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

Stress

3 Tips to Center or Ground Yourself

Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Click Here for Happiness

What centering is and how it can help relieve stress.

What centering is and how it can help relieve stress.

Neuroscience

AI Predicts Neuroscience Study Results better than Experts

Cami Rosso on December 2, 2024 in The Future Brain

New study shows AI large language models (LLMs) outperform human neuroscientists in predicting neuroscience study outcomes.

New study shows AI large language models (LLMs) outperform human neuroscientists in predicting neuroscience study outcomes.

Animal Behavior

The State of Animal Consciousness, Sentience, and Emotions

Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Animal Emotions

There's been more acceptance of cognitive ethology in the past 20 years among those interested in animal minds, including animal consciousness, sentience, and emotional lives.

There's been more acceptance of cognitive ethology in the past 20 years among those interested in animal minds, including animal consciousness, sentience, and emotional lives.

Anxiety

Managing Social Anxiety During the Holidays

Joyce Marter LCPC on December 2, 2024 in Mental Wealth

The holidays can amplify social anxiety. Here's how to manage expectations, stay grounded, and find joy in meaningful moments, all while embracing your true self.

The holidays can amplify social anxiety. Here's how to manage expectations, stay grounded, and find joy in meaningful moments, all while embracing your true self.

Gratitude

When Gratitude Turns Into Guilt

Dana Bowman on December 2, 2024 in Highly Functioning Is Highly Dangerous

A Personal Perspective: Gratitude is good for us—but that doesn't always mean it's easy to practice.

A Personal Perspective: Gratitude is good for us—but that doesn't always mean it's easy to practice.

Boundaries

Navigating Expectations and Creating Boundaries

Edy Nathan MA, LCSWR on December 2, 2024 in Tales of Grief

Managing the holiday tightrope and expectations about religion.

Managing the holiday tightrope and expectations about religion.

Illusion of Control

Understanding Your Inner Control-Freak

Gregg Levoy on December 2, 2024 in Passion!

Personal Perspective: Control is, by definition, exerting authority over, curbing, and constraining, and when allowed to go unchecked, it exerts a throttling effect on life.

Personal Perspective: Control is, by definition, exerting authority over, curbing, and constraining, and when allowed to go unchecked, it exerts a throttling effect on life.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Psychobiography Across Cultures

Dinesh Sharma Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Leaders in the Making

Psychobiograhy's resurgence points to a once and future discipline across cultures.

Psychobiograhy's resurgence points to a once and future discipline across cultures.

Relationships

How to Stop Losing Yourself in Relationships

John Kim LMFT on December 2, 2024 in The Angry Therapist

It's possible to maintain your sense of identity while still building something meaningful with your partner.

It's possible to maintain your sense of identity while still building something meaningful with your partner.

Dreaming

Everything You Need to Start Your Dreamwork Journey

Helen Marlo, Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Deeper Dive

To begin reaping the benefits of dream journaling, you need nothing more than a couple of basic items that are, most likely, already in your house.

To begin reaping the benefits of dream journaling, you need nothing more than a couple of basic items that are, most likely, already in your house.

Depression

When You are Estranged for the Holidays: 3 Strategies for Coping

Jennifer Gerlach LCSW on December 2, 2024 in Beyond Mental Health

Remember that what you feel is not who you are.

Remember that what you feel is not who you are.

Religion

How Religious Instruction Shapes Children's Thinking

Gary Wenk Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Your Brain on Food

Bible studies significantly influence the way children process, interpret and explain the everyday narratives they encounter outside of the religious environment.

Bible studies significantly influence the way children process, interpret and explain the everyday narratives they encounter outside of the religious environment.

Self-Help

The Emotional Benefits of De-Cluttering

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., M.Div., Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Why Bad Looks Good

How separating trash from treasure promotes well-being.

How separating trash from treasure promotes well-being.

Anxiety

Understanding High-Functioning Anxiety and When To Seek Help

Alicia H. Clark Psy.D. on December 2, 2024 in Hack Your Anxiety

Are you someone who excels outwardly while inwardly battling anxiety? This may be a sign of high-functioning anxiety.

Are you someone who excels outwardly while inwardly battling anxiety? This may be a sign of high-functioning anxiety.

Stress

How to Make the Holidays Feel Less Overwhelming

Terri Cheney on December 2, 2024 in The Bipolar Lens

A Personal Perspective: What I learned when I approached my "holiday blahs" the same way I approached writer's block.

A Personal Perspective: What I learned when I approached my "holiday blahs" the same way I approached writer's block.

Mindfulness

Lower Stress by Practicing Mindfulness at Work

Michael W Wiederman Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Mindful Professional Development

Practicing mindfulness has been shown to lower stress and improve concentration and memory. Learn how to practice during the course of your daily work without requiring more time.

Practicing mindfulness has been shown to lower stress and improve concentration and memory. Learn how to practice during the course of your daily work without requiring more time.

Sleep

Having Trouble Sleeping? Make This a Habit

Diane N Solomon Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in The Narrative Nurse Practitioner

Insomnia is a growing social and cultural phenomenon. If it plagues you, there's a lot you can do—including this simple, overlooked hack—to successfully achieve better rest.

Insomnia is a growing social and cultural phenomenon. If it plagues you, there's a lot you can do—including this simple, overlooked hack—to successfully achieve better rest.

Divorce

Getting Divorced? 7 Ways to Help Your Child Through It

David Schwartz LMFT on December 2, 2024 in Adolescents, Explained

Marriages sometimes end. When they do, children can be severely impacted. Here are 7 ideas to help make it a little easier for them to cope with this shift in their lives.

Marriages sometimes end. When they do, children can be severely impacted. Here are 7 ideas to help make it a little easier for them to cope with this shift in their lives.

Grief

Holidays and Coping With a Beloved's Recent Death

Roni Beth Tower Ph.D., ABPP on December 2, 2024 in Life, Refracted

Facing the holidays without my deceased husband terrified me. Old coping skills along with data and ideas from two psychologists led me to revise my perspectives and behaviors.

Facing the holidays without my deceased husband terrified me. Old coping skills along with data and ideas from two psychologists led me to revise my perspectives and behaviors.

Eating Disorders

Navigating the Holidays in Eating Disorder Recovery

Carolyn Karoll LCSW-C, CEDS-C on December 2, 2024 in Eating Disorder Recovery

The holidays can be a challenge for those in eating disorder recovery, but there are ways to navigate the season with peace, humor, and self-compassion.

The holidays can be a challenge for those in eating disorder recovery, but there are ways to navigate the season with peace, humor, and self-compassion.

Burnout

The Risk of Preparing for the Worst

Gary R Simonds MD MS FAANS on December 2, 2024 in Rich Encounters

Personal Perspective: We train ourselves to ignore pleasant interactions and promising outcomes and focus on anticipating worst-case scenarios—much to our detriment.

Personal Perspective: We train ourselves to ignore pleasant interactions and promising outcomes and focus on anticipating worst-case scenarios—much to our detriment.

Boundaries

What to Do When People Repeatedly Violate Your Boundaries

Moshe Ratson MBA, MFT on December 2, 2024 in The Wisdom of Anger

Setting boundaries is a powerful act of self-respect, but what happens when someone repeatedly crosses the line?

Setting boundaries is a powerful act of self-respect, but what happens when someone repeatedly crosses the line?

Relationships

The Silent Breakup: Is Your Partner’s Distance the End?

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Liking the Child You Love

What if the end of your relationship doesn’t come with a dramatic fight or a breakup text but instead arrives in the form of silent withdrawal?

What if the end of your relationship doesn’t come with a dramatic fight or a breakup text but instead arrives in the form of silent withdrawal?

SSRIs

The Costs of Mistaking Antidepressant Withdrawal for Relapse

Christopher Lane Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Side Effects

Recent gold-standard studies of antidepressant withdrawal flag misdiagnosis, confounding, and rushed tapering as ongoing concerns.

Recent gold-standard studies of antidepressant withdrawal flag misdiagnosis, confounding, and rushed tapering as ongoing concerns.

Relationships

When Dating Concerns Are Nicks, Not Icks

Sanna Balsari-Palsule, Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in What’s Mind Is Yours

Searching for the 'ick' is sabotaging potentially fulfilling relationships.

Searching for the 'ick' is sabotaging potentially fulfilling relationships.

Relationships

5 Signs Your Relationship Is Functional But Loveless

Mark Travers Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Social Instincts

Do you and your partner simply go through the motions together? Here's how to tell if you're in a loveless relationship.

Do you and your partner simply go through the motions together? Here's how to tell if you're in a loveless relationship.

Parenting

How to Actually Enjoy the Holidays With Young Children

Kyle D. Pruett M.D. on December 2, 2024 in Once Upon a Child

While fun, the holidays can also be challenging for young children as their routines are eroded. By following these simple steps, families can navigate the season more smoothly.

While fun, the holidays can also be challenging for young children as their routines are eroded. By following these simple steps, families can navigate the season more smoothly.

Emotion Regulation

Supporting Children and Adolescents Through Emotional Regulation

Joyce Vromen Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Divergent Minds

Emotion dysregulation has been identified in research as a transdiagnostic risk factor for mental ill-health, including depression and anxiety.

Emotion dysregulation has been identified in research as a transdiagnostic risk factor for mental ill-health, including depression and anxiety.

Gratitude

Give Your Child the Gift of Gratitude

Dona Matthews Ph.D. on December 2, 2024 in Going Beyond Intelligence

Don't despair at your child's seasonal transformation into Veruca Salt. Help them find their inner Tiny Tim, overflowing with gratitude and loving appreciation all year long.

Don't despair at your child's seasonal transformation into Veruca Salt. Help them find their inner Tiny Tim, overflowing with gratitude and loving appreciation all year long.