I Hear You

Psychiatry

Do Weight-Loss Medications Affect Mental Health?

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on March 27, 2025

Drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda have become hugely popular. But could their usage lead to psychiatric side effects?

Drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda have become hugely popular. But could their usage lead to psychiatric side effects?

Embarrassment

The Psychology of "Cringe"

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on February 28, 2025

Embarrassing memories stick with us, but not for other people. Even years later, we might cringe to think of the things we've done. But If it's so unpleasant, why do we do it?

Embarrassing memories stick with us, but not for other people. Even years later, we might cringe to think of the things we've done. But If it's so unpleasant, why do we do it?

Defense Mechanisms

4 Healthy Ways to Cope with Unpleasant Realities

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on January 31, 2025

On days when everything seems to be going against you, instead of pretending your problems don't exist, try this.

On days when everything seems to be going against you, instead of pretending your problems don't exist, try this.

Anxiety

What If? How to Master Your Anxiety About the Future

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on December 16, 2024

Looking into the future can produce a lot of worries — some of which might even help you get ready for it. Here's how to understand fear and anxiety, and what to do about them.

Looking into the future can produce a lot of worries — some of which might even help you get ready for it. Here's how to understand fear and anxiety, and what to do about them.

Grief

How to Cope With Devastating Loss

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on November 26, 2024

It's painful—physically and mentally—to lose someone you love, and you may need a long time to recover. Take better care of yourself by following these suggestions.

It's painful—physically and mentally—to lose someone you love, and you may need a long time to recover. Take better care of yourself by following these suggestions.

Unconscious

How the Unconscious Mind Guides Our Behavior

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on October 28, 2024

We ignore the information it shares at our own risk.

We ignore the information it shares at our own risk.

Personality

Are You and Your Partner Temperamentally Compatible?

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on October 1, 2024

Differences in temperament could be more deeply rooted than differences in personality, and if you don't understand them well enough, they can cause problems in your relationship.

Differences in temperament could be more deeply rooted than differences in personality, and if you don't understand them well enough, they can cause problems in your relationship.

Perfectionism

The Pitfalls of Perfectionism

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on August 29, 2024

Amazing successes emerge from some people's efforts to be perfect, but for most of us, perfectionism can harm our relationships and our careers. Here's why.

Amazing successes emerge from some people's efforts to be perfect, but for most of us, perfectionism can harm our relationships and our careers. Here's why.

Therapy

The Trouble With Instant Therapy

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on July 25, 2024

Instant virtual therapy services may offer quick access to a therapist and the ability to text them at any time but these features might actually make therapy less helpful.

Instant virtual therapy services may offer quick access to a therapist and the ability to text them at any time but these features might actually make therapy less helpful.

Therapy

Can a Therapist Talk You Into Feeling Better?

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on June 24, 2024

When depression becomes universal negativity, involving pessimism toward the world, the self, and the future, it's not always possible — or helpful — to change someone's mind.

When depression becomes universal negativity, involving pessimism toward the world, the self, and the future, it's not always possible — or helpful — to change someone's mind.

Relationships

What's Your Fighting Style?

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on May 30, 2024

Most people argue in one of four main ways. Learning about them can help you understand your partner, friend, or family member, so your arguments can be more productive.

Most people argue in one of four main ways. Learning about them can help you understand your partner, friend, or family member, so your arguments can be more productive.

Conspiracy Theories

How to Talk to the Conspiracy Theorist in Your Life

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on May 2, 2024

Conspiracy theories seem to be everywhere nowadays—but believing in them can be bad for your physical and mental health. Here's what to know when you talk to a true believer.

Conspiracy theories seem to be everywhere nowadays—but believing in them can be bad for your physical and mental health. Here's what to know when you talk to a true believer.

Social Media

4 Rare Psychological Syndromes You’ve Likely Never Heard Of

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on March 22, 2024

Social media is full of references to psychology and therapeutic vocabulary, but here are four syndromes and disorders you've probably never heard of before.

Social media is full of references to psychology and therapeutic vocabulary, but here are four syndromes and disorders you've probably never heard of before.

Persuasion

How to Bring Up Hard Topics in an Easy Way

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on February 27, 2024

If you have trouble asking your partner, friend, or family member to do things differently, you might want to look more closely at how you frame your requests.

If you have trouble asking your partner, friend, or family member to do things differently, you might want to look more closely at how you frame your requests.

Diet

When Eating Right Goes Wrong

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on January 26, 2024

Most of us try hard to eat well and to make good dietary choices. But sometimes these efforts go too far when people become obsessed with eating exactly "right."

Most of us try hard to eat well and to make good dietary choices. But sometimes these efforts go too far when people become obsessed with eating exactly "right."

Friends

Men Are Losing Their Friends, and It Could Be Killing Them

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on December 27, 2023

Typical gender roles make it hard for men and boys to be open with each other.

Typical gender roles make it hard for men and boys to be open with each other.

Self-Talk

4 Ways to Beat Negative Self-Talk

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on November 16, 2023

It's easy to be excessively self-critical, which usually hurts more than it helps. Here's how to slow down and reverse those automatic, negative thoughts.

It's easy to be excessively self-critical, which usually hurts more than it helps. Here's how to slow down and reverse those automatic, negative thoughts.

Therapy

When Therapy Works Fast

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on October 19, 2023

A patient arrived with deeply entrenched worries and compulsive behaviors about being infested with microscopic mites. It took only five sessions to resolve the issue.

A patient arrived with deeply entrenched worries and compulsive behaviors about being infested with microscopic mites. It took only five sessions to resolve the issue.

Meditation

3 Ways Mindfulness Meditation Makes Therapy Work Better

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on October 2, 2023

If you meditate, you're already learning some implicit skills, like acceptance, and gaining distance on your feelings, that can help you benefit from psychotherapy.

If you meditate, you're already learning some implicit skills, like acceptance, and gaining distance on your feelings, that can help you benefit from psychotherapy.

Environment

If You Can’t Stop Worrying About Climate Change, Try This

Loren Soeiro, Ph.D. ABPP on August 30, 2023

Does the news about flooding, fires, hurricanes, or heat waves make it hard for you to sleep or concentrate? Here's how to take practical steps to manage climate anxiety.

Does the news about flooding, fires, hurricanes, or heat waves make it hard for you to sleep or concentrate? Here's how to take practical steps to manage climate anxiety.