by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. The late gonzo journalist Hunter Thompson once said, “Call on God, but row away from the rocks.” He wrote the drug-crazed romp, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, that inspired the title for this post. Fear and loathing grow during economic slumps. News reports of double-dip recessions, inflation, deflation, terrorism, war, [...]
by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. On the morning of 9/11/01, I drove to San Diego City College to teach two psychology courses. On the way I listened to news reports of the 9/11 attacks. At that time investigators did not know if other U.S. cities faced attack. When I arrived on campus my students were watching [...]
by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. What do you get when you cross a bank robber, a bomb maker and a hoarder? You get George Jakubec, a 54-year-old Serbic emigre recently arrested for possessing the single largest hoard of homemade explosives ever found in the United States. Investigators searched his rental home, in the sleepy southern California [...]
by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Anna, age 12, sat in my office twisting her friendship bracelet while listing her fears. “My grandma shops alone and robbers could attack her. My mom lights candles and I’m afraid they’ll catch fire and burn us up. If we fly, terrorists might kill us.” A gifted, sensitive, well-read child, Anna [...]
by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. From grades 2 through 4 a popular and pretty girl named Paula tormented me in school. She paraded the halls of our school with an entourage of followers willing to answer to her every command. In the lunch room she’d gesture to someone behind me and my chair would be pulled [...]
by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. “I throw up every day before work now,” Karen said in her therapy session. “When I hear his voice, I shake. I can’t sleep, I’ve lost weight. This job is KILLING ME! “ she cried. Karen worked for a bullying boss who’s recent tirades escalated to an unbearable level. The last [...]
by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Walking about the tree-lined, red-brick covered campus of San Diego City College, you can feel a hopeful energy. This multi-cultural, inner-city campus attracts bright teenagers, middle-aged professionals, recovering addicts and suburban housewives all seeking some sort of growth and advancement. As former adjunct psychology faculty at City College, I feel a [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Ben watched his wife from behind as she washed dishes. Feeling warm and sexual he swooped behind her and grabbed her around the waist. “Ahhhhh” she screamed whirling around with a pot in her soapy hands. “You scared me! You know I hate being grabbed from behind!” she shouted, throwing the [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. How many of us dream of getting back at the office bully, the dishonest friend, or the sadistic professor? A client discovered that his wife was having an affair with her boss. My client reported that he sneaked into the office and wiped out the boss’s computer hard drive in a [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Getting a cancer diagnosis scares the holy heck out of even the most steel-boned of humanoids. The stress of doctor’s appointments and the confusing array of treatment options, insurance limitations and medical bills often engenders fear and frustration. After suffering biopsy’s, x-rays, surgeries and getting “properly pilled and properly billed,” (as [...]
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