Polite Dissent

Dear Dr. Dixon,
My co-worker is always telling us how great he is, things like “I’m the best at what I do.” It’s really annoying. Is there anyway we can get him to stop?
– K.P.

Dear K.P.,
Your co-worker is clearly suffering from low self-esteem, and his statements are just his way of reassuring himself that he is important. These situations are common, and I see them most commonly in people who have subconscious concerns about height or personal hygeine. Raising his self esteem is the best way to stop this behavior. You and your other co-workers need to make it a point to tell him, at least once a day, that his contributions are vital are to the success of your workplace. Overtime, this will raise his eslf-esteem and his bragging should stop.

Dr. Dixon,
My wife seems to disappear for hours on end, and when I finally see her and try to get close, it’s as if there’s some sort of invisble wall between us.
– R.R.

Dear R.R.,
Your wife is letting you know in her own way that there are issues in your marriage that need worked-out. She is feeling that you put other things such as your job and even your hobbies ahead of her. Set aside at least two hours a day to spend uninterrupted quality time with your wife. If you can manage that, you should be able to salvage your marriage — if you can’t, I worry that your marriage may break up over something trivial, like political views.

Dear Dr. Dixon,
My wife always seems to keep me in the dark. What can I do?
– M.E.

Dear M.E.,
It’s understandable to be confused about your wife’s actions and behavior. It can often seem as though our partner is from another planet! This is a common feeling. Just let her know how your concerns and how you feel.

Dear Dr. Dixon,
When I get angry I seem to lose control. It’s as if I become a normal person. Is there anything I can do?
–B.B.

Dear B.B.,
While anger can often be a very destructive force, it should not always be viewed as a negative behavior. Have you considered channeling your rage into more productive pursuits such as macrame, pottery, or cooking. Another option would be to look into careers where anger is considered positive trait, such as politics or talk radio.