very little of the other person. Or even less than that. Read More

Strange Ideas: The Incredible Things Some People Believe

An account of certain outlandish ideas. Just being certain does not mean you are right. Read More

The Worry Wheel

Health worriers tend to have similar experiences growing up.The full-blown condition starts at a particular time and grows out of certain characteristic behaviors, encapsulated in the Worry Wheel Read More

Making a Good Impression on a First Date,

Some experiences with charming people. Some advice to those trying to make a good impression on the first date Read More

Books--and Hoarding

Hoarding--and particularly book hoarding. My case and some others. Read More

The Unreliability of Memory

All memory is unreliable, but I think my deficiencies are in a class by themselves. I ask for help identifying a song that I may have—or may not have—written. Read More

Problems in Preventing Suicide--or Murder

An account of why systematic attempts to prevent suicide and murder may not work. Some examples. Read More

Why Some People React Emotionally at Weddings

People cry on happy occasions because they are remembering, or anticipating, an unhappy time. People cry and/or get angry at weddings because the marriage represents a loss to them. Read More

Some Aspects of Belief

The role of psychotherapy is often dedicated to the idea that patients' should question their beliefs. Certain psychological states are obviously to be distrusted; but distrust can be carried too far. Read More

Some Observations about Love.

A series of love stories: some observations. Frequently asked questions. Read More

In the Midst of a Panic Attack...

A special circumstance that elicited a panicky reaction in someone who had recovered from a panic disorder. Read More

Agoraphobia and Panic Disorder...and then Health Anxiety

It is necessary to learn two things to get over a panic disorder once and for all. Health anxiety is described along with the various bad ideas that underlie that condition. Read More