Dr. Jim Stout has had plenty of “excuses” to quit or give up on life: Enduring severe, ongoing emotional and sexual abuse in childhood Traumatic treatment by a high school football coach.

I knew a man in Florida who repeatedly ignored his car’s check-engine light. He kept driving, week after week, and finally the engine burned out.

A lack of clear personal or professional boun­daries can lead to several types of serious difficulties.

How is it possible to build a happy, balanced home life when you are always gone? If you say yes to too many work-related requests, your family and personal life will suffer.

Professionals say, hands down, that the biggest career, marriage, and family killer—regardless of age, socioeconomic status, education, or faith—is a lack of strong, clear boundaries.

t’s easy to avoid dealing with a boundary problem by rationalizing, “My over-committed lifestyle won’t last forever. Besides, things are going okay for me and my family.

How can you set boundaries that will protect and enhance your job performance, family time, and personal life? Consider these seven suggested guidelines:

In boxing, right before the fight starts, the referee motions the fighters to the center of the ring and gives last minute instructions to them, including the warning: “Protect yourselves at all times.”

If you are able, call a friend or someone else to tell them you are struggling. The key is to talk with someone as soon as possible about what’s going on with you.

The “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous talks about the effects resentment has on alcoholics, but it could just as easily be talking about anyone simmering with anger.

Recently, two friends made some negative comments and did some seemingly benign things that triggered painful memories for me.

The hard fact is that you’ll not find inner peace until you accept the offending people or situations as they are. But “acceptance” does not mean that you have to like the behavior or condone it.

It’s one thing to accept the things we can’t change, but it’s entirely another to keep ourselves in that mindset. Being aware of our negative attitudes isn’t always enough to break free from their harm.

One of the primary teachings of Alcoholics Anonymous relates to acceptance. Consider this excerpt from the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous:

It’s important to clarify and recognize the cause(s) of your upset. Sometimes the hurtful comments and deeds of others are hard to deal with.

The possibility of a suicide of a loved one is something we'd like to ignore or forget. Some of us deny it. Others can't say the word. It's frightening to contemplate. We think it can't happen to us.

The following "warning signs" can help clarify what thoughts and emotions are influencing your thinking or feeling. These "warnings" can lead to dangerous problems if not dealt with, appropriately.

Recording your trauma enables you to step back from your pain so you can be more objective. It can be like an out-of-body experience that makes it possible for you to view the situation more objectively.

Professional listening, feedback, guidance, and, at times, medications can provide added help and hope. Some folks hesitate to contact a mental health professional such as a therapist.

How I ache for you, dear friend. Very sorry it’s been such an awful time. Of course, in our worst moments, we (me and thee and tons of others) revert to past horrific scenes.