Lifetime Connections

Boundaries

What Estranged Parents Often Misunderstand About No Contact

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on May 1, 2026

When adult children go "no contact," it’s rarely sudden. Understanding that distance is often about safety may help parents respond with care and respect.

When adult children go "no contact," it’s rarely sudden. Understanding that distance is often about safety may help parents respond with care and respect.

Family Dynamics

What Estranged Parents Wish Others Understood

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on March 30, 2026

When family ties rupture, parents are left grieving without language, closure, or support. Ambiguous grief is a heavy load to carry.

When family ties rupture, parents are left grieving without language, closure, or support. Ambiguous grief is a heavy load to carry.

Boundaries

If You Chose to Break From Family, You’re Not Broken

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on March 23, 2026

Family estrangement can be reframed as self-protection in many cases. Some adult children go no-contact to protect boundaries, safety, and emotional health.

Family estrangement can be reframed as self-protection in many cases. Some adult children go no-contact to protect boundaries, safety, and emotional health.

Sadism

Why Kind People Join Cruel Crowds: Risk of Collective Sadism

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on February 13, 2026

When a crowd turns cruel, what keeps us human? Explore why kind people get swept up—and how you can stay anchored in compassion.

When a crowd turns cruel, what keeps us human? Explore why kind people get swept up—and how you can stay anchored in compassion.

Friends

The New Rules of Friendship: Navigating Modern Connections

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on January 13, 2026

Here are 12 modern rules of friendship with tips for navigating digital boundaries, avoiding friendship burnout, and nurturing meaningful connections both online and offline.

Here are 12 modern rules of friendship with tips for navigating digital boundaries, avoiding friendship burnout, and nurturing meaningful connections both online and offline.

Relationships

Dating Without Drama: Modern Trends Support Mental Health

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on December 16, 2025

Learn how intentional dating practices like slow dating and clear coding can reduce stress, boost emotional well-being, and increase joy in today’s dating world.

Learn how intentional dating practices like slow dating and clear coding can reduce stress, boost emotional well-being, and increase joy in today’s dating world.

Divorce

Staying Friends With an Ex: Smart or Risky?

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on November 25, 2025

Staying friends with an ex is possible and may be good for you. Here are benefits, risks, and practical tips for healthy post-breakup connections.

Staying friends with an ex is possible and may be good for you. Here are benefits, risks, and practical tips for healthy post-breakup connections.

Narcissism

Do Narcissists Commit Suicide?

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on November 3, 2025

Some narcissists find severe threats to their self-esteem and self-worth intolerable and seek to end their pain at any cost.

Some narcissists find severe threats to their self-esteem and self-worth intolerable and seek to end their pain at any cost.

Friends

Making Friends as Adults: Reboot Connection a Swipe at a Time

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on September 30, 2025

Struggling to make friends as an adult? Learn how friendship apps and effort can help you overcome loneliness and reconnect with others.

Struggling to make friends as an adult? Learn how friendship apps and effort can help you overcome loneliness and reconnect with others.

Family Dynamics

Is Family Loyalty a Thing of the Past?

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on August 15, 2025

The stigma around family estrangement has evaporated.

The stigma around family estrangement has evaporated.

Friends

Why Some Friends Always Try to Correct You

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on August 8, 2025

Ego, one-upmanship, family history, or other issues.

Ego, one-upmanship, family history, or other issues.

Friends

What Drives Friendly Competition Between Good Friends?

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on June 27, 2025

From besties to frenemies, here's why some friendships come with a competitive edge.

From besties to frenemies, here's why some friendships come with a competitive edge.

Relationships

Family Estrangement: What Do You Want Your Last Words to Be?

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on May 21, 2025

Dealing with estrangement is hard, but owning past mistakes, acknowledging you did the best you could, and taking responsibility for future actions can be wonderfully freeing.

Dealing with estrangement is hard, but owning past mistakes, acknowledging you did the best you could, and taking responsibility for future actions can be wonderfully freeing.

Narcissism

Recognizing and Healing From Narcissistic Abuse

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on April 25, 2025

Narcissists don’t like a person for who they are, they like them for what they can do for the narcissist. Here are 6 tips for healing from narcissistic abuse.

Narcissists don’t like a person for who they are, they like them for what they can do for the narcissist. Here are 6 tips for healing from narcissistic abuse.

Self-Help

Family Dysfunction at the Macro Level

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on April 14, 2025

Those who grew up in dysfunctional families may find the current unpredictable political climate all too familiar.

Those who grew up in dysfunctional families may find the current unpredictable political climate all too familiar.

Happiness

The Keys to Happiness, According to the World Happiness Report

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on March 28, 2025

Why can't the US get it right when it comes to happiness? The kid with "all the toys" isn't always the happiest one on the block.

Why can't the US get it right when it comes to happiness? The kid with "all the toys" isn't always the happiest one on the block.

Family Dynamics

The Painful Experiences of Alienated Grandparents

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on March 14, 2025

Denied access, social-media blackouts, rejection of gifts, and more.

Denied access, social-media blackouts, rejection of gifts, and more.

Stress

Turn Back the Clock: Don’t Let Stress Add Years to Your Age

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on February 7, 2025

Science confirms you’re only as old as you feel. If you’re exposed to stress-inducing stimuli without an emotional safety plan, you’ll age yourself a lot quicker than nature would.

Science confirms you’re only as old as you feel. If you’re exposed to stress-inducing stimuli without an emotional safety plan, you’ll age yourself a lot quicker than nature would.

Friends

When a Friendship No Longer Fits

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on January 3, 2025

Will you know if a connection's expired, or if it should be revived?

Will you know if a connection's expired, or if it should be revived?

Narcissism

The Challenge of Handling Narcissistic Elderly Parents

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on December 19, 2024

4. If they complain about their care, check before taking their word for it.

4. If they complain about their care, check before taking their word for it.