Dr. Clifford N. Lazarus ••• Leon had a demanding job and often felt stressed out. He grew concerned when his doctor told him that his blood pressure was too high. He discussed the situation with a close friend who mentioned…
Category: General
Strategies for Staying Sane: Using an Emotional Thermometer
Dr. Clifford N. Lazarus ••• Ronnie was inclined to fly off the handle. She was hypersensitive and tended to respond with exaggerated emotion to most situations. A close relative commented: “Just about everything about Ronnie adds up to an eleven…
Whilst You Work and Play Outdoors, Here’s how to Avoid Poisonous Plants!
When I was a boy, I had my first bad reaction to poison sumac with a rash that covered my body. It was brutal! We tried to treat it topically but that was futile. It was taking forever to get…
Strategies for Staying Sane: Breaking Bad Habits
Dr. Clifford N. Lazarus ••• Constance found herself pulling her hair again. She had done so most of her life, but in the last few months became aware that her hair was actually thinning. She knew she had to stop. …
A Smiley Lady’s Blog: Well Being
Someone recently asked me if I was always happy. Certainly not. But I do think I am almost always in a state of well-being. One can have a feeling of well-being even when feeling sad. Well-being comes from so many…
Strategies for Staying Sane: Exercising Your Brain
Dr. Clifford N. Lazarus ••• Molly, whom we met in the previous vignette, doesn’t know it, but she could employ several specific methods to better balance her perceptions. When a friend suggested some options for her, she said, “I’m satisfied…
Strategies for Staying Sane: Achieving Mental Balance
Dr. Clifford N. Lazarus ••• Molly was described by her friends as a well-developed negative personality. “She’s very good at seeing the dark side of things, but she does not often detect the positive aspects of her experiences,” they observed.…
Make a Wish
The fountain is round, shallow and it begs for your change, in exchange you can make a wish. We tossed two quarters into the pool, watched them settle to the bottom preparing for fulfillment of our wishes. These things, wishes,…
Strategies for Staying Sane: Reprogramming Your Mind
Dr. Clifford N. Lazarus ••• George had been an unhappy and anxious person for most of his adult life. Finally, after many years of silently watching him suffer, his younger sister, Jennie, suggested he seek counseling and disclosed to him…
Do Yourself & Earth a Favor with a Water Pitcher
I live in a little apartment in a historic Pennsylvania town, where I have city water. That’s city water not sh@*%y water! I have used this water for years and never really thought about not drinking it, well maybe once…