“First We Make the Beast Beautiful: a New Story about Anxiety.” The Pennsylvania psychological Association recently formed a book club and chose this book as its first reading. I never joined the club, but I just finished reading the book. This is one of the best books on anxiety I have ever read. It’s personal, […]

Shame of the Boy Scouts: I was sexually abused by my troop leader | Perspective Dr. Daniel Gottlieb, an award-winning psychologist and former host of a popular WHYY radio show, writes about the shame he felt after being sexually abused by his Boy Scout troop leader when he was 12 years old. Dr. Dan Gottlieb […]

Dear Mom, In a few days, it will be the 23rd anniversary of your death. Although I was deeply saddened when it happened, I love the story that preceded it. You and dad were at a New Year’s Eve party at the Traymore hotel in Atlantic City along with many of your friends. Quite spontaneously […]

Several days ago I was in my office when I felt my blood pressure spike. After a couple of minutes it went down but then it went up again. Although uncomfortable, this is not unusual. This is the way my body reacts to a noxious stimulus that I cannot feel. When this happens, 90% of […]

“First, you cry” is the title of Betty Rollins memoir about her breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy. If someone had asked me how I felt after watching the killing of George Floyd, I wouldn’t have known how to answer. I knew I felt rage towards the policeman and deep grief about Mr. Floyd’s family. And […]