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.

THE BATTERED REPUBLICAN SYNDROME, by Art Smukler, author & psychiatrist

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

The “Battered Wife Syndrome” is a term exemplifying how women are afraid to stand up to their bullying, battering husbands. It is another form of PTSD that is exemplified by the abuser having complete control over the “helpless” woman. Then, the remarkable happens. The pathetic, weak woman turns the tables and doesn’t allow herself to be abused anymore. Finally, the abuser is exposed as the pathetic, weak manipulator he always was.

Why do so many Republicans keep supporting Trump? They say they believe in his politics, his stance on Israel, his immigration policies, free market strategy, the great way the stock market is doing, how he speaks his mind etc. All may or may not be true, but one thing is absolutely very true. THE ONLY THING TRUMP CARES ABOUT IS TRUMP! HE IS THE LEAST PRESIDENTIAL MAN EVER TO HAVE HELD THIS OFFICE. When he is compared to Hitler, it resonates.

Like the battered wife, Republicans fear Trump will retaliate. He’ll take away your votes, your support, call you names, and devalue you.  Like the battered wife, you believe you need him and have kowtowed to him. You let him lie to all of us. You let him devalue our allies. You even let him kiss Putin’s ring. Some independent thinkers call Trump’s behavior treasonous. What do you call a man who attacks his own country and supports a Russian leader who attacks our elections, poisons former Russian spies, and supports despots like Assad? Shouldn’t you call this man a treasonous man? Isn’t this man fully deserving of Impeachment?

Republicans are battered and traumatized. They have allowed lies to permeate the fabric of America. Now is the time to stand up and support our country. You don’t need a bully to support you. You need the courage to support your own values, AND lawfully protect us all from the man who is threatening our very existence.

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, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.

MY FANTASY IS ALL ABOUT HARLEY DAVIDSON, by Art Smukler MD, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry

I have a lot of fantasies. How is it possible to be a psychiatrist and not live with millions of them circulating amongst the billions of neurons that run my brain? It’s not possible. So, here’s my latest.

The president of the United States is threatening Harley with major taxes and sanctions because they won’t do what he says. I mean Geez, why wouldn’t everyone do whatever one of the greatest narcissists of all time says? A real stumper. But, being the brilliant psychiatrist and author that I am, I have the answer. My wife of many decades disagrees with the brilliant adjective, but she’s only one in a billion. So to prove her wrong, I need a billion readers to agree with me. Well, maybe just a million.

Back to business!

Imagine this. Instead of going to Sturgis, South Dakota, thousands of Harley guys and gals on big Hogs, Sportsters and Softails ride to DC and show Mr. Narcissist what they really think of him. I can hear the roar and picture all the fabulous tattoos and girls wearing helmets and bikinis. In the background, Bob Dylan is bellowing out a new folk tune screaming all about freedom and decency.

I’m there too, smoking a pipe and getting another wear out of my black cardigan sweater. Not really. My daughter convinced me to stop smoking over thirty years ago and I don’t own a black cardigan. But, I’ll be right there with the Harley leaders on my silver Softail and revving my engine. Not really… I will be watching it on TV and wishing. I’m actually afraid of being fatally maimed on the streets of LA.

Wait. To prove everything is not a total fantasy, I did have a cycle many years ago — a Honda 350. See, I am somewhat cool.

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, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.