Dear Dr. Buckingham, My fiancée has issues with anxiety and I am not sure if I can cope with her issue for a lifetime. She is always anxious and her moodiness is driving me crazy. Whenever she feels overwhelmed, she shuts down and becomes unproductive. I asked her if we could start planning our wedding and she stated, “I got too much going on right now.” I am not sure what … [Read more...]
Hoodwinked? This Premarital Lie Could Destroy Their Marriage
Dear Dr. Buckingham, I dated a guy for two years and then he asked me to marry him. Everything was fine until a month after we were married; the sex stopped; he stopped wanting to do things with me; he stopped wanting to go places and fell into depression. It took a year and a half before I was able to figure out why. He was molested as a child and I was not informed of … [Read more...]
4 Ways to Restore Intimacy After a Life Changing Diagnosis
Couples often unconsciously sacrifice intimacy as they struggle with juggling careers, kids, and finances. The daily stress caused by these challenges slowly begins to decrease the passion, spontaneity, and romance in their relationships; which ultimately create small intimacy road blocks. If these road blocks go unchecked, over time, they turn into full blown intimacy … [Read more...]
5 Family Lessons Fox’s ‘Empire’ is Teaching Us
I've been #TeamEmpire ever since I saw the preview trailer. Anything with Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard is worth my attention. Confession session: After watching the first 2 episodes, I thought Empire was a bit corny. However, the storyline continued to draw me in every Wednesday and now I officially need my Empire "fix" every week. Of course I'm tuning in to be … [Read more...]
For Brown Girls, Karyn Washington Commits Suicide: Yes, Black People Suffer Depression Too
Last week, I joined thousands of people in shock, sadness and devastation as we learned about the passing of Karyn Washington, creator of For Brown Girls and the #DarkSkinRedLip project. Her mission was to encourage, empower and uplift women of color to recognize the beauty in darker skin, exchange dialogue regarding experiences, and discover ways to get rid of insecurities. … [Read more...]
Parents, Please Pay Attention to Your Children and Don’t Be Afraid to Take Action
I am sickened, saddened and grieving for and with the families who lost their loved ones in Newtown, CT. However after the sadness, for me, has come anger and confusion. I cannot imagine getting my 6 year old ready for school that morning, preparing breakfast and dropping her off and heading to work only to get a call like the one the parents in Newtown received. My heart just … [Read more...]
In Sickness: What if Your Spouse Were Mentally Ill?
by Aja Jackson Dorsey Although "In sickness and in health" is a part of the standard wedding vow, it is the part that I probably gave the least amount of thought to when I got married. At 20-something, the idea of being faced with anything more serious than the flu didn't cross my mind. As our marriage has progressed, especially after the birth of our son, it is … [Read more...]