Current Events

Nancy Rates "Better Than Normal"

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Nancy has studied personality disorders as an undergraduate psychology minor and reviews 'Better Than Normal". Click here to read more.

Mark Compares 'Belbin Team Roles' To 'Better Than Normal'

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Mark is from England, and shares the similarities between the 'Belbin Team Roles' to 'Better Than Normal". Click here to read more.

Kat Is Concerned Because She Scored High On Many Traits

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Kat is concerned because she scored high on all the personality traits listed in my book 'Better Than Normal'. Now she's wondering if she needs tips on managing so many high scoring traits. Thoughts? Click here to read more.

M Is Putting Her Traits To Work For Her -- And No Longer Needs Medication

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:00:54 GMT

M grew up depressed, anxious and painfully shy. Between doctors, therapists and medication, she struggled, until it dawned on her that she had personal strengths. Putting those strengths to work for her instead of fighting them, she's now happy, successful and medication free for eight years! Are you doing what makes YOU happy? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Cristy Worries Her Daughter Will Become Bipolar Like Her

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 02:11:00 GMT

Both Cristy and her husband are bipolar. She has suffered from delusions and manic spending sprees and is on disability. She and her husband have had their problems, but she worries that her 5 year old daughter might develop bipolar disorder, too. What do you think? Does having bipolar parents increase a child's chances of being bipolar? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Lorena Wants To Use The 8 Traits To Define Greatness

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:00:38 GMT

Lorena is a doctoral candidate, and is writing her dissertation on School Leadership Characteristics In High Achieving/High Poverty Schools. She asks my permission to use the personality traits I discuss in my book, 'Better Than Normal' to better understand what makes a successful school leader.

Harold Questions My Outlook On Mental Health

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:12:10 GMT

Harold questions the title "From Stigma to Strength" which I discuss in an interview with 'The Advocate'. He also thinks it's amusing that I say many mental disorders have gone from being stigmatized to glamorized. Do you agree? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Chuck Wonders If He's Normal

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:00:36 GMT

Chuck asks if it's possible to have high scores on all 8 traits in my book 'Better Than Normal'. Have you taken the quizzes? How do you score? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Linda Has Found Her Niche In Life

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:20:02 GMT

Linda has been a night nurse for 30 years. She likes it that way, and never knows what the next night will bring. After two marriages, she realizes she's better off single. Reading my book, she scored highly on the ADHD scale and she's thrilled that finally things make perfect sense. She knows she has money management issues and isn't the best housekeeper, but she's ADHD and ok with that. She is indeed, "Better Than Normal". Are you? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Kendall Had The Perfect Job, Until ...

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:00:20 GMT

Kendall scored very high on the ADHD, Magical, OCD and Hyper Alert continuums, and had learned to not only use these traits to his advantage, but also with the help of a smart and understanding employer, 10 years ago he found the perfect job. Now, because of a new company contract, he is being forced to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day and feels like a bird in a cage and he's freaking out. He's not sure what to do. What can he do? What would you do? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

D.A. Can't Finish What She's Started

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:45:16 GMT

D.A. is a 31 year old mother who tries to be a good mom, but feels she falls short. She never finishes anything she starts, can't keep a job for any length of time and now dreads leaving her home. Whenever she goes out, she can be sociable, but then she can become impulsive and angry. Do you have suggestions? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

My book, 'Better Than Normal: How What Makes You Different Can Make You Exceptional'

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 20:00:51 GMT

My book, 'Better Than Normal: How What Makes You Different Can Make You Exceptional' is scheduled for release March 13, 2012. There's a new way to look at "normal" and here's a tip -- it is NOT all good! After all normal = average. Instead of taking a pill to make you "normal', embrace your quirkiness to help define your greatness. Click here to learn more and order.

Jawwad Is No Longer Interested In Anything

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:00:29 GMT

Jawwad, 19 and in his second year of engineering, has been skipping classes for the past year and a half. He has thoughts of harming himself or running away, but he can't abandon his sisters. His parents are offering him one more chance to start over, but he has only a week to consider their offer and he feels they would see him as a failure if he takes them up on that. What do you think is going on here? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Defining Normal: How Psychiatry Has Lost Its Way

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:25:06 GMT

The psychiatrists office had gone from being the place no one would be caught dead visiting... to the place where a pill could fix anything... and psychiatry itself had gone from being stigmatized to glamorized. The solution was simple, to embrace the idea that unless your ailments are seriously impeding your quality of life, they can be used to your advantage. Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Torie Goes From Depression to Elation

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:30:29 GMT

Torie is 23 and from a small rural town. For as long as she can remember, her moods would switch from depressed to elation, with no in between. When elated, she's artistic, creative and full of confidence in herself. When depressed, she considers psychiatric help, although there's no mental health care in her small town. She has started drinking to help the depression, and wants to know what I think of her situation. I gave her my thoughts, what are yours? Have you ever had mood swings? If, so how did you handle them? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Rikardo Is Overwhelmed By His Depression And Anxiety

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:07 GMT

Rikardo's depression seems to be getting worse, and it's affecting not only him but the people around him. He's easily provoked, has anger episodes, his mood swings are terrible and he's been prescribed anti-psychotic meds. He's afraid he's a danger to himself and asks what to do? Does this sound like depression to you? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Observer Is A Complex Person, And Likes It

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:18:12 GMT

Observer sees herself as a very complex person, but in no way means that in a bad way. She used that complexity to help her become better than normal, and it's helped with a successful career as well. She looks forward to reading my upcoming book. Are YOU better than normal? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Terri Reviews My Book

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:44 GMT

Terri reviews books for Amazon.com and just read my forthcoming book, 'Better Than Normal: How What Makes You Different Can Make You Exceptional' which is being released March 13 from Random House. Read her review on Amazon. Thank you, Terri, for the great review!

Erin Uses Bipolar 2 To Her Advantage

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:05:36 GMT

Erin, 27, has been diagnosed with bipolar 2 and borderline personality. She participates in behavioral therapy and works with her bipolar disorder to further her career. She finds that because of her disorder, she knows how to increase her productivity, thus being very successful in her profession. Do you have challenges that, when overcome, actually help you succeed within your own career? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Melissa Is Spending, Spending, Spending

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:05:08 GMT

Melissa has been battling depression for ten years. When she feels like she must escape, she spends lots of money she can't afford to spend, and this can last for a few days, while her mind races. Eventually she calms down. Is this depression, or is this something else? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Pat Called An Ex For Sex, Now She Wonders

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

Pat is a 44 year old bipolar woman, on meds, still living with her parents. She called an ex she walked out on ten years ago for sex. He said she was too intense back then. Now she doesn't know why she called him, thinks she may have commitment phobia, and wonders if she should call him again when he's back in town. What are your thoughts on sex with your ex? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Janine Is Scared She May Be Bipolar

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:00:30 GMT

Janine has always suffered from depression, yet at times she's funny and full of energy. She now thinks she may be bipolar, but is afraid to tell anyone, because no one takes her seriously. She's scared and doesn't know where to turn and can't afford to see a doctor. She asks now what do I do? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

Is David Bipolar Or Cyclothymic?

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:51:55 GMT

David agreed with his psychiatrist's diagnosis of Cyclothymia, but so far no medication or therapy has helped. Now he's not sure and thinks maybe his doctor is at a loss as to what to do. He wonders what do I do now? Click here to read more and leave a comment.

I'm Being Discriminated Against Because I'm Bipolar

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:43:18 GMT

I graduate next year and want to study forensic psychology in London. After that, I'd like to apply for a job with the British secret services, but I discovered they won't even consider an application from someone who suffers from Manic Depression or Schizophrenia. I think that's unfair. Click here to read more and leave a comment.