Are intrusive thoughts taking over your relationship? Key points Relationship OCD involves intense obsession over one's partner or the relationship. ROCD is often frustrating and exhausting for loved ones providing continuous reassurance. Through treatment, people with ROCD learn to accept uncertainty in relationships. Partner expressing concern at partner looking at their phone. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by many themes and subtypes. Within the past

How emotional, physical, and intuitive parts guide donor selection. Key points Choosing a donor isn’t just logical; it’s emotional, physical, and deeply personal. One woman’s experience highlights how various part of ourselves shape the selection process. When fear softens and all parts are heard, the clearest and kindest choice can emerge. A smiling couple during a consultation meeting. Olivia opened her email to find five egg donor profiles the agency thought would be a sui

You can eliminate anxiety on your own by doing three simple activities. Key points Anxiety is a real disorder and should not be minimized. Despite professional efforts, the prevalence of anxiety is increasing. Anxiety has an evolutionary-survival component. You can minimize or eliminate anxiety by using three strategies. A person holding their forehead, appearing stressed or tired. Anxiety is coming out of the closet, openly discussed and acknowledged by celebrities like Opra

Neuroscience finds that divorce can be a trauma for children and adults alike. Key points Divorce can trigger lasting trauma in children, teens, adult children, and spouses. Neuroscience reveals how stress from divorce reshapes the brain and emotional health. Trauma-informed therapy and support can help the brain recover from divorce-related trauma. Illustration of a human brain with a highlighted glowing region Divorce is often framed as a legal and emotional disruption. Mou

The science-backed benefits of forgiveness. Key points Forgiveness is both a choice and a process. Forgiveness offers a path to improved health, happiness, and well-being. Letting go of past hurt and harm frees us from pain and resentment. A person gazes thoughtfully with a blurred reflection. To err is human, to forgive divine. These words, penned by 18th-century poet Alexander Pope, remind us that while everyone makes mistakes, forgiveness stands tall as a powerful choice.

Here's a cognitive behavioral technique to use to manage imposter syndrome. Key points Imposter syndrome (IS) is experienced by 62% of people, according to a large survey. The higher your level of education, the more likely you are to experience IS. A cognitive behavior technique can help people manage IS. Because IS is so common, mention of the condition can be used to increase trust with subordinates. A person crouched in office hallway, appearing stressed and overwhelmed.

How our conceptualizations of ADHD and BPD have changed and intertwined. Key points ADHD and BPD share many symptoms that often are expressed together. We have developed understanding of disorders that were not conceived of four decades ago. When either ADHD or BPD is recognized, it may be prudent to look for possible evidence of the other. Two overlapping human head silhouettes, symbolizing dual perspectives or mental health. Before 1980 and the publication of the DSM-III, n

Screens significantly suppress production of melatonin in teens. Key points Many factors are related to teens getting insufficient sleep. Teens are heavy users of smartphones and social media. Use of self-luminous devices at night suppresses melatonin, delaying sleep onset. Reducing screen time at night will help teens get more sleep and improve ability to focus attention in school. It is widely acknowledged that most adolescents do not get sufficient sleep, leading to lowere

Let’s address two instances of ineffective couples therapy. Key points People usually approach couples therapy as a last resort to salvage their deteriorating relationship. A primary reason for failure in therapy lies in the attempt to resolve big and complex questions on the spot. One of the most difficult challenges a couples therapist faces is resisting the couple’s haste. A couple in a therapy session, expressing concern and discussing issues with a counselor. Usually, pe

Personal Perspective: The negative bias that accompanies depression can be addressed. Key points A bias toward negativity is a clinical marker of depression. This may result in increased complaining, which can impede social functioning. Conscious positivity can help balance out unwanted negativity bias. Woman looking out the window I’ve battled severe depression for as long as I can remember, all the way back to the allegedly sunny days of my childhood. Thanks to meds and the

The key to navigating the rollercoaster of teen years is knowing how to hold on. Key points Teens pose a different challenge than younger children. Your challenge is learning how to adapt to their needs. The keys are not confusing ends and means, rewarding the positive, setting clear goals and bottom lines. Think of yourself as a consultant rather than an authoritarian. Help them to explore but with boundaries. Teens can be difficult—sullen, argumentative, impulsive, hormonal

The solution to loneliness is not being around more people. Key points Loneliness is not just being alone; it’s feeling unseen. Healing starts with self-compassion and the belief that we still deserve connection. Some relationships may not meet your depth; clarity allows space for those that do. Young man sitting alone Loneliness is not just about being alone. It is about feeling unseen. It is the quiet ache that surfaces when we are surrounded by people but still feel discon

10 tools for handling the next best steps after a mental health diagnosis Key points Receiving a mental health diagnosis often comes with a multitude of feelings and responses. Allowing time to pause, having patience, and asking for support can help. A diagnosis can be the start of traveling the roads of life more effectively. Most mental health providers utilize the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a reference for classifying and coding symptoms

Why your children pull away or turn against you and how to rebuild connection. Daniel tells me his wife has turned their children against him, blaming him for the divorce. Maggie tells me that her children refuse to see her, talk to her, or even respond to text messages. Poppy, who is only 12, says she wants nothing to do with her father and is prepared to starve herself until the judge changes the custody arrangement. These situations are all too common in divorce and heartb

Even if their symptoms look the same, not all depressions are created equal. Key points Depression is not one uniform condition but a signal communicating issues and struggles in one's inner world. Similar depressive symptoms will have different meanings and functions depending on our personality make-up. Therapy that helps you understand depression in the context of your personality can foster change from within. Depression is often spoken of as if it were a single condition

Identity and world confusion stem from trauma and dissociation. Judith Herman observed that "the conflict between the will to deny horrible events and the will to proclaim them aloud is the central dialectic of psychological trauma" (Herman, 1992). This tension manifests in how many trauma survivors inhabit a kind of psychological superposition—simultaneously experiencing the life they have and the lives they might have had, in worlds and lives half-real, and half-imagined. H

Whether you stay or go, it's vital to change how you interact with a narcissist. Key points Specific traits must be present for someone to be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. The term "narcissist" is now frequently overused; not all jerks are narcissists. If you love someone with these traits, it's vital to learn to avoid destructive emotional interactions. Two people having a serious conversation over coffee in a cozy café. Narcissism. That word gets thrown

The aftermath of a parental suicide increases the child's risk of suicide. Key points Children internalize feelings of shame or self-blame in the wake of a parent who chose to die by suicide. Children who have lost a parent to suicide are three times more likely to die by suicide. This association may not only be because of trauma, but by hereditary and environmental factors. A young person sitting thoughtfully and talking with a therapist According to the World Health Organi

Explore and evaluate worries using a writing technique that leaves you calmer. Key points Listen to your worries; do not shut them out. Admit whatever is true. At the same time, do not automatically believe a worry. See if the worry stands up to questioning. In a two-column table with rows, write worries in the left column and evaluate them in the right column. Wouldn’t it be great if you could simply tell your brain not to worry? Unfortunately, that doesn’t work. So, let’s q

ADHD can have widespread impacts unless meticulously addressed. Key points ADHD is a proven medical disorder with widespread impact. Undermanaged ADHD has been linked to health risks, substance abuse, driving accidents, and more. ADHD medication has been used for nearly a century and been shown to be both safe and effective. Using ADHD medications without side effects is possible for most people when they are managed well. No one I talk to is happy with the state of health ca