The 12-step program is the main model currently used for the treatment of addiction If you look at the statistics, however, the actual success rate is dismally low; perhaps 15% long-term. Sadly, no-one has developed an alternative to the program, so this ineffective means of treating addiction remains the gold standard. The program fails for […]
Relationships can tolerate a reasonable amount of stress. No-one is perfect or should be expected to be. There are ten specific behaviors, however, which are highly likely to ruin your relationship if you engage in them. You could call them “deal-breakers.” Every person has within their psyche a mature, rational, loving adult identity and a […]
Some folks find it especially difficult to see the bad in others. They need to believe that the people in their lives are good and kind. They can’t imagine that someone they love or respect would be capable of cruelty, manipulation or thoughtlessness. These individuals value qualities such as honesty, integrity and decency; mistakenly believing […]
The word “confrontation,” makes some of us very uncomfortable. When we contemplate talking to a friend about something they did that upset us, we’re filled with dread. We believe that confrontation is a recipe for disaster but in reality, the opposite is true. Sharing our concerns with our friends can actually improve our relationships, while […]
I’ve been thinking about why people are so crazy about the TV show Mad Men, lately. True, the writing is darkly intelligent, the cast effortlessly fits into their suave costumes and characters, and the décor perfectly evokes the time and place. Still, I sense that it’s some other, ineffable quality that has so captured our […]
It’s amazing how we choose to ignore reality in the pursuit of love. Paradoxically, the so-called “reality” shows on TV today demonstrate this trend to the greatest degree. Whether as participants or viewers, we all seem to be caught up in the illusion that it’s possible to find true love on TV. Take the current […]
It’s a modern-day tragedy. A young man is born with incredible talent and promise, and then achieves unimaginable success early in his life. A glorious future is predicted, but instead, his life is a series of ever more strange events, culminating in his untimely death. Michael Jackson is called “The Prince of Pop,” but he […]
Maybe it’s because spring is coming, but lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of dating stories. Sadly, men and women seem to be further apart than ever. Neither side really understands what the other wants, and I’ve even noticed an undercurrent of contempt running in both directions. Instead of looking for a way to come […]
I’ve always been a big movie-lover. That’s why it distresses me to witness the emasculation of Hollywood actors today. These men start out more or less intact, but the longer they stay in the Hollywood system, the less and less they seem to be men. A gradual process of psychological and emotional castration is destroying […]
