Realizations Inc

Q. I’ve been depressed recently but don’t want to take antidepressants. Isn’t psychotherapy equally effective?

Q. I’ve attended several of your seminars and notice you use only black and white overhead transparencies. You do know that color and PowerPoint technology exist?

Q. What can I do about contextual depression?

Refer to FAQ Personal Growth for additional information. 

Q. I suffer from severe depression and take antidepressants, which have mostly stopped thoughts of suicide. My doctor told me that I need to “change the way you think” if I get a suicidal thought (which I sometimes do if I get exhausted and lose sleep). I’m not sure what that means.

Q. My mother seems more prone to depression than my father. Do you know of research on depression rates by gender?

Q. Would you list factors that can contribute to depression?

Q. What is depression? Can you give me a definition or description?

Q. What is downshifting?

Q. My 10-year old son takes trumpet lessons; my 13-year old daughter plays flute. Sometimes they blank out at recitals and forget the notes. Why do I get so embarrassed?

Q. I've always used the words emotions and feelings as synonyms. Recently I heard a comment that makes me think they may refer to different functions in the brain, right?

Q: Once again I find myself depressed. My cousin and his wife did not invite me to their son’s wedding. What is it with their brains that makes them exclude me, and what is it with my brain that I let it bother me?

Q. Do you have references about love affairs, depression, and suicide attempts?

Q. Whenever I think fearful thoughts, I seem to lose mental acuity. Can you help me understand what is happening?

Q. I once heard you use the term “flippant forgiveness.” You said it is filled with hidden dangers and can be a counterfeit for genuine forgiveness. I’m confused. I thought forgiveness was forgiveness.

Q. I've heard you talk about a positive mind set, and that it's a choice to be happy, but many days I do NOT FEEL HAPPY and don't understand how it's possible to change that.

Q. Why do we have to experience loss? I hate feeling sad!

Q. Is love an emotion or a feeling?

Q. My father, aged 62, seems to be having memory problems. Do you think this could be related to his depression?

Q.  I read your article on “forgiveness” in a recent Brain Bulletin. I also finished the book “The Body Never Lies” by Alice Miller. She made a comment about how honoring your parents can be misunderstood with resulting dire consequences. How could that be? 

Q. A friend of mind recently told me that I contribute to my own depression by a negative mindset. Is that possible?

Q. Nearly every day someone ruins mine. Is this going to happen for the rest of my life?

Q. I suffer from severe depression and take antidepressants, which have mostly stopped thoughts of suicide. My doctor told me that I need to “change the way you think” if I get a suicidal thought (which I sometimes do if I get exhausted and lose sleep). I’m not sure what that means.