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.

HOW MANY ROADS MUST A MAN TRAVEL DOWN BEFORE HE’S DEEMED A TRAITOR? by Art Smukler, MD

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry

Bob Dylan has always been one of my favorite singers, writers, and poets. He has a way of describing life that is unique and at the same time entertaining. His words once again strike me as a wake up call, a creative way to help bring clarity to what is clearly right in front of us.

It’s hard to believe that I actually retired from practicing psychiatry over four years ago, but I did. That didn’t mean that I retired from thinking and observing the human condition. It meant that I was free to wake up in the morning when I wanted to, read when and where the urge struck, write when the muse hit, talk to friends in the middle of the day, and just hang out wherever and whenever. It’s been great and I love it.

What I don’t love is the way that a former President, Trump, gets to flaunt the law and agitate followers who still think he’s a “great man”. This gets me to the crux of my blog. Does Trump actually have the right to preach that Putin is a great and brilliant man? I think of it as very similar to anyone who would praise Hitler and other leaders of the Axis Powers during WW11. When I think about it, any of us can say whatever we want, but we have no leverage or sway over hardly anyone. Our words are wisps in the wind. Trump’s words carry with them leverage to cause an insurrection. He loves power. Loves dictators. Loves to prove that he is above the law.

Yes, we have to adhere to due process. Yes, we have to respect our rights to free speech. But when does a man who influences 40 million sycophants get stopped? When does Biden and our elected officials say enough is enough?

When does President Biden stand up in front of 170 million Americans and blatantly call this twisted monster out? I know. There’s no psychiatric diagnosis for Twisted Monster, but it’s my blog and I just hope that someone who has political leverage can help our flailing democracy.

If you enjoyed this post, check out CHASING BACKWARDS, SKIN DANCE, and THE MAN WITH A MICROPHONE IN HIS EAR. Http://artsmuklermd.com

HEY JOE, SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA DO THE RIGHT THING EVEN WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ATTACK YOU, by Art Smukler MD, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry

After spending my professional life searching with my patients for the truth and how to deal with issues that have impaired their lives, I am so frustrated that millions of people continue to think that Trump is okay and that lying is okay. The fact that so many of them continue to support a thief and a liar horrifies me. 

There are many reasons why democrats want to work together with their republican counterparts but sometimes you gotta just do what’s best.

Gun control!

The filibuster! 

Clean air!

On and on!

Republicans won’t change. It didn’t help that Obama was trying to be reasonable and they just stonewalled him. It won’t help you.

Mr. President, stop including them!

Use the slight advantage in the Senate and make our country a safer place to live. 

They lie. They obstruct . They call names. So what? Do the right thing. Screw politics. Protect our children and us.

If you enjoyed reading, Inside the Mind of a Psychiatrist, you might also enjoy Dr. Smukler’s novels – Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, andThe Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.