Douglas Coupland Quotes

I'd be a very easy therapist's subject.

If I went to a psychiatrist, it would be a long session. I've always thought that I do have a number of issues that probably need dealing with, because I am quite odd in some ways.

People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness.

I am not a therapy person, but I understand what therapy does. It's a way of translating dark thoughts into something manageable.

People actually live with their id exposed. They're not good at concealing what's going on inside.

'Psychotherapy' is a private, confidential conversation that has nothing to do with illness, medicine, or healing.

Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy, but this is not accurate. You make yourself unhappy.

I'm a very emotional person. If I've got something on my mind, that would stop me from giving my best.

I hope I am a psychotherapist's dream. I've spent enough hours in therapy.

I went through a period where I just wanted to punch everybody. Since then, I've had a lot of therapy and I've figured a lot of things out.

In 1973, I broke off from the therapy and decided I could go through one of those episodes on my own, in my house. I found there is no real need to be locked up. I found that I was able to use that kind of awake dreaming that you go into during insanity and look at it and live with it and relate to it and become friends with it.

I am actually going to two therapists right now. I don't know, I actually feel like therapy has just made me more uncomfortable.

I'm not a big fan of psychoanalysis: I think if you have mental problems what you need are good pills. But I do think that if you have thinks that bother you, things that are unresolved, the more that you talk about them, write about them, the less serious they become.

I asked a shrink: 'Everything is so great. Why am I still so angry?' He said, 'Anger doesn't go away.' I always thought it was kind of a good engine.

I don't want to think too much about me.

It's cool to express myself, but I've had to learn that doing interviews isn't completely therapy - spilling everything about yourself isn't healthy all the time. But I've been through things that have made me a stronger person, and if I can help some people, I will.

No one has probably helped me more with my narcissism than my dog.

It's very dependent on your state of mind. And your emotional state as well. And a lot of it comes pouring out, you don't really have that much control with it.

We're always experiencing joy or sadness. But there are lots of people who've closed down. And there are times in one's life when one has to close down just to regroup.

You can talk yourself into a good emotional state. I stop for a second, take a deep breath, and think about something that's beautiful. A beautiful thought for me is cutting the umbilical cord for my child. I can guarantee you that your emotional state will change.

In therapy I have learned the importance of keeping spiritual life and professional life balanced. I need to regain my balance.

I saw a psychiatrist when I was younger because I had ADHD, and I had some problems with authority, so I guess I can kind of relate to that in a way. I know what it's liked to be probed and to be asked questions where people are looking for a certain answer and are trying to pull something out of your answer.

I try not to do too much self-analysis apart from when I'm actually paying $170 an hour for it. I try to keep it in the room.

Angry or not. It's a human emotion. But you can't walk around being angry all the time. What a dull person you'd have to be!

When I exercise, I need to connect to myself and see how I'm feeling at the moment because my mood is constantly changing.