1/5/2013 6:00:00 AM
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.
12/23/2012 6:00:00 AM
"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.
12/10/2012 6:00:00 AM
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.
12/3/2012 6:00:00 AM
Julieta has attempted suicide 14 times; the last time was the day before she wrote this letter. She's in a relationship with a guy, and doesn't know whether to share her suicide attempts with him. She's afraid he is getting fed up with her drama already and fears if she divulges this to him it will ruin everything.
11/30/2012 6:00:00 AM
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.
10/18/2012 6:00:00 AM
Kristina has been struggling with depression since she was 8. She experienced sexual abuse from her brother and emotional abuse from her parents. She attempted suicide four times before she turned 14. Now she's seeing a therapist, but so far nothing has changed.
10/8/2012 6:00:00 AM
Lauren was overweight, felt very depressed, and was crying all the time. Her mom took her to their GP, who didn't do anything. She lost the weight and made friends, but the mood swings continued. She confided in a teacher that she was sexually abused as a child. Her parents were told, they were sad, but then life quickly returned to normal. But, she now continues with the mood swings, and she's also paranoid about meeting new people and freezes in fear when she hears people talk or laugh behind her.
10/4/2012 6:00:00 AM
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.
9/17/2012 6:00:00 AM
Marji is experiencing seizures, and her doctor insists she's an epileptic due to a car wreck where she experienced head trauma. Now she's posting comments to her Facebook page -- while she sleeps -- waking the next morning with no idea what she posted.
8/24/2012 6:00:00 AM
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?
8/17/2012 6:00:00 AM
Judi was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder 40 years ago. She questions this diagnosis, as now she helps people with mental illness. She has overcome traumas in her life, and thinks she was suffering from PTSD. She is fulfilling dreams by helping others, and urging them to continue their quest to fulfill their dreams. Do you think an erroneous diagnosis can take the wind out of your sails for a coveted career?
7/22/2012 6:00:29 AM
Remy is worried about her sister. She was repeatedly molested as a child, but now that she's married, her husband has no idea of her past. She's very protective of her baby and husband, but she also obsesses over cleanliness, making everyone repeatedly wash their hands and legs. She gets angry very easily and will damage things. She attempted suicide several times. Even though everyone knows she has a problem, she refuses to see a psychiatrist because it would bring shame upon the family.
7/20/2012 6:00:03 AM
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?
6/18/2012 6:00:14 PM
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?
5/8/2012 2:00:23 PM
When Melissa was 20, her 17 year old brother shot and killed her father, a police officer. Years later when her 34 year old brother took his own life. She has gone through years of psych counseling, multiple hospitalizations and a few hearings before a judge. How does she go on with her life when she still feels such pain?
5/3/2012 6:00:15 AM
Ryan is a former soldier who served in Iraq. One night he was searching a house and a man stabbed him under his eye. Another time on patrol his humvee was hit, and a grenade exploded next to his head. Now he's a civilian, deaf in one ear and experiencing PTSD symptoms. He asks how to get rid of the nightmares and occasional paranoia. Do you know what he needs to do?
4/22/2012 6:00:06 AM
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?
4/4/2012 2:00:17 PM
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?
3/31/2012 10:00:30 PM
Anne is 60, and has never felt happiness in her life. She hides her feelings from her husband and children, and tries to be 'normal', but it's getting more difficult. Her grandfather abused her for 11 years when she was a child -- could this be the cause of how she feels even now so many years later?
3/28/2012 10:00:17 PM
Joan's daughter-in-law drowned her children's three pet rabbits in a bucket of water- then promptly fell asleep like nothing had happened. Joan wonders if her grandkids are at risk? What say you?
2/16/2012 2:00:12 PM
Monique says she has a good husband. The only thing is he accuses her of having boyfriends, yells at her in front of their two little boys, punches the door or anything else that's close by, and continues to drink to excess, despite being on bipolar meds. He occasionally will take a knife and threaten to kill himself. So I ask you, do YOU consider this a good husband? What do you advise?
2/11/2012 6:00:18 AM
Falling is 23 years old, and has been hearing voices in her head since she was 10. Now she has a voice she has named Andy, who is becoming stronger and more controlling, wanting her to harm herself in terrible ways. She's becoming aggressive and emotional, and wakes up at night screaming. She is reaching out for help and wants to know what is happening to her. What would you tell her?
1/4/2012 2:00:51 PM
Kay comes from a mentally unstable family. She tries to help her mom and brothers, but everyone holds a grudge and treats her like the black sheep of the family. The house is a mess, and mom says that her biggest regret was giving birth to Kay. How could a mother say that to her daughter? She's working and going to school in hopes of a better life, but needs advice on what to do now.
11/29/2011 2:00:53 PM
Lynn has turned 18. Molested by those she loved for as long as she can remember, she has engaged in self-harm. She overcame this behavior, yet recently those feelings have returned. She feels it's too late to tell someone and that no one will believe her. She desperately wants to stop this way of thinking. How can she handle her stress, guilt and depression?
11/1/2011 2:00:32 PM
Betty lives in the Caribbean while her 32 year old son is in the US. Convinced the government is out to get him, not trusting doctors, hospitals or even his family, he exhibits signs of paranoia. He can also be violent at times. What can she do so she doesn't lose her son to violence or himself?
