If you have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you might have noticed that criticism, rejection, or even the possibility of disapproval hits you harder than it seems to affect others. That intense emotional pain you feel isn’t “being too sensitive.” It could be rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD). This lesser-known aspect of ADHD affects up to ...

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely researched and used forms of talk therapy today. At its core, CBT focuses on the connection between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The idea behind this form of treatment is that when we learn to identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, we can ...

If you’re living with chronic illness, you’ve likely experienced those frustrating moments when your mind feels clouded, thoughts seem scattered, and even simple tasks require enormous mental effort. This experience, commonly called “brain fog,” affects millions of people with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and chronic pain disorders. You’re not imagining it, ...

Uncovering infidelity in your relationship—whether emotional, physical, or digital—can feel like the ground has suddenly shifted beneath you, leaving you overwhelmed and unsteady. The betrayal shakes the foundation of trust you built together, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew about your partner and your relationship. In the aftermath, you might experience a ...

We all have difficult days when everything feels overwhelming or nothing seems to go right. But when does a rough patch cross the line into something more serious? Depression often develops gradually, making it easy to dismiss early warning signs as temporary stress or normal life challenges. Understanding the difference between occasional low moods ...

If you’ve been struggling with trauma, anxiety, or other emotional challenges, you may have heard about EMDR therapy. This approach has helped countless people find relief from distressing memories and overwhelming emotions. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation with eye movements, tapping, or sounds to activate both sides of your brain. This process helps your mind ...

Emotional trauma doesn’t just live in your mind. It makes its presence known in every facet of your life. You might feel disconnected from yourself, always on edge, unable to feel safe. When you’re still carrying the weight of what happened, healing can feel almost impossible. But recovery is possible. It takes time, patience, ...

As we move deeper into fall and winter, the days grow shorter and sunlight fades earlier each evening. Many people notice a shift during this time. That might include a dip in mood, energy, and motivation that feels different from their usual self. You might find yourself sleeping more than usual, craving comfort ...

The holiday season brings bright lights and festive music that fill homes and public spaces. Crowds of people move quickly to prepare for celebrations, and the pace of life seems faster than usual. For someone experiencing grief, these external signs of the season can feel overwhelming or even alien. The contrast between the surrounding ...

Deciding to move in together is a major step in any relationship. While cohabitation often feels like a natural progression, it can also surface new challenges that couples have not yet discussed. Taking time to talk through expectations before signing on a new place can make a significant difference in how smoothly this ...

Every couple argues from time to time. This is a normal part of being in a relationship. The problem isn’t the arguments in themselves, but that they happen. The problem is how these disagreements are handled by each partner in the relationship. When anger takes over, it’s easy for even the smallest of disagreements ...

Social anxiety can make even simple interactions like introducing yourself to others, speaking up in class or in a work meeting, or even just ordering coffee feel overwhelming. For many, the fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected turns everyday situations into major stressors. The good news is that social anxiety doesn’t have to ...

It is normal to feel nervous before marriage. Most people expect a few jitters as they prepare for a lifelong commitment. However, when the worry turns into sleepless nights, physical tension, or an overwhelming sense of dread, it may be something more than typical cold feet. Marriage anxiety involves deep fears about the ...

Most people walk into marriage filled with love, excitement, and hope for the future. But no matter how joyful the union, everyone brings a set of expectations into their marriage—whether they’ve talked about them or not. These expectations shape everything: communication, division of responsibilities, affection, and conflict resolution. When expectations go unspoken, tension can ...

If you feel like everyone you know under 30 is talking about anxiety, you’re not imagining things. Research shows that anxiety rates among Gen Z are higher than ever before. In fact, Gen Z reports experiencing the highest levels of stress and mental health struggles compared to previous generations. But the question remains: ...

Infidelity is one of the most painful types of betrayal you can experience in a relationship. It crumbles the foundation you’ve built with your partner and leaves you with an enormous seed of doubt, heartbreak, and confusion. After discovering any level of unfaithfulness, many people feel like it’s the end of the road. You’re ...

Many working mothers enter parenthood with confidence in their ability to balance career and family. The reality, however, often looks different from what is expected. Depression doesn’t accommodate your schedule or respect your ambitions. It can transform routine tasks into monumental challenges and make you question abilities you’ve never doubted before. Practical Strategies for ...

Breakups are hard on anyone, but if you’ve been through a particularly difficult relationship, you may be dealing with relationship trauma. Relationship trauma can happen in any connection where emotional or psychological harm occurred. Understanding what causes it and recognizing the signs in yourself are the first steps toward recovery. Here’s where to ...

If you’ve ever found yourself bickering with your partner about bedtime routines, discipline strategies, or how to handle your child’s latest meltdown, you’re not alone. It’s incredibly normal for parenting styles to clash, even in the healthiest relationships. Parenting is inherently stressful, so it’s no wonder tensions can run high between partners. Understanding the ...

Supporting teens with autism requires a thoughtful, individualized approach that considers their unique strengths, challenges, and developmental needs. While autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents differently in every person, there are several key areas where many autistic teens benefit from support. By focusing on common issues that prepare them for adulthood, parents, educators, and ...

When a child goes through a traumatic experience, there can be long-lasting ripple effects through all aspects of life. If left unmanaged, trauma can lead to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Not only will PTSD impact the child, but it can also affect other family members and the household dynamic as a whole. Knowing how ...

The shorter days and colder weather don’t just signal the changing seasons. For many people, they bring a noticeable dip in mood and energy. If you feel more fatigued, sad, or unmotivated as fall turns to winter, you might be experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This form of depression is triggered by seasonal changes, ...

When someone we depend on violates our trust, the pain runs deeper than ordinary disappointment. Betrayal trauma describes the emotional and psychological distress that arises when people we rely on for safety or support break that fundamental bond. Whether it happens in childhood through caregivers who failed to protect us, in adult relationships through ...

If you’re looking to build a stronger bond with your partner and reignite emotional intimacy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) might be the right approach. This therapeutic method helps couples understand and express their emotions while changing any negative interaction patterns that have put space between them. In EFT, you’ll learn to communicate ...

When you hear the word trauma, you might associate it with a singular incident that resulted in some type of negative effect on your system. Complex trauma, however, represents a distinct type of wound. This type of trauma can have a less straightforward origin, and its effects on mental and physical health can be ...

Bipolar disorder is often misunderstood, especially when it comes to how people with it think and experience the world. From the outside, it can seem like an unpredictable rollercoaster of moods. But inside, it’s far more complex, deeply emotional, and intensely human. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like inside the mind of someone ...

You’ve got a big, important deadline for work at the end of the week. Your kids have tests to study for and projects to complete. The family to-do list keeps getting longer despite your best efforts to check items off. The daily demands never seem to end. When you’re juggling this many items, your ...

Have you ever noticed your shoulders tense up when you’re stressed, or your stomach twist before a difficult conversation? Our bodies often speak the language of our emotions long before our minds catch up. Yet in traditional talk therapy, we tend to focus mainly on thoughts and feelings while overlooking the body. Somatic therapy, ...

Traditional talk therapy and play therapy both aim to help children work through anxiety, but they take very different paths to get there. Think of it this way: if anxiety is a locked door, talk therapy uses conversation as the key, while play therapy uses toys, games, and creative expression to unlock that ...

Have you ever felt like something was missing in your life, but you couldn’t quite put your finger on what it was? Maybe you’ve struggled with feeling disconnected from your emotions or found yourself constantly questioning whether your feelings are valid. If this resonates with you, you might be experiencing the lingering effects ...

When you’re struggling with intrusive thoughts while simultaneously battling an inability to focus, you might wonder if there’s more going on than just one condition. Research shows that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occur, with studies indicating that up to 30% of individuals with ADHD also experience OCD symptoms. Understanding ...

Codependency can feel exhausting. You’re always putting others’ needs before your own, struggling with boundaries, and measuring your self-worth by how much you can fix or help someone else. If this sounds a little too familiar, you’re not alone. Many people wrestle with codependent tendencies, most of which are shaped by family dynamics, ...

Our brains are designed to seek out social connections for survival. When we’re isolated, our minds interpret this as a threat, triggering stress responses that can become chronic over time. This biological alarm system doesn’t distinguish between physical and emotional isolation. Both activate the same neural pathways associated with pain and distress. Research indicates ...

The holiday season brings a sense of joy and celebration for many, but if you struggle with social anxiety, this time of year can stir up overwhelming emotions. Between family gatherings, office parties, and seasonal events, the constant stream of social obligations can feel exhausting. You might feel anxious even before saying yes to ...

If you’re someone who tends to jump into problem-solving mode the minute something goes wrong, you’re definitely not alone. Many people carry the quiet belief that if they can just fix things, everything will be okay. But the truth is, constantly trying to fix everything is exhausting, and it keeps you in a state ...

Most people have some idea of what OCD is. You might picture someone washing their hands excessively, checking locks repeatedly, or organizing things in perfectly straight lines. While these behaviors can certainly be part of OCD, the disorder is far more complex and deeply neurological than many realize. It’s not a personality quirk ...

Becoming a mother is supposed to be one of life’s greatest joys, but what happens when overwhelming worry and intrusive thoughts cloud those precious early moments? If you’re experiencing postpartum anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), you’re not alone. You’re not failing as a mother. Postpartum anxiety affects up to 15 percent of new mothers, ...

When one family member has bipolar disorder, everyone’s life changes. Manic and depressive episodes disrupt daily routines, strain relationships, and create emotional turbulence throughout the household. Financial strain from impulsive spending during manic episodes threatens family stability. Constant vigilance during episodes drains everyone’s emotional reserves. Mood fluctuations can strain even the strongest family ...

Mental health and substance use disorders frequently occur together. Research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that nearly 9 million Americans experience both conditions simultaneously. Yet, only 7% receive treatment for both, and close to 60% receive no treatment at all. Understanding Dual Diagnosis When mental health disorders and substance use ...

If you’re exploring ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health challenges, you might wonder what the experience involves. Understanding the process helps you feel prepared and confident about this treatment option. Let’s walk through what happens before, during, and after your first session. Preparing for Your First Session Your journey begins with ...

Friendships are some of the most important relationships we have throughout our lifetime. They provide us with joy, support, and an overall sense of belonging. But just like any other relationship, friendships need care and attention in order to grow stronger. Building your friendships and deepening the connection that you have with your friends ...

Anxiety is a common human experience that serves a crucial biological purpose. It heightens our alertness and focus, preparing us to respond effectively to stressful situations. However, anxiety can manifest as racing thoughts and physical symptoms, often intensifying at night and disrupting sleep. Anxiety often intensifies at night as you lie in bed, free ...

Jealousy is a normal human emotion, but when it starts to show up regularly in your relationship, especially around your friendships, it can create strain. If your partner often feels threatened or uneasy about the time you spend with friends, it’s natural to wonder what’s behind those feelings and how you should react ...

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often mischaracterized as simply being extra tidy or a perfectionist. The reality of OCD is far more complex. Perfectionism and OCD share some overlapping traits, but they are not the same. Perfectionism is a personality trait, while OCD is a clinical mental health condition that can cause significant added stress. ...

The body changes faster during adolescence than the mind can process, and with that comes new insecurities. Between social media, peer pressure, and the unavoidable comparisons that come with growing up, it is no surprise that many adolescents struggle with how they view their bodies. Supporting a healthier body image requires more than just ...

Working in helping professions like therapy, medicine, first response, and education brings deep meaning to our lives. However, the very nature of this meaningful work can create unique challenges that many professionals don’t anticipate. Vicarious trauma is a natural psychological response to being repeatedly exposed to others’ suffering and traumatic experiences. It develops through ...

When you hear the word “narcissist,” you might think of someone who is self-absorbed, manipulative, or lacking empathy. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a recognized mental health condition. But even outside of a formal diagnosis, people can display narcissistic traits that can make relationships more challenging. This often raises the question: can a ...

Monogamy remains the most prevalent relationship style in the United States. Most people grow up expecting to find “the one” and settle into a traditional partnership. But research suggests that humans haven’t always been strictly monogamous throughout history. Today, millions of Americans are exploring different ways to love and connect. Around 16 million people ...

You’re putting in the hours and crushing it at work, but at home, there are baskets of laundry waiting to be put away. You’ve got a big deadline on a project, while at the same time, your family expects dinner to be ready each night. In modern society, women wear many different hats. We’ve ...

Anxiety can feel overwhelming, making your mind race and your body tense with worry about future events or past mistakes. When anxiety takes hold, it’s easy to feel trapped in a cycle of “what if” thoughts that seem impossible to escape. The good news is that meditation offers powerful, scientifically backed techniques to ...