We fear life as much as death. And our cynicism, a persistent sense of hopelessness, is little more than a…
Perfectionism Is a Form of Self-Deception
Perfectionism is the ultimate form of self-deception. Perfectionists tend to fluctuate between believing they’re perfect, resisting the notion that they caused…
Psychotherapy Isn’t Always About Becoming Better
Psychotherapy is the process of acclimating one to the ordinary. Many, however, approach treatment in the opposite way, looking to psychology…
The Cognitive Traps of Perfectionism
While each of us are the centers of our own universes, sometimes, our judgments of ourselves should be de-emphasized, especially…
The Foolish Quest for Ideal Love in Maladaptive Daydreaming
The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche remarked, “One loves one’s desire, not the desired.” This is certainly applicable to many perfectionists, who tend…
Is Loving Yourself Possible?
Self-love is a mask for self-importance; just consider the time one spends on trying to cultivate it. The two most…
In Defense of the Mainstream Understanding of Borderline Personality Disorder
People are obsessed with causes. And those causes may embody sought after justifications. In a recent article in Psyche about…
The Dark Side of Denying Our Own Envy
Few emotions are denied as vehemently as envy. Envy implies weakness like few others. Many of our younger patients find…
Obsessed with Control: Addressing Perfectionism and Codependence
For some, asking for help feels like a threat; the need to do so invariably makes them feel inferior. “Why…
Why Am I Afraid to Feel My Feelings?
For some, potential, negative experiences, like harm or death, carry the weight of their biggest fears. For others, their own,…
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