Do you ever wonder why your husband only cares about his interests and activities? Does he do as much for you as you do for him? Does your good friend consistently ignore what you care about yet go on and on about his own needs? Do you feel unheard even when you take the time to tell your boyfriend what is important to you and how you feel? You might be in a relationship with a narcissist. Narcissism, a term that is often bandied about casually, is actually a psychiatric diagnosis … [Read more...]
Helping Adults Cultivate Healthy Friendships
October 10, 2023 By
A recent article in the Washington Post by Ana Homayoun (https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../skills-friendship.../) laid out some rules to help parents encourage their children to develop good relationships with their peers. As I read it, I realized that the guidelines she laid out could also apply to adults. Why, you might ask, am I concerned about adults making friends? After all, don’t we already have them? Well, just like with children for whom making friends is a developmental task, as we … [Read more...]
INFIDELITY: You Can Forgive, But Can You Forget?
May 11, 2022 By
After infidelity, many people sweep their feelings under the rug. Some people go to couples counseling and work through the issues in the marriage that were causing problems that predated the infidelity. Some people stay married and stay angry. Some actually move on emotionally. Recently I have had several calls from people who have said that although they have stayed in the marriage, forgiven their spouse, and really believe that things are better, they cannot forget the infidelity and just … [Read more...]
What Qualities Do You Want to Nourish In Yourself?
December 10, 2021 By
Recently I read an article by the CEO of Korn Ferry, Gary Burnison, about how to define grace. He sees it as the goodwill of people who help others. During the past year, and before, as we all struggled with the COVID epidemic, there were many examples of people who cared for others, helped them physically and lifted their spirits emotionally. Just think about the people who hung out of the windows of buildings in New York City and cheered for health care workers and first responders. Or the … [Read more...]
OCD and the Covid-19 Pandemic
September 28, 2021 By
People with OCD have unwanted recurring thoughts that lead to repetitive behaviors. They are not just quirky or eccentric. They are suffering from a highly upsetting condition that triggers a great deal of anxiety and can be time-consuming in its behaviors. At the beginning of the pandemic, people with OCD often felt worse as they feared there were germs everywhere. Others found that their taboo thoughts about sexuality or religion increased. Those with rituals of counting or checking may … [Read more...]