Posted September 03, 2009 1:26 PM
I have the world's best job. I'm a Futures Therapist. It's my job to help men, women, and children learn to live well in the world of the future. Really, there is no single future we are moving towards, but a number of possible futures. Most therapists are trying to help people to adapt to a world that no longer exists. Since the profession of Futures Therapist may be new to you, let me explain how I got it into it and how you can too.
In 1965 I graduated from U.C. Santa Barbara and was on my way to U.C. San Francisco School of Medicine. I wasn't sure I wanted to be a doctor, but it seemed like the most impressive calling to have and my educated, Jewish, relatives thought that having a doctor in the family would be wonderful. Read more…
Posted August 20, 2009 5:16 PM
Let's face it, no matter what the latest ups and downs we read in the news, the economy is still sick. And predictably President Obama's approval ratings are dropping. When he was elected most of the world felt hopeful that Mr. Obama could make a difference and turn things around within the country and with our relationships around the world. Democrats were looking forward to major changes in health reform and an end to the dysfunctional economic policies of the Bush years. Republicans were worried that Obama would change America in a way not to their liking. All felt he was destined to have a major impact on our lives. Read more…
Posted August 20, 2009 2:56 PM
Dear Dr. Jed,
I was in my doctor's waiting room and just so happened to read an article in the grapevine magazine about "The Irritable Male Syndrome." This described my husband to a T. He's started to take things out on my children getting very angry at them and bringing their confidence down. He would also degrade me about my weight and appearance and would call me names. He said that everything was my fault. I finally decided to take my kids away for a week to get away from him. We had a great time and I began to find myself again. Read more…
Posted August 20, 2009 2:21 PM
Depression is one of the most destructive diseases of modern life. According to Dr. Stephen S. Ilardi, author of The Depression Cure, "Depression is a devastating illness. It robs people of their energy, their sleep, their memory, their concentration, their vitality, their joy, their ability to love and work and play, and-sometimes-even their will to live."
Not only does depression take away our spiritual and emotional health, it also undermines our physical health. Recent research reported by Johns Hopkins Medical Center indicates depression increases the risk of heart disease and it also aggravates chronic illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis, back problems, and asthma, leading to more work absences, disability, and doctor visits.
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Posted July 27, 2009 1:35 PM
A few years ago my wife and I spent three months in New Zealand. We were struck by the beauty of the country, the slow pace of life, and the friendliness of the people. We had a wonderful experience on December 21st, my birthday. My whole life I've celebrated the shortest, darkest day of the year. But in the Southern hemisphere, of course, it's the longest, brightest day of the year.
We were walking downtown and had planned to have dinner at a nice restaurant. It was late afternoon and my wife said she wanted to do a little shopping before the shops closed. I chuckled to myself and thought, "It's 4 days before Christmas. The shops will be open late so they can collect the last shopping dollar. She just needs some time away from me."
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Posted July 06, 2009 4:00 PM
Jed Diamond, Ph.D., is the author of The Irritable Male Syndrome: Understanding and Managing the 4 Key Causes of Aggression and Depression
Dear Dr. Diamond,
Over the past three years especially, I have noticed that my relationship with my wife has begun to deteriorate. In the past there were open displays of affection and frequent verbal affirmations. Now, I seem to be irritable all the time. My attitude seems to be "don't come near me, don't talk to me, I had a hard day, I want the entire world to piss off." Read more…
Posted June 23, 2009 3:21 PM
My men's group has been meeting regularly since 1979. We began meeting when we all lived in Marin County, California and felt the need for a supportive environment to discuss the changes going on in our lives. We're seven guys who now range in age from 58 to 79. During the last 30 years, two guys have dropped out and two guys have been added. The last "newcomer" joined the group 19 years ago. We now meet for a 5 day gathering four times a year. It's something that we all look forward to and never miss. We met recently in Seattle were T lives now and during our time together I realized something important about men that I had missed. Read more…
Posted May 12, 2009 5:39 PM
I have been talking to people throughout the U.S. and around the world and I am asked the same question: "What should I do to help make the world a better place? There seem to be so many problems we face, I don't know what I should do." I like to quote Howard Thurman. He was Dean of Theology and the chapels at Howard and Boston universities for more than two decades, wrote 20 books, and in 1944 helped found the first racially integrated, multicultural church in the United States.
When asked by a student about what the world needs, he responded, "Don't ask, what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." I think that's wonderful advice and I've tried to follow it.
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Posted May 05, 2009 12:44 PM
As more and more people face job loss and fear of the future, those affected can go through physical, emotional, and spiritual upheaval. Often the feeling of confusion, pain, and loss of control can trigger earlier traumatic experiences. Many of us, particularly men, tend to keep our feelings inside and try to handle things ourselves, but we often need outside support if we are going to re-establish a healthy balance in our lives.
What is the difference between a normal reaction to a traumatic event and PTSD? Read more…
Our Titanic Moment: Making the Decision of a Lifetime
My friends sometimes tell me I'm obsessed with things coming to an end. Maybe they're right. I've been a psychotherapist for 44 years now. During that time I've treated more than 30,000 people. Most of them come to me because they are miserable and they want the pain to end. When they first come to see me, they usually have only a vague idea of what is wrong. Many are looking for a quick fix so that they can return to the life they perceive as "normal." Read more…
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