The recently release study "Gender Disparity in the Rate of Partner Abandonment in Patients with Serious Medical Illness" sheds some disappointing light on "partner abandonment"--the term for separation/divorce during a period of serious illness and the role that gender plays. »more»

While we joke about mother-in-laws, it is a complex relationship filled with conflict potential. Since understanding a problem is the first step to solving it, having a book like Terri Apter's "What Do You Want from Me?: Learning to Get Along with In-Laws" is a good starting point. »more»

Sandra Tsing Loh is a demi-celebrity among Los Angeles's NPR-listening classes. The onetime performance artist turned author and radio commentator either amuses or annoys. Now her piece in the July Atlantic -- which uses her affair and forthcoming divorce as the stepping-off point for a sweeping attack on modern marriage -- has, for many, gone way past annoying and into anger at her analysis -- and at Loh herself. »more»

"Mom, I'm getting married!" What mother doesn't get weak knees at the thought of hearing those words? After the rush of excitement and joy come so many questions and tasks from the florist to the caterer. So many in fact that it's easy for the mother of the bride (or groom) to forget it's their big day too and who can blame them for wanting to look absolutely gorgeous as well? »more»

I've lost count of the number of times I've heard someone affected by their MLC say "I'm so glad I now realise I'm not alone, I thought that I was going crazy", when what they should be saying is "I'm so glad that I now realise that I am not the only one going crazy". »more»

And all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. There's not a person in our Western culture alive today who wasn't brought up hearing or reading Clement Clark Moore's poem from 1823, "A Visit from Saint Nicholas." Regardless of your religious beliefs and traditions, the spirit of warmth and generosity of the season can't help but touch all but the most broken of hearts. »more»

Recently, I had a question from a man who was in serious pain because . . . his wife was going through a midlife crisis. In some ways, there's nothing odd or strange about that: women and men both experience the physical and emotional changes that signal the transition from adulthood to maturity. »more»

When people think of the midlife transition, most often their minds go straight to the infamous midlife crisis and the radical changes that go along with it. People change their looks, they change their jobs and — way more than is necessary — they change partners. In fact, I discovered a website dedicated to men at midlife, and it was basically all about finding the next, more perfect, woman. »more»

Are you noticing that the signs of menopause are starting to show up? Can you feel the changes happening in your body? Is it one of the topics of conversation when you and your closest friends get together? Have you already started discussing it with your doctor? How are you feeling about these things? Are they making you nervous, anxious, or upset? »more»

Over the past number of years, there has been an explosion of advertising around pharmaceuticals that are designed to alleviate problems with ED [erectile dysfunction] in men (for the drug companies and advertising agencies, the embarrassment of ED has apparently replaced the heartbreak of psoriasis). »more»