Best psychological movies

We all love to watch a good movie. Some of us love to be scared out of our wits, to be sent off into an amazing fantasy, to imagine that we are off on some exciting, heart-pounding adventure. Or, we may enjoy great family entertainment, a love story, or, to laugh outloud at a hillarious comedy!! Since I also enjoy a good movie and being sent far away from the worries and stresses of the moment, I decided to compile a list of some the best psychological movies that I am aware of. These movies can help us see ourselves at a deeper level, help us take a personal inventory of our lives, our relationships, and may help with some personal growth. Please feel free to send me some of your favorites. In the future, I may report on the best scary movies, funny movies, etc.

• The Shining - will we ever forget that menacing image of Jack Nicholson looking through the bathroom door growling "here's Johnny"??
• The Sixth Sense - a great movie, a sensitive portrayal of a child's emotional difficulties, a good portrayal of effective therapy (even though with a paranormal twist); who knew Bruce Willis could so be good in this type of role?
• Ordinary People - another great movie, a must view of a dysfunctional family and the healing process; brilliant acting!
• A Beautiful Mind - amazing story of a brilliant mathemetician and his ordeal with severe mental illness (i.e., schizophrenia).
• Patch Adams - Robin Williams at his best as an extraordinary member of the helping profession; if only we could have him for a doctor!
• Wit - riveting portrayal of a woman dieing of cancer and volunteering as a research subject; fairly intense personality study; a must for health care professionals as well.
• Pieces of April - great acting, family dynamics and relational issues.
• An Unfinished Life - great acting (Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman), deals with redemption, human limitations.
• Golden State - powerful portrayal of human experience, interesting perspective on mental health.
• Once Were Warriors - powerful handling of resiliance, redemption, meaning and domestic violence.
• House of Sand and Fog - great acting, deals with relationships, family, honor, and meaning.
• American Beauty - quirky portrayal of a dysfunctional family in middle America, entertaining, Kevin Spacey at his best.
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - a classic, examines coping in a mental hospital environment, Jack Nicholson at his best.
• Pleasantville - charming handling of social ostracism, conformity, and choice.
• Good Will Hunting - excellent handling of relationships, trust, and therapy issues.
• Maze - deals with a man suffering with Tourette's disorder, and the struggles he goes through.
• Girl Interrupted - entertaining interplay of the characters - teenage girls in a mental hospital, trust, and caring.
• The Crossing Guard - examines the way people approach grieving and reconciliation, great cast.
• My Life Without Me - explored one woman's journey after finding out she's going to die; very good cast.
• Grand Canyon - thoughtful movie, puts humans in perspective in the context of the universe.
• Antwone Fisher - a story of healing, building trust, and therapeutic growth.
• Sylvia - great portrayal of a woman's struggle with pain, sorrow and death (Gwyneth Paltrow).
• The Shawshank Redemption - very powerful, issues of incarceration, freedom, meaning and healing.

There are a number of other important films that belong here as well. This is a partial list that may stimulate some interest. I hope others can add to this list with their favorites. Send me a reply. If you haven't seen all of these, check them out at:

Panic attacks - help!!

A panic attack is one of the most difficult of psychological problems. It can strike at a moment's notice, totally overwhelm us, and can be quite dangerous - especially if one occurs while driving - which is quite common. Panic attacks are characterized by the sudden onset of intense apprehension, fear, or terror, and are often associated with feelings of impending doom. Common symptoms are shortness of breath, palpitations, choking or smothering sensations, chest pain or discomfort, dizziness, feelings of unreality, hot and cold flashes, tingling in the hands or feet, among others. Wow, sounds horrible doesn't it? It's basically like a full-on, adrenalin pumping, flight or fight response.

Is it any wonder that individuals suffering such an attack may feel like he/she is dying, going crazy, or is completely "losing it". Obviously no one is trained to deal with such overwhelming emotions. Our emergency rooms are frequented by people experiencing such symptoms. Here's a common scenario. A man in his 40s is rushed to the hospital. He is sweating, his heart is racing, and he can't catch his breath. He and his wife are convinced that he's experiencing a heart attack. Fortunately the ER doctor finds that his heart is O.K. What he's having, he is told, is a panic attack. These attacks are a symptom of panic disorder , a type of anxiety disorder that is reported to affect over 2 million U.S. adults.

Panic disorder usually begins in the late teens or early adulthood. It is not clear what the actual cause is, but researchers suspect a combination of biological and environmental factors. These include family history, stessful life events, and drug and alcohol abuse. Panic attacks are especially upsetting as they can occur anytime and anywhere. You may be walking down the street, eating out with friends, or grocery shopping. Over time, many who suffer from panic attacks develop an ongoing fear of having another attack. Thus the problem often becomes worse over time.

Fortunately, there are effective treatment programs available. I have researched this area and suggest that you look into the following effective resources:
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I am sure that you will find these very helpful.

Parenting - are you ready for it?

Being a good parent can be one of the most challenging tasks of our life. It's not really something that we are trained for. At least I don't remember a course called "Parenting 101" in my high school or college. How about you? We are just expected to know what we're doing as soon as the little one arrives. We are all in for a rude awakening!! Babies can be an enormous challenge!! Try this on for size. When I was a graduate student in psychology my first child came along - how did that happen I thought? My daughter turned out to have fairly severe food allergies and was allergic to every formula on the market. Her pediatrician was at a loss what to do, and my wife was unable to breast feed. Since my wife was also a juvenile diabetic and was unable to stay up half the night caring for the baby, guess who got the job?

On top of all of that, my child's food intolerance stayed severe until about 10 months of age. I was in for a crash course on projectile vomiting, dealing with a screaming baby much of the night, walking the baby all night, etc. And then I was off to class! I was definitely not prepared for this!! It's a miracle I graduated with my degree two years later.

We never know what to expect when our first child comes along. Will he/she be completely normal or present some special challenges? We want to give the child all our love, but at the same time provide the structure and discipline we have been told is so necessary. Finding the right balance for all of this can again be quite a challenge.

First-time parents have a special challenge. The mother is expected to be the perfect parent, the loving mother, the all-knowing, all-seeing expert. And yet, in most cases, we may be completely unprepared for this task. My goodness, where do all of these expectations come from? How do we suddenly transform from a somewhat immature adolescent or young adult to the all-knowing expert? Obviously we don't! We have to do our best, talk to our friends and family, search out good articles on the subject and hope we are doing something right. For concerned parents I suggest that you refer to this excellent resource: CLICK HERE

Quote for the day

It's always good to have a few funny or inspiring thoughts for your day.


Always acknowledge a fault. This will
throw those in authority off their guard
and give you the opportunity to
commit more.

Mark Twain

From the moment I picked up your
book until I laid it down, I was
convulsed with laughter. Someday
I intend reading it.

Groucho Marx

Do what you feel in your heart to be right –
for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be
damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be
fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-
lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path.
You know you will never get to the end of the journey.
But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the
joy and glory of the climb.

Sir Winston Churchill

Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting
a particular way…you become just by performing
just actions, temperate by performing temperate
actions, brave by performing brave actions.

Aristotle

Some national parks have long waiting lists for
camping reservations. When you have to wait a
year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong.

George Carlin

Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime
seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with
self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience
that shall explain and overlook the old.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I cannot think well of a man who sports with
any woman’s feelings, and there may often be
a great deal more suffered than a stander-by
can judge of.

Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

Minds, like bodies, will often fall into a
pimpled, ill- conditioned state from mere
excess of comfort.

Charles Dickens

Now go out there and have a great day!!

ADHD - does your child have it?

ADHD, or attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, is characterized by signs of inappropriate inattention and impulsivity. The three main categories recognized by the American Psychiatric Association are: 1)predominantly inattentive type, 2)predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type, and 3)combined type, which is the most common. With the inattentive type, the problem may not be evident, as the child may be fairly calm and not overactive. But he or she may still have the typical symptoms of short attention span, distractibility and inability to focus on tasks. Thus the child may have the same challenges at school and be unable to function well in that environment. Since children with this problem often go untreated, they may experience failure all through school, even though they may be trying their best. They may simply conclude that they are stupid and unable to learn. A warning sign to the parent is that the child may often seem to be ignoring you, or, to have forgotten what you told them to do only a few minutes before. When you ask them "what did I just tell you to do?" they may sincerely respond "what do you mean?", or, "I guess I didn't hear you".

The second two types are typically quite evident due to the children's tendency to get into trouble on a daily basis. This type of child often acts before thinking, calls out or is often out of his seat, runs around as if "running like a motor", fidgets excessively, and may need nearly constant supervision. These children often are referred for special attention by their teachers as soon as they begin school. The onset of their behavioral symptoms may be much earlier, though (often by 3 years of age). Parents are often uncertain if their child has ADHD. The child may simply be displaying a tendency to be overactive. A good hint here is that the child without ADHD will not have the haphazard and poorly organized quality typical of the child with ADHD.

It is important that we, as parents, take the time to carefully observe our children and see if their behavior falls within the normal range of overactivity, or, may fall into the range of ADHD. If treatment is sought out at an early age, many of the resulting problems of low self-esteem, frequent failure in school, ostracism by the other kids at school, and difficulty making or keeping friends can be minimized. It is thus a good idea to err on the side of caution and speak to your pediatrician about the behavior you have observed. It is often helpful to speak to your child's pre-school teacher, or those working with your child in a daycare setting. Their observations can help you decide if it is time to look into the issue further.

If you desire to get additional information, or, if your child has been diagnosed with ADHD: CLICK HERE

Loneliness can be difficult

Loneliness is defined as "an emotional state in which a person experiences a powerful feeling of emptiness and isolation". One can have a feeling of being cut off, disconnected and alienated from others. The lonely person may find it difficult or impossible to have any form of meaningful human contact.

More commonly, though, we all occasionally experience loneliness. We may feel that we don't have enough friends, we may go though a life change (e.g., a breakup, divorce, job change, or move to a new location) that can result in considerable loneliness until we have found ways to develop a decent support group once again.

Here are some suggestions on dealing with loneliness. First, realize that we all get lonely. It doesn't mean that something is wrong with us. It helps to make a point of calling others, getting together with family or friends, even if they aren't your favorite people. Also, be sure to get involved in local activities, clubs, church, etc. If you are particularly shy, a support group can be a big help. You can check for local activities and groups in your local newspaper or with sources like Craig's List. It is good to take more initiative in striking up conversations with others. Also, it is good to take risks on revealing yourself and saying what's on your mind. There's always a risk of alienating others in this way, but the risk is worth it!

It's important not to allow your loneliness to develop into more significant problems, such as depression. Keep active, take a walk, go play some tennis, whatever! Online chat rooms and contacts can be good up to a point, but there can be some risk here of becoming rather addicted to these websites, so take some care here.

Occasionally it is good to do everything you would normally do if you were with a partner or friend. Go out to eat, to a football game, take in a movie, etc. Take yourself out on a date! Many times it is the activity we are missing just as much as the company.

In this day and age of a success-oriented, hard-pushing society, it is very common to be alone or to feel lonely. It seems to be part of the human condition. Often we are too busy to even realize that we have distanced ourselves from others and that we don't have many, or any, special relationships. Who has the time to develop and nurture close friendships anymore? Sound familiar? If so, or if you just want to learn more on the subject, here is an excellent resource to help you learn to deal
with and solve problems with loneliness: CLICK HERE

Online dating - pros & cons

Online dating definitely has it's pros and cons. It can be full of pitfalls, wrong turns, and disappointments. We are bombarded with TV ads, e-mails, and internet ads touting this dating service or that. Beautiful and sexy women, or, available, virile, handsome men are placed on the ads, giving each of us an unrealistic idea of what's in store for us. We are told that each service has great success and that once you join you will soon find your "soul mate" and live "happily ever after". The TV ads seem especially well done and seductive, and suggest that happiness is a phone call away. Is it any wonder that we may be open to a major disappointment.

As online dating has become extremely common over the past ten years or so, it does have certain advantages over meeting singles in public. First, you can meet / communicate with others from the comfort of your home. You don't have to deal, as much, with the fears and anxieties common with meeting for the first time in public. Also, possible experiences of being ignored, or rejected, or on the other side of the coin, being aggressively pursued by someone you are not interested in, both seem minimized. The internet affords you the benefit of checking things out at your own pace, "testing the waters" as they say, and seeing what feels right to you. You are able to see what other potential partners are looking for, how they express themselves, what their interests are, and so forth. It gives you a great headstart on figuring out if you want to pursue things further.

I think that it's best to provide a lot of candid information about yourself up front. This will allow for a better match and prevent either person from wasting their time pursuing the wrong type of person. State clearly what you are interested in - a long-time relationship, companionship, or simply some fun and excitement. This will make things clear from the start.

If you feel that you have some deeper issues that are preventing you from having a successful relationship, there are many resources to look into. Take a personal inventory and try to get a clearer idea of some of the pitfalls or problems you experienced in your past relationships. This is really a necessary first step in having the opportunity to experience a lasting, rewarding relationship.

Men have some catching up to do in terms of learning to develop lasting and successful relationships. The social pressures to be strong, independent, self-sufficient, etc., can be a bit confusing, when good relationships may require much different personality features (e.g., being understanding, caring, a good listener, etc.). For a good resource for finding more success in relationships: CLICK HERE.

Laughter is good for us

On the lighter side, here's a few humorous/ inspirational thoughts for the day:

Misery comes free.
Joy, fun and laughter
take planning.

C.W. Metcalf


Since I came to the White House,
I got two hearing aids, a colon operation,
skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I
was shot. The damn thing is I've never
felt better in my life.

Ronald Reagan


At my age it's nice to have birthday
parties. All my friends can stand
around the cake and keep warm.

George Burns, at age 90


No pessimist ever discovered
the secrets of the stars, or
sailed to an uncharted land,
or opened a new Heaven to
the human spirit.

Helen Keller


Note: For those interested in a personal journey to self-growth, self-improvement, and self-esteem, check out this resource:
CLICK
HERE:

An international leader in inspirational and self-help publishing, Hay House, is a terrific resource for quality books, self-help training, conferences, etc. Be sure to check them out. CLICK BELOW:

Stress - deal with it or do away with it?

Stress and stress-related disorders are one of the most common problems in our society. Is this any wonder, considering the state of our economy, the meltdown on wall street, the recent loss of people's jobs, homes, and worse, maybe even of hope. The level of fear, uncertainty, and pessimism may be at an all-time high. It is estimated that 5-10 million people in the U.S. suffer from moderate to severe anxiety and anxiety-related disorders (e.g., anxiety attacks, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, phobic disorders). It is difficult to imagine what that number likely is for milder forms of anxiety under the present circumstances. And even milder forms can result in a myriad of symptoms (e.g., loss of sleep, apprehension, inability to relax, racing heart, rumination, fatigue, and many others). The negative affect that these symptoms can have on our job functioning, relationships, and overall happiness is nearly impossible to imagine.

Experts in the field often suggest that we should make stress work for us, since it is impossible to live a stress-free life. Nearly everyone is worried about providing for their families, keeping food on the table, paying for the mortgage and the high price of gas. And this has now been complicated by the recent financial crisis that our country is currently in. Likely no one is all that confident that they will still have a job in the next several months. Who knows what to expect next? This is definitely going to be trying times for all of us.

Therefore I decided to start a blog on living life in a healthy manner, coping with the stress of our times, and finding ways to reduce or eliminate our psychological stress, worries and depression. I thus hope to provide a helpful service to my fellow citizens and do some marketing at the same time. I have recently come across a very interesting resource for the elimination of moderate to severe anxiety and panic attacks. For anyone suffering from these issues, please refer to this resource:

Click Here!