This post includes a video that I made of Neil Diamond’s song “I am….I said.” About depression, the video explores what the song has to say about it.
Category Archives: Mental Health
Overcoming Trump Anxiety Syndrome
Because of Trump’s deceit and treachery, many today are experiencing Trump Anxiety Syndrome. Here are ways to deal with it.
Donald…The Worst President We Have Ever Had
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., M.Div., MFT First, let me say that while lying and politicians have been the subject of many jokes since at least the time of Plato (or probably earlier), one must sort through humorous cynicism and those who use “the art of lying,” if you will, as a weapon meantContinue reading “Donald…The Worst President We Have Ever Had”
Erasing Cognitive Dissonance
Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.A., MFT Cognitive dissonance takes place when beliefs or ideas contradict a problem behavior causing mental anguish. To resolve the conflict, people rationalize their beliefs to justify their behavior. So, for example, a person who smokes may rationalize the behavior even though they know it is not good for them. ForContinue reading “Erasing Cognitive Dissonance”
When Death Is a Blessing: Living with Alzheimer’s Disease
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., M.Div, LMFT There is a moral task of caregiving, and that involves just being there, being with that person and being committed. When there is nothing that can be done, we have to be able to say, ‘look, I’m with you in this experience. Right through to the end ofContinue reading “When Death Is a Blessing: Living with Alzheimer’s Disease”
Creating Healthy Couples & Families
In this essay, I discuss the importance of rules and boundaries for couples and families. Just as games need rules, so do families if they are to be happy and successful.
The Busy Brain
By Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., LMFT When I was a practicing mental health professional, many of my clients would complain about anxiety. “I just can’t turn off my brain,” they would complain, “My busy brain keeps me awake, floods my waking moments with ominous possibilities and makes my everyday life so problematic it’s affecting myContinue reading “The Busy Brain”
Am I speaking your language?
By Harold W. Anderson, M.A., M.Div., Ph.D., LMFT As with every discipline, mental health and its related fields have developed its own vocabulary. Learning how to become a mental health professional includes learning how to be comfortable with and utilize this form of discourse. However, when one moves into the field and begins working withContinue reading “Am I speaking your language?”
Facing the End of Life
By Rev. Harold W. Anderson, Ph.D., LMFT Last March we were bringing our vacation in Maui to a close. While packing our bags, Becky received a call from Becky’s youngest sister. Since we were busy packing, Becky let the call go to voicemail and thought she would call her sister back on the way toContinue reading “Facing the End of Life”
Living with Depression: A Challenge No Matter How You Cut It
“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow While some people might feel “down” occasionally, such feelings do not describe the intensity of negative emotions and debilitating effects of depression. Clinical depression (major depressive disorder) isContinue reading “Living with Depression: A Challenge No Matter How You Cut It”