Author: artsmuklermd

Art Smukler, MD was born and raised in Philadelphia, went to college and medical school in Pennsylvania, and completed his psychiatric training at UCLA. He is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in the treatment of adults with a subspecialty in adolescents. As a member of the UCLA faculty, he ran an award-winning psychotherapy conference for psychiatric residents and received the coveted “Golden Ear” award. He has published in psychiatric journals, and won the award for excellence in creative writing at The Santa Barbara Writers Conference. Now a full-time author, he applies his deep understanding of the human psyche to the motivations of his fictional characters.

WHY DID IT TAKE A BEHEADING TO FINALLY GET OUR PRESIDENT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY EVIL? by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry, Self Examination, World events, a psychological view

ISIS (The terrorist Islamic state) finally got our government’s attention. Their blatant, vicious beheading of journalist James Foley was so in our face that no one could ignore for one more second what is happening in northern Iraq and Syria, and in fact all over the Middle East.

Just like President Obama, most of us are reasonable people and feel that everyone should be treated fairly and their beliefs respected. That idea of fairness is flawed when one is dealing with Islamic terrorists. Nothing they say or do can or should be believed. Their goal is to destroy anyone and everyone who doesn’t conform to their ancient cancerous ideas.

It’s no wonder that we suspect and fear the motives of all believers of Islam. Why did it take so long for the president of Indonesia to say publicly that these terrorists bring shame to all sincere, caring Muslim believers and that Islamic leaders should unite in attacking extremism? Why haven’t these leaders done something?

Why aren’t millions of “good” Muslims speaking out against the twisted “evil” Muslims? Why aren’t the millions of american Muslims marching with american flags in anger and horror at what is going on in the Middle East and supporting freedom and women’s rights? Is their silence affirmation and tacit agreement with the terrorists?

Fear? Reprisal? Insecurity?

Maybe. But at some point, a people must stand up for what they believe in. Just like in the sixties when activists marched for the rights of blacks in this country, why aren’t Muslims marching in support of american values and against Islamic terrorist values?

Finally, our president is doing what needs to be done. Terrorists must be stopped. We are at war for our very existence. Another Hitler has emerged and someone has to stop him.

Why should a psychiatrist have any special insight into the mind of a terrorist? I deal with people who are motivated to look into themselves on a daily basis. Who better to have an opinion regarding people who have no interest in examining themselves and are determined to kill people who don’t agree with them…

Art Smukler is an award-winning psychiatrist and author of Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.

SHOULD ALL PSYCHIATRISTS CARRY GUNS? by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry, World events, a psychological view

“Yo Dumplin. I’m home,” I called, swaggering into our ranch house. I swaggered because my sidearm, a Colt 45, weighed heavy on my right hip and made me walk funny.

“My hero,” Dumplin said, smiling, and dressed in a black bustier and long white skirt. “100,000 followers tweeted that you brought down another paranoid psychotic who would have killed dozens if you hadn’t taken brave and immediate action.”

“Aw shucks, sweetie. It was just in a days work. If the ACLU hadn’t called me a psychiatric Neanderthal and sued me and the hospitals hadn’t released my patient after 24 hours I wouldn’t be a hero. It was just dumb luck. Timing is everything.”

“You are so brave. I made your favorite vittles, spaghetti in a light, Bolognese sauce and a glass of 2007 Pinot Noir.”

Actually none of this is really funny.

The Community Mental Health system, which was started in the sixties, only succeeded in closing our state hospitals and filling our streets with untreated schizophrenics, bipolar disorders and paranoid disorders. Most are peace abiding but there are a percentage who are obviously dangerous.

What just happened at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital in Philadelphia is horrifying. A man with a history of violence shot his social worker in the head, killing her, and wounded his psychiatrist, Dr. Lee Silverman. Dr. Silverman was able to use his own weapon and wound the assailant, who was then disarmed by colleagues.

When questioned, the police chief said that, “without a doubt, I believe the doctor saved lives.”

So; should mental health professionals start packing?

Most of the time, no. The chances of us shooting ourselves is a lot higher than hitting an assailant.

On the other hand, if one works with dangerous felons, that’s a different story. Maybe small arms training isn’t such a bad idea. Dr. Silverman made the correct and courageous decision, saving his own life and the lives of his colleagues.

I’m just waiting for the hospital, the ACLU or the assailant’s family to sue Dr. Silverman because he broke hospital protocol and carried a weapon. Sometimes I have a lot of trouble figuring out who’s crazier, the patients’ we’re trying to help or the people trying to protect these same patients from our ministrations…

Art Smukler is an award-winning psychiatrist and author of Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.