When I was working in Connecticut, I saw a woman in her 20s (let’s call her Nena) who was brought to the hospital emergency room for medical assessment. Apparently, Nena was shopping in the mall. Without any warning, she suddenly felt terrified and developed shortness of breath, fast heart rate, hot flushes all over her [...]

People from all walks of life have asked me about the difference between normal sadness and clinical depression. “Are they the same or just slightly different?” “Do I need to take nerve pill if I’m only sad?”
 
Sadness is a normal feeling. It can simply be a reaction to ordinary events that happen in our daily [...]

 
Do you sleep well every night? Do you immediately fall asleep as soon as you hit the bed? Or are you awake the whole night as if waiting for the sun to rise, tossing and turning endlessly?
 
If somehow you manage to sleep, how many hours is it? Do you often wake up in the [...]

Many parents feel stressed before and during school openings, when kids have to wake up earlier than usual, when they have to wrestle with new school mates and new teachers.
As well, kids demand latest jeans and designer shirts just to keep up with peers. And who shell out the required funds for these extra [...]

Who’s Henry Sy? Is he rich and successful? If so, why talk about him? Why not just relish on the successes of Donald Trump of The Apprentice or Warren Buffet, the Oracle of Nebraska?
Henry Sy has inspired millions of people from the Philippines and around the globe because of how he built his business empire; [...]

“Something is wrong with my husband Doc. I don’t know how to change him. He’s annoying. Is there any way I can change him?”
In my practice, I’ve met many people trying to change their partners for whatever reason. They want their partners to change their attitude, their style of communication, their personality. They want [...]

Volunteering is simply giving back. When you volunteer, you give a big part of yourself — your time, your energy, your talent, your money, your individuality . . . and your vision.
You can’t give something you don’t have. You can give only what you own. So giving back is more profound than what [...]

With all these talks of recession, of global economic crisis, of failing banks and creeping foreclosures, of unpaid credit card debts, of mounting monthly bills, how can you stay motivated?
How can you maintain your momentum when under extreme pressure? When the world is full of negativity and helplessness, how can you remain calm and [...]

“Mike, wake up! You’re daydreaming again!” My best friend in childhood used to accuse me of daydreaming. I’d just laugh each time he would lead me back from my fantasy land to reality.
Everyone daydreams. But while others are preoccupied with the miseries of current realities, some dream about what could become, about the magical [...]

When communication between couple fails, anything happens. Conflict, argument, break-up, and worse divorce happen in a short period.
I have seen it in my practice. Miscommunication has often been an easy passport to emotional turmoil and chaotic existence. What are some ways to communicate so your partner will listen?
Set understanding as the main [...]