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I Don’t Give a Damn ‘Bout My Reputation
[DISCLAIMER] I recently watched The Runaways (2010), a biographical drama film about the 1970s rock band The Runaways, as I was reminded of band member Joan Jett. In particular, I recalled Jett’s debut solo album Bad Reputation (1980). It featured the song “Bad Reputation”, on which Jett sang: I don’t give a damn ‘bout my reputation Livin’ in the past, it’s a new generation A girl can do what she wants to do And that’s what I’m gonna do And I don’t give a damn ‘bout my
Deric Hollings
5 days ago8 min read
The Whole World Doesn’t Give a Fuck About Your Problems
[DISCLAIMER] On her album It Gets Greater Later (2016), lyricist Tiff the Gift released the track “Love Rules the Streets”, featuring lyricists Awon and Dephlow, and produced by Phoniks. The first verse of the song contains the line, “The whole world doesn’t give a fuck about your problems.” For context, the phrase “give a fuck” is similar to the saying “give a damn,” as it regards a vulgar slang idiom meaning to care, show interest, or be concerned about someone or somet
Deric Hollings
Aug 310 min read
Why Bother?
[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who stated, “Don’t lament this and don’t get agitated” (page 360). Addressing this consideration, authors of The Dail
Deric Hollings
Aug 26 min read
Examination of Consequences and Allowing for Time Outs
[DISCLAIMER] I recently spoke with client X about the examination of consequences, as well as allowing for time outs when practicing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). As it can be challenging to provide this information in a session with limited time, I’ll now share it with you herein. First, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines examination as “a test, observation, or other means of investigation carried out on a patient to evaluate physical or men
Deric Hollings
Jul 279 min read
Nonconscious Distress and a Centipede
[DISCLAIMER] When undergoing graduate studies for social work (2012-2014), I’d already earned a master’s degree in counseling (2009-2011). In both graduate programs, I participated in amateur photography, as well as having used the tools of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Regarding the photo above, I set out for an evening of nighttime photography in 2013. I wanted to capture the scenic Pennybacker Bridge in Austin, Texas—where I attended the University of Texas
Deric Hollings
Jul 1312 min read
It’s Not the Thing Itself That Troubles You, but Only Your Judgment of It
[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who stated, “When you are distressed by an external thing, it’s not the thing itself that troubles you, but only your
Deric Hollings
Jul 1010 min read
Nonconscious: Just Because You Can’t Detect the Belief Doesn’t Mean That It Isn’t Present
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to the clients with whom I work, I often find that some people require additional information about the conscious, preconscious, unconscious, and nonconscious conceptual functions of the mind. For clarity, I practice REBT in my personal and professional life. Thus, I subscribe to many propositions put forth in REBT theory, which was initially developed by the late psychologis
Deric Hollings
Jul 910 min read
Self-Distress and Distress Tolerance
[DISCLAIMER] Photo credit, fair use Early in my graduate studies regarding professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I chose to practice Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a psychotherapeutic modality developed by the late psychologist Albert Ellis. REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption,
Deric Hollings
Jul 711 min read
If Your Reaction Isn’t Disturbed, Then Why Is It Disturbed-Coded?
[DISCLAIMER] When providing professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I predominately use Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). For those who remain unfamiliar with this psychotherapeutic modality, allow me to discuss one of its tools. REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, not the occurren
Deric Hollings
Jul 17 min read
The Secret Is to Win: The Only Sane Response to Tyranny
[DISCLAIMER] *Lee (2023) spoilers contained herein. Earlier, I posted a blog entry entitled All of Lebanon Must Burn: What Have I Done to You? (6/22/2026). In it, I encouraged readers to consider use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) regarding healthy and unhealthy negative emotions. Specifically, I demonstrated use of the ABC model as a method of moving from negative and unhealthy self-disturbance (e.g., rage) to negative and healthy self-distress (e.g., frus
Deric Hollings
Jun 2211 min read
Ataraxia: Life’s Too Short for the Bullshit
[DISCLAIMER] Three years ago, I sat with my friend “Blanca” at her residence in Virginia. Not long thereafter, for a number of reasons, we went our separate ways. Understandably, people in both my personal and professional life may experience self-distress or self-disturbance about the loss of friendship. Regarding this matter, I consider my approach to care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”). Specifically, I frame this topic throu
Deric Hollings
Jun 2010 min read
To Offend and Endure Offense: Você Tem Chulé
[DISCLAIMER] In adolescence, I was taught to compliment females (girls and women) so that they could experience satisfying outcomes. Specifically, the matriarch of a family that invited me to live with them when I was a teenager told me about which types of accolades were most desired. “We like it when you [males (boys and men)] notice that we’ve gotten a haircut—whether or not it looks good,” she said.” “Tell us nice things, like we’re wearing a pretty dress, we smell ni
Deric Hollings
Jun 59 min read
Expectations: I've Been Sorting Through a Lot of Shit That's in My Head Now
[DISCLAIMER] The American Psychological Association defines preference as “the act of choosing one alternative over others,” expectation as “a state of tense, emotional anticipation,” and anticipation as “looking forward to a future event or state, sometimes with an affective component (e.g., pleasure, anxiety).” Of these terms, I stated in Hopeful Anticipation vs. Disturbing Expectation: Essentially, anticipation is an excited, hopeful, and open-minded looking forward to
Deric Hollings
Jun 410 min read
Avenge, Revenge, and Vengeance: I Must Teach You a Lesson
[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who stated, “The best way to avenge yourself is to not be like that” (page 312). For context, “avenge” is defined as e
Deric Hollings
Jun 412 min read
Maybe We Should Wanna Run Far Away
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n
Deric Hollings
Apr 277 min read
Negative, but Healthy Anger and Aggression
[DISCLAIMER] In 2024, progressive house supergroup Swedish House Mafia released the song “Lioness” that featured Swedish indietronica duo Niki & the Dove. It’s a subjectively phenomenal track! For the sake of familiarity, the refrain states: You can’t keep me down, I am done, I am furious Fear the lioness, paint her face black and golden [x2] The term “furious” is defined as exhibiting or goaded by anger, indicative of or proceeding from anger. Herein, I’ll make a case
Deric Hollings
Apr 2617 min read
You Give Me Such a Vibe: It Feels So Good
[ DISCLAIMER ] Imagine that I told you about an electronic dance music (EDM) track to which I often danced when in South America, as I said “it was such a vibe … it felt so good,” do you think you could identify the error in that expression? If not, you aren’t alone. Many people wouldn’t be able to! As such, I invite you to consider a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) so that you may separate yourself from a crowd of ignorance (lacki
Deric Hollings
Apr 2110 min read
Self-Upset
[ DISCLAIMER ] Concerning this post, the term “upset” regards to trouble mentally or emotionally , or to throw into disorder. Thus, to self-upset is to cause one’s own mental, emotional, and even behavioral chaos. Given this clarification, I now turn to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable A ction occurs and you B elieve an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption , not
Deric Hollings
Apr 215 min read
Inner Citadel: Stuff Cannot Touch the Soul
[ DISCLAIMER ] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman . For this blogpost, it’s worth noting that a citadel is a fortress that commands a city, and a fortress is a fortified place: stronghold—a place of security or survival. Given these useful
Deric Hollings
Apr 216 min read
We Gotta Rock It, Don't Stop... Until We Die
[ DISCLAIMER ] Because I don’t have many social media apps on my smartphone , regarding most sites such as Reddit, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and so forth, I often miss up-to-date news about celebrity deaths. This is as I prefer things to be in my life. Still, earlier today, when searching for material online for daily practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) I discovered that one source reports, “Influential musical artist Afrika Bambaataa died in Penn
Deric Hollings
Apr 1011 min read
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