When you’re agonizing under the weight of despair, simple tasks feel daunting. Getting out of bed, showering, or leaving the house requires herculean effort. To live with despair means to wake up every morning with a heaviness pressing down on your chest and a feeling of exhaustion no matter how many hours you slept. Perhaps […]
When you start with big dreams, full of youthful enthusiasm, happiness always seems within reach. Over time, challenged by obstacles and hardships, your commitment to those dreams is tested. But you’re still young, so you push on and persevere. Then you get hit with big disappointments, letdowns in your career, love life, or friendships. You feel […]
Despair comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s triggered by a specific event; other times, it arrives inexplicably, without notice or cause. It’s impossible to find a person who hasn’t experienced despair. We all intuitively know and dread the feelings that despair brings; for some, it’s a dull pain in the chest or stomach; for others, […]
There are no shortages of tragedies in life. Yet 2020 proved to be a landmark year for pain and heartbreak. It’s difficult to imagine any time in recent history when so many hardships confronted us and altered the way we live. Wearing masks in public and educating our children on-line have nearly become routine. But […]
Whether you see it coming or not, it doesn’t matter. You still feel devastated. When someone you love tells a lie to you, you may wonder if you will ever trust them again. Few things are as painful as a broken trust. (See “7 Hurts That Never Heal.”) The Essence of a Lie There was a […]
Studies find that sadness is actually good for you. Recently, a woman visited my psychotherapy office for a consultation and expressed concern that she was feeling sad since her mother passed away. “When did she die?” I asked. “About three months ago,” she said, “From cancer. “ “Isn’t it appropriate to feel sad?” She sighed […]
Solutions that individual therapy or antidepressants can’t offer. Depression is one of the most diagnosed conditions in the United States. In fact, in the last decade, antidepressant prescriptions in the U.S. have jumped a whopping 65%, with one in eight Americans reporting that they have tried antidepressants. (Center for Disease Control). For many people, antidepressants […]
Soul singer Bobby Harden explains why singing the blues is good for you Broke, broken-hearted, or betrayed? Don’t fret, there’s a blues song for every hardship in life. But did you know that singing the blues is actually good for you? Earlier this year I caught legendary soul singer Bobby Harden in his recent show […]
It’s easier than you think. Whether it tumbles down on you on gloomy days or is triggered by a disappointment or loss, depression is an unwelcome guest in every home. But before we cure it, let’s consider where it may be coming from. Defining Depression Many folks confuse sadness with depression. Sadness is a natural […]
Recently, I met up with one of my best pals. Like many old friends, we share a secret language, referring to events and situations with a single word or glance. A raised eyebrow, a sideways look, the phrase, “Tell me, are your bananas fresh?” and we erupt in fits of laughter as others look on […]
