2022 · 19. May 2022
My last column suggested that self-criticism, avoidance, routine worrying, not exercising, and routinely discounting the positives in one’s life are great ways of being unhappy. Here are a few more tips on how to be as unhappy as possible.
2022 · 05. May 2022
Articles doling out happiness tips are ten-a-penny and people often gloss over them, so let’s try a different approach – the first of two columns offering suggestions on how to be unhappy.
2022 · 21. April 2022
Worry shows I care, it’s irresponsible not to worry, worry prevents bad things from happening, worry motivates me, worry protects me from negative emotions - do you have positive beliefs about worry? Answering some of the questions in this piece will help you find out.
2022 · 07. April 2022
One reason why worriers worry is because they have positive beliefs about worry, not least the unhelpful and untrue notion that worry is a positive personality trait, that worry shows you care and are a good person. If you really believe this, then you’re never going to kick the worry habit, because not worrying will leave you feeling uneasy and guilty. Let's take a closer look at the difference between worrying and caring.
2022 · 24. March 2022
I never thought I would be talking about Vladimir Putin to make a point about mental health but, well, here we are. In this piece, I talk about how Putin blundered by buying into his own propaganda about Ukraine and how all of us should heed the message of CBT and learn to question our thoughts and beliefs.
2022 · 10. March 2022
We tend to slow down as we get older, but is there a danger that many of us slow down too much? Here’s a story about a retired man I met on holidays last year; a story which captures, I hope, the importance of staying active and hungry as you get older.
2022 · 24. February 2022
Can you think yourself young? That was the title of a recent Guardian article exploring research into positive attitudes to ageing. A positive attitude, the author suggested, can lead to a longer and healthier life, while negative beliefs can be very detrimental indeed.
Is there hard evidence for such a claim, or is this happy-clappy nonsense? My latest column examines the research and talks about the importance of maintaining a sense of purpose and confidence as you get older.
2022 · 10. February 2022
Tennis star Naomi Osaka has battled depression and anxiety in recent years. Now, she's aiming to give up her perfectionist ways and develop the 'greatest attitude ever'.
2022 · 27. January 2022
We often talk about how we 'have to' do certain things, as if we have no choice. However, the late psychotherapist Sheldon Kopp once said that you are free to do whatever you want; you need only face the consequences. My latest column discusses what Kopp meant and suggests we are more free than we think.
2022 · 13. January 2022
When you’re feeling down, you may feel too tired or listless to do things that might lift your mood. How can you break out of the inactivity trap that is at the heart of depression?