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Rethinking Mental Health

How to shed mental health labels and create personal meaning

The Existentialism of End Time
Anxiety
The Existentialism of End Time

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on May 5, 2023

Personal Perspective: We have always been worried about death. What can we do now about the extra burden of anxiety over the death of the species?

Personal Perspective: We have always been worried about death. What can we do now about the extra burden of anxiety over the death of the species?

Smart Teens, High Anxiety
Anxiety
Smart Teens, High Anxiety

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on December 19, 2022

All teens are anxious, but smart teens suffer from additional sources of anxiety. Here's what can be done to help.

All teens are anxious, but smart teens suffer from additional sources of anxiety. Here's what can be done to help.

The Stubbornly Defensive Teen
Adolescence
Why Teens Are Stubbornly Defensive

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on September 18, 2022

Teens are routinely defensive, to the consternation of their parents. What purpose does this defensiveness serve? Is it a good thing, a bad thing, or both?

Teens are routinely defensive, to the consternation of their parents. What purpose does this defensiveness serve? Is it a good thing, a bad thing, or both?

Understanding the Teenage Racing Brain
Adolescence
Understanding the Teenage Racing Brain

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on August 16, 2022

One of the challenges confronting smart teens is that their natural intelligence can cause their brains to race, producing unexpected and dangerous consequences.

One of the challenges confronting smart teens is that their natural intelligence can cause their brains to race, producing unexpected and dangerous consequences.

Adolescence
Understanding the Teenage Desire for Solitude

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on August 10, 2022

Smart teens need their solitude if they are to think and create. But that solitude produces dangers that a smart teen and his or her parents should recognize and address.

Smart teens need their solitude if they are to think and create. But that solitude produces dangers that a smart teen and his or her parents should recognize and address.

Environment
Are You on the Wild Ride of Individuality?

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on March 29, 2022

Existential philosophy and psychology demand that each of us manifest and maintain our individuality. But what a wild ride that effort produces! Redesigning your mind can help.

Existential philosophy and psychology demand that each of us manifest and maintain our individuality. But what a wild ride that effort produces! Redesigning your mind can help.

Anxiety
The Benefits of Harnessing Obsession

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on December 8, 2021

There are important differences between productive and unproductive obsessions and learning these differences will greatly help your productivity, creativity, and mental health.

There are important differences between productive and unproductive obsessions and learning these differences will greatly help your productivity, creativity, and mental health.

Attention
Is Attention Deficit Natural?

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on November 23, 2021

Teens and their parents are faced with ever-increasing pressure to label lapses of attention as symptoms of attention deficit disorder. Is that what's really going on?

Teens and their parents are faced with ever-increasing pressure to label lapses of attention as symptoms of attention deficit disorder. Is that what's really going on?

Personality
The Sixth Model of Personality

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on October 28, 2021

Contemporary views of personality do not credit human beings with the power to actively self-regulate. Those views fall short of accurately portraying who we are.

Contemporary views of personality do not credit human beings with the power to actively self-regulate. Those views fall short of accurately portraying who we are.

Personality
How to Get Rid of Your Mental Straitjacket

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on September 21, 2021

It's hard to do the thinking we want to do and need to do if our thoughts are held hostage by repetitive thinking. Redesigning your mind can help with that.

It's hard to do the thinking we want to do and need to do if our thoughts are held hostage by repetitive thinking. Redesigning your mind can help with that.

Fantasies
How to Keep from Stumbling in the Very Same Place

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on September 14, 2021

Have you found yourself repeating your mistakes, even though you know better? Here's a visualization technique that can help you stop repetitively stumbling.

Have you found yourself repeating your mistakes, even though you know better? Here's a visualization technique that can help you stop repetitively stumbling.

Anxiety
Does Your Mind Have a Calmness Switch?

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on September 9, 2021

A great way to increase cognitive fitness, achieve emotional wellness and engage in trauma healing is by using the special CBT technique of visualizing your mind as a room.

A great way to increase cognitive fitness, achieve emotional wellness and engage in trauma healing is by using the special CBT technique of visualizing your mind as a room.

Environment
How to Brighten a Gloomy Mind

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on September 8, 2021

A great way to reduce chronic sadness is to visualize your mind as a room and to actively redesign and redecorate that room by painting its dingy walls a new, bright color.

A great way to reduce chronic sadness is to visualize your mind as a room and to actively redesign and redecorate that room by painting its dingy walls a new, bright color.

Confidence
Removing That Bed of Nails From Your Mind

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on September 2, 2021

The best way to increase self-confidence and happiness is to visualize your mind as a room and to actively redesign and redecorate it.

The best way to increase self-confidence and happiness is to visualize your mind as a room and to actively redesign and redecorate it.

Cognition
Why Your Mind Really Needs Windows

Eric R. Maisel Ph.D. on September 1, 2021

The best way to increase cognitive fitness, emotional health and mental acuity is to visualize your mind as a room and to actively redesign and redecorate it.

The best way to increase cognitive fitness, emotional health and mental acuity is to visualize your mind as a room and to actively redesign and redecorate it.