Anxiety

By definition, a military psychiatrist is under military authority-- is that a conducive environment for building therapeutic trust? Couldn't being a military psychiatrist readily induce outsized cognitive dissonance in just about anyone?  Read More

Mindfulness Psychotherapy offers an effective way of working with the core imagery at the heart of PTSD. In this article, Peter Strong, PhD, an expert in the field of mindfulness therapy, gives an overview of mindfulness and its application for PTSD. Read More

Mindfulness provides a remarkable way of working with anxiety and depression, by allowing us to get close to our pain, but without being overwhelmed. Peter Strong gives an introduction to Mindfulness Psychotherapy. Read More

The terms "behavioral health" and "mental health" are often used interchangeably. But, do they really mean the same thing? I've made two short lists below as I've tried to work out what's good, and not so good, about the term "behavioral health," and am very curious to hear what you think.

Three things I like about the term behavioral health: Read More

Unfortunately the one discharge plan element, which could have helped me accept treatment more readily, was overlooked. My spiritual beliefs were not only ignored, but more accurately actively avoided. Read More

Self-Injury Hurts! When it comes to pain, I am a wimp. If I accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer I'm ready to call an ambulance. Like many, I had a hard time understanding how those who self-injure report experiencing little or no pain when hurting themselves. Read More

In the second or third grade, I remember being asked about friends.  "Oh, I have lots of friends," I said, reciting a list that included all my teachers, day care providers, school janitors,  and most of the kids I knew.  Everyone was nice...at least I thought.  I didn't understand the true nature of friendship - until I was bullied. Read More

In reviewing the feedback to my "Lesbian Fantasy, Disguised" post, I concluded that the, shall we say, constructive criticism warranted a response. So, here it is. I apologize for my misleading argument about "Whip It" (if you have not read it please scroll back two entries) and I greatly appreciate the feedback. It is my hope that this experience will make me a better writer whom exerts more effort in understanding his audience and crafting a well-founded argument. Having incorporated the majority of the feedback and reflected on what I've written, I believe my post was so unclear and so misdirected in its goal as to border on irresponsible. What follows is a clarification of my original intention. Read More

When Thoreau was on his deathbed, his aunt asked him if he had made his peace with God, and he responded, "I was not aware that we had quarreled." Someone else once said—I don't recall the source—that "The most salient characteristic of an enlightened being is not what one might think—having great wisdom, emanating love, and so forth—but rather, that they are completely relaxed."

I have certainly had my share of restful times in hot tubs over the years, and have received countless wonderful and deeply soothing massages, but truthfully, I don't think I have been completely relaxed since I was, oh, say, two hours old. Read More