Author Archives: artsmuklermd

About artsmuklermd

I'm an author and a board certified psychiatrist. My blog takes you INSIDE THE MIND OF A PSYCHIATRIST. SKIN DANCE, a mystery, takes you inside the mind of a 41-year-old LA psychiatrist who must use all his psychological skills to thwart a murderous stalker. CHASING BACKWARDS, a psychological murder mystery, takes you inside the mind of a first year medical student who is running for his life. THE MAN WITH A MICROPHONE IN HIS EAR, takes you inside the mind of a 1st year psychiatric resident who is assigned to treat a violent, paranoid man.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO SOLVE AN UNSOLVABLE GRUDGE? by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

A grudge is defined as a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury. 1400 years ago, after Mohammed died, the Caliphate was passed to Abu Bakr, one of Mohammed’s closest companions, rather than … Continue reading

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Posted in Psychiatry, Self Examination, World events, a psychological view | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

HOW CORE VALUES CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE, by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

Recently, two things happened that made me rethink the state of my own values. First the bad news. A new patient left me a message that he didn’t want to see me anymore because I was too judgmental. Me judgmental? … Continue reading

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Posted in Psychiatry, Self Examination, World events, a psychological view | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

WHY DO MEN REALLY GO TO STRIP BARS? by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

I’m talking about the regulars, the guys who get hooked and blow hundreds and hundreds and maybe thousands of dollars. It might start off innocently enough. A group of guys go out for a night of bonding and laughs and … Continue reading

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Posted in CHASING BACKWARDS, a psychological murder mystery, Psychiatry, Self Examination, Skin Dance, a mystery, The Man with a Microphone in his Ear, World events, a psychological view, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

WHY HATE FRANK SINATRA? By Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

I just finished reading an article, Remembering Michael Kelly, by Bret Stephens, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal. Michael Kelly was a grown-up version of Holden Caulfield, a man who despised phonies, but unlike Holden, he was courageous enough … Continue reading

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Posted in Psychiatry, Raising Children, Self Examination, World events, a psychological view, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO GET REVENGE? by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

Sally, an attractive, 50-year-old woman, entered treatment with the symptoms of depression, feeling trapped, a racing heart, tingling in her lips and hands, hyperventilation and a sense of impending doom. The symptoms started 15 years previously after her car turned … Continue reading

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Posted in Childhood Trauma, Psychiatry, Self Examination, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

BACK STORY — THE ENGINE OF THE UNCONSCIOUS, By Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

Remember how tasty and comforting it was to be breast fed? How you fought and yelled when you had to stop pooping in your diaper and had to use the potty? You don’t remember? No worries. 99.99 percent of us … Continue reading

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Posted in CHASING BACKWARDS, a psychological murder mystery, Childhood Trauma, Psychiatry, Raising Children, Self Examination, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE? HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT FANTASY? by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

He was dressed in a black tux and she wore a strapless white gown. Hesitantly, he raised her veil and gazed into her dark brown eyes. She gazed back and sighed deeply. The minister said with a smile, “You may … Continue reading

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Posted in CHASING BACKWARDS, a psychological murder mystery, Psychiatry, Self Examination, Skin Dance, a mystery, The Man with a Microphone in his Ear, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDERS — AN APOLOGY, by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

My last post on Borderline Personality Disorders provoked a great number of both positive and negative responses. I chose to not publish the negative responses for a number of reasons. One reason was that many of them were downright abusive, … Continue reading

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BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDERS CAN BE WONDERFUL…OR NOT, by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

People with Borderline Personality Disorders (BPD) are difficult – difficult to live with, difficult to get along with, and difficult to treat. Symptoms can include a history of unstable relationships, a fear of abandonment, impulsivity, suicidal or self-mutilating behavior, mood … Continue reading

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Posted in Bullying, Psychiatry, Self Examination, Skin Dance, a mystery, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

THE MIND AS AN INSTRUMENT, by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

The mind can be played with the subtly and grace of a Stradivarius violin or as bullishly and aggressively as a bass drum. Listening to the voices from our unconscious is not an easy task. It means taking time to … Continue reading

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Posted in Psychiatry, Self Examination, Skin Dance, a mystery, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments