Mental Health

Aaryan Cannot Shake His Anxiety

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 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.

Grace's Childhood Dictates The Low Self Esteem She Feels Today

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Grace grew up listening to verbal abuse from family members. Now 52, she wants to overcome her low self-esteem, but doesn't know how. She slouches, talks quietly and fears others getting angry with her. She's tried reading self-help books, but nothing seems to work.

Tony's Girlfriend Still Self Harms

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Tony broke up with his girlfriend this past summer due to her low self-esteem, but recently decided he wanted to get back. Now he finds out that things are much worse -- she has resorted to self-injury. She's in therapy, but says they talk yet nothing happens.

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?

Lisa Wonders If She Will Ever Overcome Her BPD

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:34:08 GMT

Lisa has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and Borderline Personality Disorder for over 50 years. Battling relapses, she wants change but is afraid of leaving her comfort zone. Do you have words of support for her?

Brodie Is Depressed, Anxious, Angry And Paranoid

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Brodie is a 22 year old gay male who finds himself depressed and anxious with bouts of anger. His moods change quickly, and he takes things out on others as well as himself. He has a fear of abandonment and expects it to happen. But when I do, it doesn't really bother him very much and he moves on to the next friend or lover. He wonders what's wrong with him. What do you think?

Can Laura Overcome Her Life Of Trauma?

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 06:00:03 GMT

Laura is 53 and has been through many traumas in her life, but has also had some good times. She always had pets to help her through in the past but now is back at her parents' home, taking care of them, and they insisted she get rid of her two beloved dogs and two cats because they want no pets at their house. What do you think -- does she have to give up everything that matters to her in order to live with her parents and take care of them in their senior years? Or should she stand her ground and insist the pets stay with her?

Craig Has A Complex Psychiatric Profile

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:00:38 GMT

Craig has seen many psychiatrists and has received several diagnoses. Now he is seeing a liberal psychoanalyst who thinks psychiatric diagnoses are just labels. What do you think?

Always Doing Well, Nadine Suddenly Lost Interest In Everything

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 06:00:36 GMT

Nadine has always done very well in school and was always active in extra-curricular activities. In her third year of college she began procrastinating, spending 24 hours surfing the Net and becoming anti-social. She dropped out of school and has moved to Australia to start her life over. She worries about her family's history of cancer. Do you think this, or something else, is the cause of her disinterest?

Lea Is Afraid She Said Too Much To Her Counselor

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:00:14 GMT

Lea has been seeing a counselor for her marriage and for herself. After profound depression, self harming and three attempts on her life, he told her she needed a specialist, which prompted another attempt on her life. Now she and her husband are back to marriage counseling with the same counselor, but she feels like he no longer likes her. She doesn't want another counselor; she wants to be close to this one again, though she doubts it will ever happen. She asks how to make him like her again. Is this the right questsion?

Ana's Life Is Deteriorating Due To OCD And Depression

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 20 May 2012 06:00:34 GMT

Ana, 40, is an accomplished, educated woman. Her life is falling apart since she has started to developed strong OCD and depressive symptoms. No longer enjoying life, she's uncertain about her future or her life. She asks for guidance since she is alone, with no one to count on. Do you have suggestions for her?

Anne Is Trying To Build Her Life Around Depression

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:00:35 GMT

Anne is a senior occupational therapist who has suffered from anxiety and depression for years, yet was able to work and have a social life. After suffering panic attacks, she took off work for months. Now she's volunteering, which she enjoys, but she's going down to half pay disability soon, which is increasing her anxiety. She asks what she can do from this point on. Do you have a suggestion for her?

CH Has Lost Her Supportive Friends

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:00:28 GMT

CH has cyclical anxiety/depression and she has done everything right for the past 20 years. Dealing with her mental health, she has always kept a good support system in place. After her husband cheated on her, she took him back BUT lost her support system. Even her family has shunned her since they feel she should have divorced him. Now she feels vulnerable and needs positive people in her life, and soon, as she feels she is relapsing. What would you suggest she do?

Sara Self Injures

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 06:00:06 GMT

Sara is a 20 year old black female who is into the punk culture and self injures. Her parents are convinced that blacks do not engage in either of these two activities and forbid it .... but she still does it. She also has multiple personalities, yet does not have the funds for medical assistance. She wants to know what's wrong and what can she do about it. Do you have ideas?

Krystle Doesn't Stay With A Doctor Long Enough To Get Help

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:00:50 GMT

Krystle has been seeing mental health professionals for ten years. The problem is that whenever they get too close, she runs. She has had severe depression where she wants to harm herself, as well as extreme highs where she laughs at things not even funny. She goes on spending binges, and has purchased herself into great debt. She sees people who she knows are not really there. She wants to know what she should do. Thoughts?

Curious Is BPD And Self Injures

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:00:17 GMT

Curious has been diagnosed with BPD. She self injures, often requiring stitches, and she has overdosed on her medication and has spent time in psychiatric units. Now she wants to stop using her meds to start a family. What would you advise her?

Kecia's Mom Is Afraid Of Mental Health

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:00:40 GMT

Kecia has no purpose, She feels depressed, and she wants psychological treatment, but her mom is afraid to send her to a psychiatrist. What do you think about this?

Jordan's Mind Is Against Him

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:00:08 GMT

Jordan is 19 and is overly sensitive. He thinks his mind is his own worst enemy, and although he does not like confrontation, he will argue back in the heat of the moment, only to feel awful later, and dwell on it for days. He obsesses over these thoughts, and is now pulling out his hair. Have you ever heard of anything like this? What would you suggest he do?

Daryl Is Impulsive, Can't Keep A Job And Is Bored

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:00:26 GMT

Daryl is 22, and is miserable. He gets bored very easily, and has had over 15 jobs in the four years since he finished college, either quitting or more often getting fired. He can't finish anything he starts, he's terribly bored and he desperately wants to change. What should he do?

Chelly Is A Prisoner In Her Own Home

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:00:11 GMT

Chelly is a 40 year old woman who is sad, has occasional unexplained body pains, counts to 3 repeatedly, smokes a pack a day, and would drink more if she got out more. She hasn't left her home in 3 weeks. She has low self worth, and wants to know how she can turn this around. What do you think?

Larah Wants To Help Her Friend Who May Be Psychotic

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:00:02 GMT

Larah is concerned about her friend, a 23 year old man. He desperately loves a girl, but when he asked her family to marry her, they said no. He was abusing drugs, but now he sees a psychiatrist who has given him unconventional advice. She is worried about her friend, as he is acting crazy, wandering the streets for days, and cannot get this girl out of his mind. She asks how she can help him. Do you have ideas?

D.A. Can't Finish What She's Started

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:00:42 GMT

D.A. is a 31 year old mother who tries to be a good mom, but feels she falls short. She never finishes anything she starts, can't keep a job for any length of time and now dreads leaving her home. Whenever she goes out, she can be sociable, but then she can become impulsive and angry. Do you have suggestions?

Nathan Self Harms Because A Girl Rejected Him

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:00:55 GMT

Nathan, a high school senior, has enjoyed his life until a few months ago. He decided he loved a girl and told her so, but she didn't feel the same. He cried relentlessly, professing his love to her again days later. She gently told him to find another, and then his love turned to anger and hate. He began cutting himself, and now he is going crazy because she is going to a dance with another guy. He realizes he needs help and reached out to me. Do you have something to say to him?