Mental Health

Chris Questions If His Son Has Been Properly Diagnosed

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Chris has a 43 year old son who still lives at home, has anxiety attacks, limited vocabulary and difficulty organizing simple thoughts. He also lacks self-confidence and is fearful.

Jessica Feels Like A Walking Zombie

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Jessica is a college student who took a semester off. She has always worked very hard, never asking her mother for financial assistance, but is afraid of becoming homeless or poor. Lately she has been feeling worthless, helpless and hopeless.

Rob Asks How To Overcome Dysthymia Naturally

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Rob, although he has never been formally diagnosed, believes he has mild depression. He eats well, exercises, doesn't smoke and only occasionally uses drugs.

Alena's Mentally Ill Husband Bought A Gun

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Alena's husband not only has a mental illness, he's a very angry at many. He says he wants to kill those who have done him wrong. Recently he bought a gun (legally), despite his mental illness and despite the fact that he was previously in a mental hospital for the criminally insane.

Briara Is Successful, Despite The Voices In Her Head

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Briara was an only child, and grew up entertaining herself. She enjoyed her little tea parties with her stuffed animals -- each with it's own voice. Now she's a grown woman, and she hears voices in her head.

Amy Goes Months With Little Sleep

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Amy feels like she's nearing the end. She cannot seem to sleep, and actually will go months with little or no sleep.

Rhonda Wonders If Mental Illness Causes Unwanted Behaviors

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Rhonda and her dad are at odds. She is Bipolar II and has adverse reactions to medication. She is in tune with how she thinks and tries desperately to control her actions without meds.

Leonardo Overcame Munchausen by Proxy

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Leonardo shares his new book, detailing how he overcame Munchausen by Proxy (do you know what this is?), child abuse and the subsequent PTSD. Not only did he overcome his past, but he even became a doctor to help others.

"Gun" Fantasizes About Putting It To Her Head

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 06:00:00 GMT

"Gun" received just that for her birthday from her son. She came from a childhood and marriage of abuse and suffers from depression. At 63 she is starting to make friends for the first time. But now that she received this gun, she fantasizes about putting it to her temple and pulling the trigger, although she says she would never commit suicide and, ultimately, hurt her children.

Dr. Adam Blatner Shares His Views On 'Better Than Normal'

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Adam Blatner, M.D. shares his thoughts and comments on 'Better Than Normal'. He agrees that all of our traits, strengths and weaknesses lie on a continuum and are not good or bad -- rather they make up who we are.

Nancy Rates "Better Than Normal"

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Nancy studied personality disorders as an undergraduate psychology minor and reviews my book, 'Better Than Normal'. She rates her own personality traits and shows how this understanding can better your life by using her own life as an example. Are you, "Better Than Normal"?

Karen Can't Sleep, Fearing Someone Will Break Into Her Home

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Karen has tried everything to naturally fall asleep. The problem is she's terrified to sleep alone. She has an overwhelming fear that someone will get into her home, so much so she barricades her house like a fortress and lays in front of the door to prevent an intruder from entering without her knowledge.

Tasha Has Suddenly Becomes Shy Again

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Tasha is 36 and used to be shy. Teased in school, she didn't have many friends and was often teased. When she turned 20 things began to look up, as she lost some of her shyness. Now she's going to college, and all of her classes require presentations, which she finds very scary.

Aaryan Cannot Shake His Anxiety

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Aaryan is a 22 year old student, and he cannot stop worrying about himself, his sister, his kin -- everything! He worries about yesterday, today and tomorrow, about getting old and about his career. He has read books and blogs and tried spirituality and but nothing helps.

Jasmine Is Losing Interest In Life

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Jasmine is a 44 year old woman with three boys -- two teens and a 7 year old. After 16 years of physical and emotional abuse, she finally left her husband when he almost seriously hurt her in front of their oldest son. She's now dating someone who is back in his own country, and she finds she has lost her zeal for life. She doesn't want to do anything, go anywhere or talk to anybody. She's even neglecting the house chores and not preparing meals for the children.

AB Feels Better When He Cuts

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:00:00 GMT

AB is 26 and grew up without friends. He would handle difficult times by cutting himself. For the past year and a half he has been seeing a girl, whom he loves and who loves him. However, when he flies into a rage, she gets upset and wants to leave. He responds to this by threatening to kill himself if she leaves, and so she remains. He wants to know how he can stop acting like this -- he knows it's self defeating.

Densie Feels Like Giving Up

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Denise has tried about 20 different antidepressants and has tried counseling, to no avail. She hasn't worked in over a year and has no insurance and has been paying bills with her 401k. She took care of her dad until his death, and now has a boyfriend she considers an enemy. She's not sure what to do to change her life around and feels it will never change. What say you?

Kazine Has At Least 25 Personalities

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Kazine has elevated moods lasting three months, and depressed moods lasting about the same. She also has at least 25 different personalities, but is unable to find help because so far the doctors in the UK do not take her multiple personalities seriously. This is wreaking havoc on her life, and she asks where can she go for help. Do you believe in multiple personalities? Is there proof they exist?

Wendy's Husband Has Monthly Mood Swings

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Wendy has been married to her husband for 11 years, and he continually has mood swings. He'll be fine for a month, then he's hostile and angry for about a week. He's fine with the kids, but she bears the brunt of his anger. He also gets in verbal altercations at work and threatens to quit. She wonders what's going on. Do you know?

Linda Questions Disassociative Identity Disorder

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Linda asks if I have ever published material regarding Dissociative Identity Disorder. Do you know what this is, and what causes it?

Lauren Is Sure Her Daughter Will Harm Herself Or Someone Else

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Lauren has a 12 year old psychotic daughter who has been seeing mental health professionals since she was 2. She's sure she will eventually hurt or kill someone else or herself unless she finds someone who understands what's going on. She has already hired an attorney, because she's certain it's just a matter of time before something bad happens. She's becoming bigger and stronger now, and mom wants to know where to go from here.

Katie Feels Worried And Sad In The Morning And At Night

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Katie doesn't know what's going on. She wakes up anxious, feels better, then by evening feels even more anxious and depressed. She sometimes feels good and other times terrible. What is going on here?

Stephanie Feels Hopeless

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 06:00:07 GMT

Stephanie is experiencing feelings of guilt, sadness and hopelessness. All she feels is pain that will not go away Has this ever happened to you? If so what did you do that helped?

Stefanie Asks: Am I Depressed? Bipolar? Borderline?

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:00:55 GMT

Stefanie has taken online tests, and doesn't know if she's depressed, bipolar or borderline. She takes medication that doesn't work, and doesn't have money to see a doctor. Have you ever taken an online psychological test?

I Don't Feel Right In The Head

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:00:15 GMT

My thoughts are always racing, and they're unorganized, obsessive, homicidal and suicidal. I have intense anger and fits of rage, while also having detached feelings.