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...

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...

Anyone who has ever had a panic attack knows how frightening they can be. Like many others, I  thought I was dying the first time I experienced one. Heart palpitations and a shortness of breath make you think you’re having a heart attack and should call 911. Understanding what’s going on in your body and mind is critical...

In the 1978 film, “Ice Castles” (remade in 2010), a talented figure skater (Lynn-Holly Johnson) is close to accomplishing her dream of becoming a champion skater when a tragic accident renders her blind. She has to learn how to skate all over again. Especially poignant is the scene of her first competition as a blind...