Psychology Today

The human brain is good at creating anxiety, and we all feel threatened by tiny cues that were relevant long ago. You can undo your anxiety when you know how you created it.

When someone gets on your nerves, it’s a real thing. You can recover quickly from co-worker stress if you know these three facts about your brain chemistry.

When the world disappoints your expectations, your brain releases cortisol and it feels like an emergency. You can re-wire your brain to feel safe when you’re not in control.

Guilt is natural because your brain is designed to scan for threats, and social threats are survival threats to the brain we’ve inherited from earlier mammals.

Instead of researching well-being through culturally skewed self-reporting tools, let's focus on how our brain chemicals (dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphin) work in animals.

Do animals enjoy sex? The answer will help you understand why love is a neurochemical roller coaster today.

Recognize these not-so-obvious signs of self-criticism.

You may think politicians deserve the hate spewed at them because others seem to feel that way. It helps to know that the mammal brain bonds around common enemies. The mammal brain seeks safe ways to oppose power. The mammal brain mirrors others and relies on old pathways. Your inner mammal feels good when you hate politicians, which lures you to forget that it's hate.

How do you find the courage to resist a bully? My cousin found it when her mother urgently needed protection from her father. They tried to sneak away when he wasn't looking, but the cat escaped and my cousin had to go back and face her Dad. In that moment, she learned to believe in her power to set boundaries. She will enjoy that skill forever.

This movie makes it fun to ponder emotional conflict, but it needs a sequel on the risk of using sadness as a way to get love. Til then, we can learn more about our inner conflicts from gorgeous graphics than boring buzzwords.

secure people create good relationships, even with anxious or avoidant partners. Secure people express their needs directly instead of playing games. They establish a dynamic that helps others feel safe expressing needs and negotiating mutually satisfying solutions.

Computer games make it fun to confront obstacles. Wouldn't it be great if your real-life obstacles were as much fun to tackle? Now there are tools that "gamify" everyday life, to tap into the motivating power of computer games.

I struggled to understand my husband until I read "The Power of Two." Now I don't "cross over" into his brain. I speak for myself and respect his ability to speak for himself. What a relief!