Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist

Emotion Regulation

Can a Playlist Save Your Mood? Neuroscience Says Yes

Lindsey Godwin Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in Possibilitizing

Ever wonder why one song can lift your spirits while another brings you to tears? Here's how to use that power on purpose to shift your mood, spark memories, and reset your day.

Ever wonder why one song can lift your spirits while another brings you to tears? Here's how to use that power on purpose to shift your mood, spark memories, and reset your day.

Addiction

Why Purposeful Friendship Matters in Sobriety

Kimberly Horn Ed.D. on May 21, 2025 in Navigating Social Terrain

Learn how purposeful friendships strengthen recovery—and why connection is one of the most powerful tools for healing.

Learn how purposeful friendships strengthen recovery—and why connection is one of the most powerful tools for healing.

Fear

Avoidable vs. Unavoidable: How Freud Distinguished Phobia from OCD

Ellen Park Psy.D. on May 21, 2025 in Psychology and Psychoanalysis

Freud explored how repression operates in both phobia and OCD.

Freud explored how repression operates in both phobia and OCD.

Decision-Making

Intelligent Defaults: How Great Teams Can Speed Up Decisions

Dan Dworkis M.D., Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in The Emergency Mind

Pre-decided actions that guide teams in crisis — or "intelligent defaults" — reduce friction, speed up decisions, and help teams perform under stress.

Pre-decided actions that guide teams in crisis — or "intelligent defaults" — reduce friction, speed up decisions, and help teams perform under stress.

Depression

The Mask of Pathological Productivity

Judith Joseph, M.D. on May 21, 2025 in Navigating High-Functioning Mental Health Conditions

Many high achievers aren’t just burned out, they’re battling high-functioning depression. Spot the signs and support healing behind the mask of productivity.

Many high achievers aren’t just burned out, they’re battling high-functioning depression. Spot the signs and support healing behind the mask of productivity.

Artificial Intelligence

The AI-Free University

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in Darwin's Subterranean World

Personal Perspective: Many fields are pivoting in all kinds of ways to address generative AI. Higher education is one. Perhaps it's time for AI-free universities.

Personal Perspective: Many fields are pivoting in all kinds of ways to address generative AI. Higher education is one. Perhaps it's time for AI-free universities.

Parenting

One Earbud In, One Ear Open: Presence and Awareness for Parents

Sara and Morton Sherman on May 21, 2025 in Resonant Minds

Personal Perspective: How mindful running and intentional listening help moms stay grounded, connected, and present in their daily lives.

Personal Perspective: How mindful running and intentional listening help moms stay grounded, connected, and present in their daily lives.

Grief

What It Means to Grieve Someone Still Living

Stacey R Pinatelli Psy.D. on May 21, 2025 in Hope and Healing

What if the person you're grieving is still alive? Explore the quiet pain of ambiguous loss and learn how to cope, find meaning, and heal when closure and answers never come.

What if the person you're grieving is still alive? Explore the quiet pain of ambiguous loss and learn how to cope, find meaning, and heal when closure and answers never come.

Anxiety

Is It Postpartum Anxiety or Normal New Mom Worry?

Kelly Siebold on May 21, 2025 in How to Thrive Postpartum

Worried all the time? Can’t sleep even when the baby does? Learn the signs of postpartum anxiety and the simple steps that can help you feel more like yourself again.

Worried all the time? Can’t sleep even when the baby does? Learn the signs of postpartum anxiety and the simple steps that can help you feel more like yourself again.

Infidelity

Lessons on Infidelity from the Novel Tell Me Everything

Elisabeth J. LaMotte LICSW on May 21, 2025 in Cinematherapy

The novel Tell Me Everything explores that fragile moment between realization and action, honesty and concealment, friendship and something more.

The novel Tell Me Everything explores that fragile moment between realization and action, honesty and concealment, friendship and something more.

Autism

Autism and Communication: One Word Speaks Volumes

Susan Senator on May 21, 2025 in All Families Are Not Alike

Personal Perspective: The pleasure I get from successfully pinning down one of Nat’s thoughts is so intense; it is a joy that parents of neurotypical kids may never experience.

Personal Perspective: The pleasure I get from successfully pinning down one of Nat’s thoughts is so intense; it is a joy that parents of neurotypical kids may never experience.

Sleep

8 Sleep Habits for Better Rest, Well-Being, and Performance

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D. on May 21, 2025 in Everyday Resilience

We chase trends, tools, and tactics, but what if the most overlooked key to performance, well-being, and success is something as basic as quality sleep?

We chase trends, tools, and tactics, but what if the most overlooked key to performance, well-being, and success is something as basic as quality sleep?

Aging

How “The Village” Can Help Us Find Meaning in Retirement

Elaine Dundon on May 21, 2025 in The Search for Meaning After Age 50

It is not too late to realize that we will find deeper meaning in our lives when we recognize that others need us, and we, in turn, need them.

It is not too late to realize that we will find deeper meaning in our lives when we recognize that others need us, and we, in turn, need them.

Gratitude

When the World Is Burning and You’re Still in Slippers

Veronika Tait Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in Pulling Through

Life has never been more comfortable—or more overwhelming. Here's how to hold both gratitude and grief without losing your sense of hope or humanity.

Life has never been more comfortable—or more overwhelming. Here's how to hold both gratitude and grief without losing your sense of hope or humanity.

Dreaming

How to Interpret Your Dreams

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on May 21, 2025 in Our Devices, Our Selves

Are you intrigued by your dreams? Here are some approaches to record and interpret them.

Are you intrigued by your dreams? Here are some approaches to record and interpret them.

Parenting

The Unseen Truth Behind the "Toxic Phrases" Parenting Trend

Robyn Koslowitz Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in Targeted Parenting

Drawn to the #toxicphrasechallenge? Here's what it may reveal about your parenting—and here's a guideline for engaging with it safely.

Drawn to the #toxicphrasechallenge? Here's what it may reveal about your parenting—and here's a guideline for engaging with it safely.

Anxiety

Do You Get Flooded?

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on May 21, 2025 in Skinny Revisited

Flooding, an involuntary physiological reaction that generates a fight-or-flight response, can be managed. Here's how.

Flooding, an involuntary physiological reaction that generates a fight-or-flight response, can be managed. Here's how.

Therapy

Six Signs It’s Time to Go to Therapy

Carla Shuman Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in From Trial to Triumph

Are you trying to decide if you should go to therapy? This might help you make a confident decision.

Are you trying to decide if you should go to therapy? This might help you make a confident decision.

Anxiety

7 Bad Mental Habits and How They Can Hold You Back in Life

Amy Morin on May 21, 2025 in What Mentally Strong People Don't Do

The way you think affects how you feel and how you behave. Learning to recognize unhealthy thinking patterns is key to living your best life.

The way you think affects how you feel and how you behave. Learning to recognize unhealthy thinking patterns is key to living your best life.

Environment

How Eco-Corporeal Wholeness Can Transform Your Well-Being

Frank J. Ninivaggi M.D., DLF-A.P.A. on May 21, 2025 in Envy This!

Biomental underscores eco-corporeality—the rootedness of individuals within the broader ecological context.

Biomental underscores eco-corporeality—the rootedness of individuals within the broader ecological context.

Dementia

My Dementia Study Got Axed By the Government

Briana Mezuk Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in Ask an Epidemiologist

Why are some groups of Americans more likely to develop dementia, and how can we help them lower their risk? I'd love to find out.

Why are some groups of Americans more likely to develop dementia, and how can we help them lower their risk? I'd love to find out.

Chronic Pain

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference in Accessibility

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in Thinking About Kids

Small changes like adding benches can make many settings more accessible to a wide variety of people. We just have to think about it.

Small changes like adding benches can make many settings more accessible to a wide variety of people. We just have to think about it.

Fear

How the Extreme Becomes Mainstream

Sophia Moskalenko Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in Friction

What makes extreme ideas go viral, and even define entire cultures? Discover how personal convictions evolve into powerful, society-shaping movements.

What makes extreme ideas go viral, and even define entire cultures? Discover how personal convictions evolve into powerful, society-shaping movements.

Addiction

Healing Brain Reward Circuits in Addiction With Mindfulness

Eric Garland, Ph.D., LCSW on May 21, 2025 in Reclaiming a Meaningful Life

Can the brain recover from addiction? New research shows that mindfulness can restore the addicted brain's ability to savor natural pleasure.

Can the brain recover from addiction? New research shows that mindfulness can restore the addicted brain's ability to savor natural pleasure.

Empathy

How to Motivate Others: Focus on Their Problems, Not Yours

Robert Taibbi L.C.S.W. on May 21, 2025 in Fixing Families

If you want to persuade someone to change their behavior, start by talking their language and linking your concerns with theirs.

If you want to persuade someone to change their behavior, start by talking their language and linking your concerns with theirs.

Leadership

Are You Leading Relationally or Transactionally?

Nina Ahuja BScHons, MD, FRCSC, CHE on May 21, 2025 in Striving High

Under pressure, it’s easy to choose a task over connection. Here’s how to lead with both when it matters most.

Under pressure, it’s easy to choose a task over connection. Here’s how to lead with both when it matters most.

Relationships

Healing Hate in Relationships

Jason Shimiaie M.D. on May 21, 2025 in An Interpersonal Lens

Hate is a misunderstood yet vital emotion. When explored with curiosity and compassion, it can foster deeper connection and personal growth across relationships.

Hate is a misunderstood yet vital emotion. When explored with curiosity and compassion, it can foster deeper connection and personal growth across relationships.

Relationships

Deepen the Connection Quotient in Your Relationship

Tony Daloisio Ph.D. on May 21, 2025 in The Journey of Your Life

What if every conversation you had could become more meaningful? Simple shifts in presence, curiosity, and intentionality can deepen your daily interactions and boost fulfillment.

What if every conversation you had could become more meaningful? Simple shifts in presence, curiosity, and intentionality can deepen your daily interactions and boost fulfillment.

ADHD

How to Shift Out of ADHD Survival Mode

Kerry Chillemi Prof Doc Psych on May 21, 2025 in Functional Legacy Mindset

Supporting neurodivergent people requires a neurobiological informed approach.

Supporting neurodivergent people requires a neurobiological informed approach.