People come by their anxiety honestly. They’re not irrational or self-destructive. But the reasons for their anxiety are usually opaque to them until they can develop a relationship with a therapist who can help them understand the causes of their suffering.

Many people I’ve talked to feel that they’re missing a larger sense of purpose in their lives. Being good at their jobs, and getting recognition for their work, hasn’t been enough to sustain them through these difficult times. They want to feel that they’re making a contribution to the world and not just to their company’s bottom line.

We’re in a time of tremendous uncertainty. I doubt our uncertainties will be resolved any time soon. So, I think people need to continue to try to identify what they’d like to do and who they’d like to be while taking into account that things still feel a little precarious right now. It’s really an issue of striking a balance between urgency and patience.

If patients can have a relationship with me that makes them feel understood, taken seriously, and cared for, that experience can be the gateway to being able to find their life path and to set out on it with confidence. It’s a complicated process, and it’s not linear, but, in the end, it can provide a firm foundation for having a life of meaning and purpose.

Vaccines are available and the world has opened again. For some, a decrease in their depression occurred, while others feel worse. It’s clear that depression takes two different forms, one that fuels resilience and one that has quite the opposite effect.

Treating chronic anxiety involves two things: 1) addressing the symptoms of anxiety--worry, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, etc.--that are disrupting a person’s life and 2) addressing what anxiety means to the person who’s experiencing it.

Jane Rubin, Ph.D., talks about why Nguyen’s advice, while helpful for some people, may not be enough to help everyone feel confident about making life decisions their families oppose.

At long last, we seem to be turning the corner on COVID. Millions of people are being vaccinated every day. The CDC now advises that people who have been fully vaccinated can meet with each other indoors and without masks. So, there is great cause for hope.

The last year has been challenging for all of us as we continue to confront the realities of a global pandemic. Hope is beginning to appear just around the corner with the rollout of vaccines. Yet, many people are experiencing heightened anxiety symptoms during this time of transition.

A major crisis is often a challenge to our sense of purpose. In this sense, the COVID pandemic is no different from many other crises we’ve faced as individuals and as a country. Jane Rubin, Ph.D., talks about how people are struggling with finding a sense of purpose during the pandemic.

COVID-19 has disrupted our lives in countless ways. All of us have experienced difficulties coping with the many disruptions we’ve experienced. But these disruptions have been especially difficult for people who suffer from clinical depression and COVID restrictions.

Rising COVID rates, the election, wildfires, the economy-- all of them have been causing us stress and anxiety in the last nine months. This is on top of the stress and anxiety of working from home while homeschooling children, being an essential worker who has to go to work in a hospital or grocery store, or being laid off. If you’re struggling with anxiety during this anxious time,…

In a recent podcast, Michelle Obama acknowledged that COVID-19, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America, have left her feeling depressed at times. Many people seemed to take comfort in the fact that a woman who always seems so on top of her life was struggling with the same feelings they are.

It might seem counter-intuitive to think that you could discover your life’s purpose during a global pandemic. However, a crisis can sometimes open up possibilities that didn’t exist before. It can also help us to clarify what really matters to us. Jane Rubin, Ph.D., has more insight on finding your purpose even during a pandemic.

Many people who aren’t ordinarily depressed are having low periods during this pandemic. If you’re one of them, you may be asking yourself if you’re depressed. Jane Rubin, Ph.D., talks about how to determine whether what you’re experiencing is depression or an expectable reaction to living in unsettled times.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is making many people more anxious than usual. What are some effective strategies for dealing with these increased levels of anxiety? Jane Rubin, Ph.D. has some suggestions.

Finding your purpose in life can be challenging in the best of times. I’m writing this post as the Bay Area enters its second week of sheltering in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. Does it even make sense to even be thinking about finding your purpose in these difficult times?

Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish between feelings like sadness or loneliness and depression. If you’re feeling down but don’t know if you’re depressed, Dr. Jane Rubin has some ideas about how to tell the difference.

When we think about anxiety disorders, we usually think about how they affect the individuals who suffer from them. We don’t think as much about how they affect those peoples’ relationships. Jane Rubin, Ph.D., has some insights about the impact anxiety can have on relationships-- in particular, through the phenomenon known as “mind-reading.”

Are you struggling with finding your purpose and understanding your place in the world? Jane Rubin, Ph.D., says that finding your purpose in life is a lot like finding a relationship. Here’s how.

It’s not uncommon to feel “stuck” in your life. Maybe you’re unsure which way to go in your career or your personal life isn’t what you’d like it to be. Most people who feel stuck aren’t suffering from clinical depression, but some are. Dr. Jane Rubin talks about two kinds of clinical depression and how therapy can help you find relief from them.

We rarely think of self-doubt as a symptom of anxiety. However, for many people, it’s one of the most troubling symptoms they experience. Dr. Jane Rubin explains how anxiety can often fuel self-doubt.

There can be several obstacles that get in the way of finding your life’s purpose. One of those is being fixated on a specific idea or outcome. Dr. Jan Rubin, Ph.D., helps us to better understand this barrier to finding your life’s purpose, and what to do about it.

Many people who suffer from anxiety symptoms feel bad about themselves because they feel bad about being anxious. In this way, anxiety can be a source of low self-esteem. However, we rarely think about the opposite situation, in which low self-esteem can cause anxiety symptoms.

Do you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall when it comes to finding your purpose in life? Dr. Jane Rubin has some thoughts about what could be preventing you from finding your purpose.

Many of us feel hopeless from time to time. But if hopelessness feels like your constant companion, you may be depressed. We’re talking with Dr. Jane Rubin about depression and hopelessness, and how to get help if you’re struggling.

People who are experiencing a lot of anxiety are often preoccupied whether they have an anxiety disorder. The answer to that question is often more complicated than people expect it to be. We’re talking with Dr. Jane Rubin about how to approach the question of whether you have an anxiety disorder.

Are you struggling with finding your purpose in life? If you feel you always need to put other people’s needs ahead of your own, you may have trouble finding what you want in life.

We asked Dr. Jane Rubin about this issue and how you can get help.