Discussing self-esteem, addictions, procrastination, obesity, and more.

What Are You Telling Yourself? (Part I)

I sat down with Johnny Strike, author, musician, former counselor, and founding member of San Francisco's earliest punk band Crime. He conducted a wide-ranging, in-depth interview with me in which we discussed self-esteem, addictions, procrastination, obesity, psychoanalysis, Albert Ellis, REBT/CBT, and more. I wish to share the results with my readers.

Panic attacks are deeply rooted in our thinking.

Do you recognize these symptoms: a pounding heart, legs feeling weak and trembling, a tight throat, light-headedness, and fears of a heart attack or going crazy? While simultaneously you hate yourself for foolishly worrying about these feelings which your physician assured you were "nothing?" This is the hallmark of panic attacks.

Three Minute Refutations (TMR) involve a powerful exercise for changing your addictive thinking.

While the Three Minute Exercise (in my book, Three Minute TherapyThree Minute Therapy see pp. 9,18, 32, 40, etc.) helps you dispute your demands--your "musts" and "shoulds"--Three Minute Refutations targets your rationalizations or excuses, which arise from your demands. (Also available at www.ThreeMinuteTherapy.com)

Endogenous depression is better understood and treated as Secondary Disturbance.

Do you get upset about being upset? Do you feel: guilty about getting angry at a loved one, anxious about being embarrassed in front of an audience, depressed about experiencing ever-increasing panic attacks or having life-long depression? If so, you have experienced secondary disturbance.