Hi everyone,

I’m back again and dedicated to the proposition of helping people have better relationships! Thanks for checking in here, and I truly hope you will take part in the conversations here — what do YOU want to know? What do YOU want US to know?

One thing I want to know is … obviously I am a therapist, and also I am single. I can’t tell you how many people tell me, once they learn what I do, that they would never date a therapist!! I want to know why that would be? What would be the pros and cons? Does it really matter?

My attitude about being a therapist when it comes to my private life is, I would never try to fix anyone or offer advice unless I was asked to. I would think that presumptuous of me. I much prefer putting my friendship hat on and just listening, commenting, and hopefully, laughing. Still, what fascinates me is how many tell me they would never even give me or any other therapist that much of a chance for fear that I am sitting around analyzing them, and they don’t want that. Perhaps people also would be fearful of dating a psychic??

Are there any other professions you would steer clear of?? Please enlighten me …

Hello everyone!!

Welcome to 2008. I am wondering, what are your new Year’s Resolutions … and how are they going?

As for me, I don’t make them. For me, it works better to strive every day to be the best I can be, and if I fall backwards, I just get up and l take a step forward again. I definitely would never say, “Well, it’s February and I haven’t worked on that goal to lose weight, so now I’ll blow it off until next January.” It doesn’t matter what day or time of the year it is, I’m always going to strive to be physically, spiritually, and mentally healthy.

I do use the new year to reflect on and take stock of goals, however. I may make a list of professional goals, personal goals (get out more — meet more people!). I just set my intention to do work toward whatever it is, and then I do it. To me, part of healthy mental health involves self monitoring about what is working and isn’t working in my life, and making adjustments. If I’m tired, I pull back on unnecessary things I’ve taken on and exercise more so I’ll feel more invigorated. If I’m feeling stressed, I may add a daily meditation to my routine rather than doing it only every week or so.

I look forward to reading what you have to say about how you manage your own life, goals, and health.

We all hate being dumped by a romantic interest, and the reason we hate it is that there is pain involved, at least for awhile.

Years ago I noted that some periods of grief I experienced after a relationship ended lasted only a month or two, while other times it lasted six months, a year, or more. One thing that was always true, however, was that during the time I was grieving I thought a great remedy would be to meet someone else, but would always find that I was totally worthless when it came to connecting with potential partners, no matter how promising the person wooing me was. In the end, I came to understand that I had no business going out with anyone while in such a state.

So, in January 1997 I was trying to grasp and understand all of this, and decided to interview an expert who understood the process, Michael Berler, Ph.D., a San Antonio psychologist. Looking back, what Berler said still has great value.

He explained that the reason the pain lasts for different periods of time has to do with the length of the relationship and how serious it was. The type of relationship that ends and leaves light bruises causes the phenomenon of heartache, and when you feel as if you were run over by a bus, it’s  called heartbreak.

“Heartache is a milder form of heartbreak, and (that) usually means you’re mildly deflated,” says Berler.

Mildly deflated, but hurting just the same. Berler explained that the average person recovers from heartache within about 30 days, but that a long-term or extremely intense relationship will knock a person down for a much longer time.

“A person can be extremely dysfunctional for one year to 18 months afterward, and it can take two years to recuperate fully,” he says. “There is an acute phase of heartbreak, and then there is a chronic stage that you manage. But there’s a part of me that says you never get over it.”

Don’t remind me. Still, this is why Berler recommends that individuals stay away from dating people who are recovering from something like this … the motivation is to avoid becoming a heartache casualty yourself. So if you don’t want to get hurt, don’t date someone who is.

“The person in the throes of heartbreak is probably obsessive about the past relationship, and one’s ability to connect with someone is temporarily diminished,” he says. “There’s a tendency to become self-absorbed. They become less supportive, less able to be a friend, a mother or a father.”

Oh great. But Berler assures us that the fact that the person is mourning, grieving, and thinking about himself most of the time is a good thing.

“A lack of an emotional response would be worrisome,” he says. “The misery reflects something healthy. If you didn’t have that, you’d either be in massive denial or you couldn’t have those feelings.”
 
So when is it safe to step back into the dating ring with someone who recently got dumped? And more importantly, if you’re the one who is in recovery, when is it safe to say you’re over it so you can present yourself back into the dating arena?

“You’re over it when your thinking is not as obsessional and intense, and when your anger and sadness are more tolerable,” says Berler. “It’s when your negative thoughts become more manageable. Also, the need for attachment is a healthy sign.”

And as far as when is it safe to date the dating wounded, my answer is – for the heartachers I’d give it a couple of months, but for the heartbreakers it’s best to wait a year, and even then, I’d stand by as a friend all the way and allow the person to take the lead as far as romance goes. You’ll know when the coast is clearing because all of a sudden he won’t talk about it as much, and when he smiles you’ll see all of his teeth, instead of some of his teeth.

So, for those of you in recovery, when is it safe to reemerge into the dating world? The answer is, when you think you can date and not superimpose your former love’s face on top of your date’s face, and keep focused on what she’s saying instead of what your former girlfriend once told you, you may be ready. With any luck, it’ll be sooner than later, but the good news is, that day will come.