We don’t usually publish the follow-up comments we sometimes receive after Dr Carver has replied to a question from a reader, but we’ve decided to make an exception.

Q: My problem is very confusing, and I can’t find any information on what to do in this kind of situation. The primary problem is that I don’t really enjoy anything anymore, but it feels like it’s more than depression, because I feel very justified in my lack of happiness. I think it is mostly [...]

Q: Help, I am scared of dogs! A: Being frightened of animals, especially dogs, is not uncommon. Sometimes the fear of dogs ranges from being tense and apprehensive around them to being phobic — experiencing panic-like feelings. A fear of dogs can develop in many ways, including: A bad experience with a dog such as [...]

Q: I feel like something is wrong with me and everyone knows what it is except for me. I think that they won’t say it because they think it would hurt me. People say that I am smart and they think that I am confident (which is shocking to me) but I am paranoid that [...]

Q: I have a peculiar problem. I asked a psychologist about it once before but not only did he not have an explanation for me, he said it was the weirdest thing he had ever heard. A psychologist said that. The problem is this. I write a little bit, but some days I will sit [...]

Q: I have what I believe to be a chemical imbalance of dopamine from excessive sexual activity. I am 34 and think this problem has been building up for years and I failed to recognize it. My symptoms are: Feeling of being wired all the time. My brain moves at 100 mph. I am in [...]

Q: How and why does one become a family annihilator, and can a woman become one also? Is there a cure for this problem? A: By the term “annihilator” I assume destroyer or someone who completely overwhelms and ruins a family. Both males and females can destroy a family system, something we often find in [...]