Depression and Cancer
How does depression affect cancer patients? For cancer patients, depression means much more than just a dark mood. The illness, which strikes about up to
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Anorexia Nervosa
What is anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa, or simply anorexia, is a psychiatric and physical illness in which the sufferer basically starves herself. Clinically, a person
Bug Off
After countless phone calls pleading for an appointment, the patient appeared in Dr. Luis Fajardo’s office. She took a seat and began frantically pulling little
Road Rage: When Stress Hits the Highway
In Truckee, California, 25-year-old Timothy Brooks flew into a rage after another car cut him off on the highway. He followed the offending car to
Multitasking and Stress
In this high-tech, high-pressure age, multitasking has become a national pastime. No matter where we are or what we’re doing, we can always add one
Anger, the Heavy Burden
No American will ever forget where he or she was on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. I’m no exception, though that date will always
High Anxiety
Nikki Tilford’s first glimpse into her personal nightmare came decades years ago as she was driving to her job at the University of Cincinnati. “It
Repressed Anger
While people who are apt to fly into rages face one set of problems, those who rarely express their anger — including those who don’t
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
When Hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury over southern Louisiana, it wiped out more than just buildings and homes. Survivors escaped harm only to find themselves
Brief Therapy
What is brief therapy? Brief therapy, also called solution-oriented therapy, is based on the idea that most people don’t have to spend years on an
Breaking the Cycle of Abuse
Shirley Beeman’s mother used to get drunk and beat her daughter with a wooden spoon, even throwing her through the wall on several occasions. When
Depression and Verbal Abuse
Does someone close to you constantly insult you or humiliate you? Do you feel like you’re always walking on eggshells in an effort to keep
When a Pet Dies
Momi Correa’s love affair with her Siamese cat, Suzuki, went deeper and lasted longer than any relationship she ever had with a man. Nearly two
Depression Recovery: Keeping a Mood Journal
For many of us, learning how to understand and handle our feelings is a lifelong task. For depressed people, however, recognizing and experiencing emotions is
Holiday Blues
Every year at his family’s Christmas party, Peter Sheras’ relatives would drive him to distraction. There was the overbearing aunt who habitually “smooched me or
Seniors and Gambling
When does gambling become a problem? Gambling can be a fun diversion for adults of any age. Many people enjoy going to the horse races,
Seasonal Affective Disorder
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? For millions of Americans with winter depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, sunlight streaming through the window after months of gray
Overcoming Negative Thinking
In the words of psychiatrist David Burns, MD, people who are depressed are often masters of illusion. Their pessimistic outlook — and some unconscious tricks
Empty Nests: Flying Solo After the Kids Leave Home
Alexandra Kennedy always knew the day would come when her son, Taylor, would leave for college and an independent life. She was sure she would
Grief and Stress
Despite the talk about the “stages of grief,” there’s no real guide to mourning. Each person reacts to loss in his or her own way.