Single, you may realize you miss family. Divorced, second or third marriage, blended families, all that scheduling and even hard times with ex's or memories of “what might have been.” The poet T. S. Eliot claims April is cruelest month, but most of us in mental health profession would bet on January as being toughest.

For those for whom this down experience is not true, consider yourselves lucky. If all this doom and gloom seems self-serving and like a foreign concept, smile and get on with your New Year's resolutions. You can even feel a little prideful that you are not one of pack. For rest of you, know feeling a little blue is normal and that it will end.

Take some time for yourself, exercise, start your diet, curl up with a good book or a trashy novel. If you are wondering where to go for some extra help, be it psychological, medical, alternative or spiritual, you can even pick up or order Getting Sane Without Going Crazy. If you go directly to www.sanecrazy.com, I will personally inscribe book for you or person you want to give it to. Listen to your body, rest if that's what you need, or if you have been mush, get active. Get out, see a funny movie, hide away or visit close friends. Whatever you do, be kind to yourself and please think as positively as you can. January only comes once a year and then it is over.

Life is too hard to do alone,

Dr. D.

Dorree Lynn, PH.D.

Dr. Dorree Lynn is co-founder of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Psychotherapy and a practicing clinician in New York and Washington, DC. Dr. Lynn served on the executive board of the American Academy of Psychotherapists and she is on the editorial board of their publication, Voices. She is also a regular columnist for the Washington, DC newspaper, The Georgetowner. Dr. Lynn is a noted speaker and well known on the lecture circuit.

This is a time for careful thoughtful conversation and random acts of kindness. The need to express love is greater than ever. Gather your woman in your arms and tell her you love her. She needs you now. As you also need her. If she tries to push you away, take a deep breath and don't go. It is only her fear overtaking her neediness. Sidestep her terror, stay steady, and continue to speak wise words of comfort. This is one time being an old fashioned man, may come in handy. Don't toss out what eons of evolution have given you. A strong man who can use logic as well as offer his tender heart can bring you and your loved one closer. Almost any relationship can make it through good and easy times. Real relationships are broken and strengthened when going gets rough. Whatever you do, this is a time to stay around. Don't get going.

Life is too hard to do alone,

Dr. D.

Dorree Lynn, PH.D.

Dr. Dorree Lynn is co-founder of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Psychotherapy and a practicing clinician in New York and Washington, DC. Dr. Lynn served on the executive board of the American Academy of Psychotherapists and she is on the editorial board of their publication, Voices. She is also a regular columnist for the Washington, DC newspaper, The Georgetowner. Dr. Lynn is a noted speaker and well known on the lecture circuit.