Analyze this...

Layla Anwar

Dear Dr.Cecilia D'Felice, It is with great interest that I read your article, "How to be Happy" in today's edition of the Independent. Maybe you will be kind enough to reassure us in Iraq that we are indeed OK. The whole of Iraqi society (what is left of it) has been exhibiting a myriad of strange behavioral patterns for nearly 4 years now and growing steadily more bizzarre. For instance and I shall give you a few "cases": Our women have been lately engaging in this weird habit of pulling their hair out and tearing their clothes. Do you think this is an "ethnic thing" or maybe a "transcultural" manifestation of a persevering borderline personality disorder? Others are just silent and sigh heavily.

Our men, on the other hand,have been oscillating between"passive-agressive"to outright "anti-social" behavior. Couples and parents no longer speak to each other, they shout. Maybe you can recommend some manual for non-violent communication. Another worrisome thing I noticed, is that our children have this blank empty look in their eyes. They seem to be recoiling in an autistic world shattered by intermittent hysterical screams...

continua / continued