“A child was badly injured on Wednesday night in what police say was a drive-by shooting in Longmont. It happened in a mobile home park in the southern part of Colorado City, and so far, no one has been arrested.” “Recent random and reckless acts of violence in the streets of downtown Denver are raising some concern for residents.” “There have been at least 627 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year. Mass shootings are defined as an incident in which four or more victims are shot or killed, according to the Gun Violence Archive.” Mass shootings across the United States occur because anyon ..read more

It is essential to distinguish two types of illness from each other. Most of us will occasionally get a virus or a different infection. However, these pass, and we continue our lives as before. Then, there is the type of illness characterized by permanent disability. It is a permanent disability that is very damaging both physically and emotionally. The human spirit craves autonomy, so we have an innate desire to control our lives. We want to be the ones making decisions that affect our future and shaping our destiny. In this context, autonomy refers to acting and making choices independently ..read more

We hear the musical sounds and See the Lights of the Holiday Season. Hanukkah: “I Have a Little Dreydl, Ma Navu, Hatikva Christmas: Jingle Bells, Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”  Yes, it’s that time in December when people get ready to celebrate Hanukah and Christmas. Logic says it’s a joyous time of year, but that does not apply to everyone.  Social, political, economic, and international factors affect the holidays this year, making them more challenging.  The economic challenges of inflation, low salaries, and unemployment have made the holiday season more ..read more

  Shakespeare’s works often explore the theme of friendship in depth, highlighting its importance and complexity. In his plays and sonnets, he portrays friendship as a powerful bond that can bring joy, comfort, and support but can also lead to betrayal and heartbreak. In “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the friendship between Hermia and Helena is tested when they fall in love with the same man. Despite their conflict, they eventually reconcile, demonstrating that genuine friendship can withstand trials and misunderstandings. In “The Merchant of Venice,” the friendship between Antonio and Bas ..read more

Jim Croce, Time in a Bottle.   “If I could save time in a bottle The first thing that I’d like to do Is to save every day till eternity passes away Just to spend them with you If I could make days last forever If words could make wishes come true I’d save every day like a treasure and then Again, I would spend them with you But there never seems to be enough time To do the things you want to do once you find them I’ve looked around enough to know That you’re the one I want to go through time with If I had a box just for wishes And dreams that had never come true The box would be empty, e ..read more

If you are interested in psychotherapy I am available through either Better Help or my email address: https://www.betterhelp.com/cref/9946800209f33bce8ba0dd67bf724ce5 dransphd@aol.com The post Psychotherapy appeared first on DocTalk, Explorations in Psychotherapy ..read more

Earbuds, a wonderful invention?   Remember this song from the brilliant movie Midnight Cowboy with John Voight (Joe Buck) and Dustin Hoffman (Ratso Rizzo)? “Everybody’s talkin’ at me I don’t hear a word they’re sayin’ Only the echoes of my mind People stoppin’, starin’ I can’t see their faces Only the shadows of their eyes.” Just recently, I was walking and passing a neighbor on the street. I greeted her and asked how she and her husband were doing. She smiled sweetly and walked past me. Looking back, I realized she was wearing her earbuds and listening to something on her mobile phone ..read more

Fleetwood Mac There is a lot of meaning in the lyrics of the song Landslide: “Can the child within my heart rise above” Can I sail through the changing’ ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life? Well, I’ve been afraid of changin’ ‘Cause I’ve built my life around you But time makes you bolder Even children get older And I’m getting older too Well, I’ve been afraid of changin’ ‘Cause I’ve built my life around you.” “Landslide” is about time passing. Whether it be the hesitation to let go of a familiar past, losing youthful innocence, a feeling that time is eroding, or the longing fo ..read more

  “Love, friendship, and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something.” Anton Chekhov “Hatred does not cease by hatred but only by love; this is the eternal rule.” Buddha “Every human being is equal in the eyes of God.” “He who saves one life saves the entire world.” ” ‘Never again’ is the rallying cry for all who believe that mankind must speak out against genocide.” Jon Corzine There is an excellent book written by psychiatrist psychoanalyst Richard Gaylin entitled “Hatred.” Gaylin delves deep into the origins and manifestations of hatred, examining its psycholo ..read more

Grumpy and Grouchy, Sulky and bad-tempered I’m always grumpy in the morning and irritable, cross, grumbling, crabby, edgy, petulant, cantankerous, testy, grouchy, peevish, crotchety, and cranky.  These are just a few words to describe an annoyed and irritable feeling. If you have ever had the experience of being at a dinner, a visit with a family, or at a get-together, and someone keeps talking without stopping, you understand feeling irritable. You feel trapped. You dare not say anything for fear of seeming rude or unfriendly. I have been in that situation, and many others hav ..read more