In his book Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart, psychiatrist Mark Epstein tells the story of his first roommate in college, a guy named Steve, who signed up for the five hardest courses at Harvard and became obsessed with being the perfect student. He stopped playing his guitar, going out with friends, even stopped bathing....

Every era has its stressors. But our times can feel especially tumultuous. A 2017 American Psychological Association (APA) poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans find that the future of the nation is a significant source of stress. And, according to a March 2018 national survey by the APA, more Americans feel anxious than they...

Most people think finding the right combination of medicine is the most important requirement to recover from depression. But it’s not. Nor is working with a therapist and employing cognitive behavioral strategies, although they both can be very helpful. Using mindfulness techniques, eating the right diet, getting regular sleep, and reaching out to a support network?...

A reader recently asked me to write more on the role of religion and intrusive thoughts. I think this is an important topic to cover because OCD symptoms are sometimes hard to distinguish from religiosity and a fervent faith. My faith is very important to me — and I am still Catholic — but I always have...

A few readers have asked me recently to write more about my daily struggles and how I overcome them. This post is dedicated to them. One of the most painful symptoms of my depression is the obsessive thoughts that arrive uninvited, unannounced, like a group of campaigning politicians who throw a rally inside your limbic...