Friday Flashback for January 2, 2009

By John M Grohol PsyD

This seems like a good Friday to take a look back, as people recover from their New Year’s celebrations (including us!) and as many of us look forward to what 2009 has in store for us (we’re wishing for an improved economy, for one!).

10 Years Ago on Psych Central

Enjoying the Moment: It’s Harder Than It Seems
I’ve always been fascinated by the passage of time, and how our perceptions make something that is unchanging seem dynamic and fluid. Sometimes in our life, we feel like time is flying by. Other times, it appears to crawl to a halt, with each second passing seeming like hours. A decade ago, I wrote about this phenomenon and how when we’re younger, we don’t much notice time. But as we age, it seems to take on a larger-than-life meaning.

5 Years Ago on Psych Central

January 2004 Blog Entry
A 14-country Internet survey conducted by the World Internet Project demonstrated that the average Internet user, far from being a geek, was actually, well, you and me — everyday people who watch less TV than the average person and who enjoy socializing with friends. The Internet is the biggest socialization tool in the late 20th century, so it’s no wonder it’s being used to connect us with one another.

1 Year Ago on Psych Central

Cornell Cuts Suicide Rate in Half
How did they do it? With the implementation of expensive electronic medical records? Nope, a simple change in policy that allowed greater communication amongst the mental health team at Cornell, and administrators, campus police, resident assistants, and other staff about students’ mental health concerns. We still haven’t found much evidence that other universities are following suit, despite the dramatic drop in suicides at Cornell.
Why Would You Lie to Your Therapist?
This entry generated a lot of controversy and comments when we published it a year ago, asking people why they bother lying to their therapists (when the whole point of psychotherapy is to be honest with yourself and your therapist, to find ways to bring about needed changes in your life). If you’ve already read the entry, it’s worth reading the 82+ comments, which bring a rich and unique perspective on this issue.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues, and the intersection of technology and psychology since 1992.