MSI Press Blog

  Dr. Ortman writes -  I wrote three “Anonymous” books for recovery from anxiety, depression, and anger. I view these mood states as similar to drug addictions that can be relieved by working the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The seeds for these books were planted in my childhood. I was raised in an alcoholic family where I learned about the tragedy and power of addiction. As an adult, I sought healing and growth through therapy and participation in Adult Children of Alcoholics and Al-Anon groups. In graduate school, I wrote my dissertation on treating those with a dual diagnosis, that is, with both a substance use and mental health problem. Working with my patients in private practice for the past thirty years, I observed that many suffered from chemical dependencies and process addictions, such as gambling, shopping, and sexual acting out. I further noticed that many of my patients who suffered from anxiety, depression, and anger felt possessed by their moods and powerles

  Excerpt from Depression Anonymous DEPRESSION AS A DRUG  All of us feel blue from time to time. After all, sadness, sorrow, and grief are natural reactions to the loss of persons and things that are important to us. Feeling sad, we withdraw into a cocoon to soothe ourselves and adjust to the change in our life. We withdraw to nurse the wound of the loss. Feeling the pain, we inwardly search for its meaning, looking for a way of making sense of it. In this grieving process, we slowly let go of all the energy we used to put into what was lost and come to accept the void in our lives. If we do not succumb to the temptation of bitterness, the accepted pain of sorrow opens our hearts to new life and to empathy for others.  But sometimes the loss can seem unbearable and the sorrow overwhelming. The sadness reaches to the core of our being and a black cloud envelops us. We cannot escape the darkness. Our bodies, minds, and spirits become possessed. We cannot sleep or eat normally,

  Just released -- the hard cover version of the popular Depression Anonymous   by Dr. Dennis Ortman. Other versions of this book include paperback and Kindle . For more posts about Depression Anonymous , including excerpts, click HERE . For more posts about Dr. Ortman and his books, click HERE .

SADNESS, THE PAIN OF LIVING  Because we live in bodies which constantly change and interact with the world, we have feelings. We naturally have emotional reactions to what happens to us. Unpleasant experiences repulse us, moving us to withdraw to protect ourselves. Pleasant experiences energize us to seek more of what we desire. In our ever-changing world, we naturally feel joy as new life unfolds and sadness as the old and familiar passes away. Our sadness and sorrow are natural reactions that serve survival purposes. In fact, they are signs of intelligence. Animals live by their instincts, only in the present moment. Because we are conscious, we humans are aware of the passage of time, alert to loss and gain. We are aware of changes around us and their consequences on our wellbeing, and so we make adjustments. Hardwired into our brains is a built-in threat protection and safety-seeking system. In the experience of loss, sadness prepares us to let go of the past and prepare for

  BODY OF CHRIST “The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” --I Corinthians 10: 16)   When I left the priesthood many years ago, I was disillusioned with the Catholic Church. I was looking to belong to a loving family. In my distressed state of mind, I experienced the Church as a dysfunctional family. For a few years I was estranged from the Church, and from all institutional religion. However, I felt something missing. So, I went to churches of various denominations, looking for a home. Eventually, I found a Catholic parish that filled that need. I discovered that being a Catholic since childhood was in my bones. It was a truth about myself I could not deny. After leaving the ministry, I became a psychologist. A life of service still motivated me. My passion was, and still is, to understand the dynamics of personal transformation and to accompany my patients on their journeys toward healing and growth. I have come to believe there are thr

  excerpt from Depression Anonymous by Dr. Dennis Ortman PERSISTENT DEPRESSIVE DISORDER Alice, a woman feeling cheated by life: “I’ve been jinxed. Nothing has ever gone right for me. It began in childhood. I was the fat kid everyone picked on. In high school, no boys ever wanted to date me. And then there’s my health. I’ve suffered from asthma my whole life and had several auto accidents in which I was severely injured. I tried to make up for all my failures by being good at my job. I became an extremely competent executive secretary, a perfectionist. I took pride in my work. Would you believe I was fired because I complained so much about problems in the company? I just wanted the business to succeed. Even now, I’m the one who has to take care of our elderly parents because my siblings don’t want to have anything to do with them. You’d think my parents would appreciate all my help, but they just take me for granted. I often stay awake at night thinking about all the unfair thin

  woundedness From Dr. Dennis Ortman, author of multiple award-winning books , including Anger Anonymous , Depression Anonymous , and Anxiety Anonymous . WOUNDEDNESS “By his wounds you were healed.” --I Peter 2: 24   My patients, who know that I had been a Catholic priest, occasionally ask me, “What happens to us after we die?” I respond, “I don’t really know. I suppose we return to where we came from before we were born.” The reality is that death is as much a mystery as life. However, the Scriptures give us a clue. When the risen Christ appeared after his death, his disciples did not immediately recognize him. They mistook him for a gardener, a fisherman, or a fellow traveler. In one instance, his identity became clear, inspiring the worship of a doubting Thomas. The risen Lord appeared in their locked room and showed his wounds. He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” (J

  The following article is provided by Dr. Dennis Ortman, author of Anxiety Anonymous /American Bookfest Best Books Finalist Anger Anonymous /Book of the Year Finalist Depression Anonymous /Book of the Year Finalist Life, Liberty, & Covid The Pandemic and Hope Being Catholic in Troubled Tines (forthcoming) INFIGHTING “How blest are the pure of heart for they shall see God (Truth).” --Matthew 5: 8   “I avoid talking about politics and religion with so many of my family and friends. Our discussions quickly degenerate into arguments. Then we are fighting with each other. I just want to stay away from them.” This is a regular complaint these days. We live in a house divided. The polarization in our society is tearing apart families and friendships. Many of us hold rigid opinions about so many issues. We refuse to compromise, because, in our view, we would be betraying our conscience. The ideological differences in our society have been attributed to an ongoing “culture war” between tra