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

Personality

How to Handle Difficult Bosses, Employees, and People

Chitra Ragavan on May 18, 2026 in Positive Instigation 

Have you ever run into a family member, boss, or employee who seem impossible to please? They may fall into the category of "difficult people." It's a complex personality trait.

Have you ever run into a family member, boss, or employee who seem impossible to please? They may fall into the category of "difficult people." It's a complex personality trait.

Self-Help

Self-Care in Schizophrenia

Bethany Yeiser BS on May 18, 2026 in Recovery Road

Personal Perspective: A healthy diet, relationships, and being busy with work and hobbies are all important parts of self-care when recovering from schizophrenia.

Personal Perspective: A healthy diet, relationships, and being busy with work and hobbies are all important parts of self-care when recovering from schizophrenia.

Productivity

When Work Feels Emotionally Expensive

Cathleen G Beachboard MA on May 18, 2026 in The Hopeful Brain

Some work tasks are espcially emotionally expensive. Here’s why the brain experiences them that way—and how tiny moments of joy can help.

Some work tasks are espcially emotionally expensive. Here’s why the brain experiences them that way—and how tiny moments of joy can help.

Adolescence

Youth in Distress: Finding Connection That Works

Amber W. Childs Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in The Game Changers

Youth mental health needs continue to surge. The answer may not be new tech, but connection. This piece makes the case for peer support as a scalable, impactful solution.

Youth mental health needs continue to surge. The answer may not be new tech, but connection. This piece makes the case for peer support as a scalable, impactful solution.

Happiness

3 Tips to Make Any Gathering More Successful

Bruce Feiler on May 18, 2026 in Happy Families

Americans are pushing back against loneliness, hate, and screen saturation with an astonishing outpouring of new rituals that allow us to connect and make meaning together.

Americans are pushing back against loneliness, hate, and screen saturation with an astonishing outpouring of new rituals that allow us to connect and make meaning together.

Relationships

The Challenging Paradox of Trust in Relationships

Stephen J. Betchen D.S.W. on May 18, 2026 in Magnetic Partners

Why clinicians who try to help a couple rebuild trust may be in for a surprising challenge.

Why clinicians who try to help a couple rebuild trust may be in for a surprising challenge.

Fear

Outgrowing Fear of Annihilation

Steven Stosny, Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in Anger in the Age of Entitlement

The challenges of multiculturalism are mostly political, yet individuals can contribute positively to gaining cohesion and increasing tolerance in a multicultural world.

The challenges of multiculturalism are mostly political, yet individuals can contribute positively to gaining cohesion and increasing tolerance in a multicultural world.

Play

How Online Gambling Hijacks an Element of Play: Anticipation

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in Play in Mind

Online gambling mobilizes anticipation to activate the reward circuits in vulnerable players.

Online gambling mobilizes anticipation to activate the reward circuits in vulnerable players.

Parenting

Waking Up Daddy

Brad E Sachs Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in Emptying The Nest

When fathers engage in an honest, courageous self-examination, it can open the door to healing, reconciliation, and a deeper connection with their young adult.

When fathers engage in an honest, courageous self-examination, it can open the door to healing, reconciliation, and a deeper connection with their young adult.

Artificial Intelligence

The Word I Don't Have for What AI Has Done to My Work

Trond Arne Undheim Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in The Adaptive Mind

Personal Perspective: AI is taking the parts of writing I used to enjoy. What is left, for now, is the act of deciding when the work is done—and putting my name on it.

Personal Perspective: AI is taking the parts of writing I used to enjoy. What is left, for now, is the act of deciding when the work is done—and putting my name on it.

Relationships

Trying to Love

Robert N. Kraft Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in Defining Memories

The conclusion from more than sixty years of psychological research is clear. To lead a healthy and satisfying life, try to love.

The conclusion from more than sixty years of psychological research is clear. To lead a healthy and satisfying life, try to love.

Parenting

Male-Centered Mothers and the Daughters They Leave Behind

Bridgette Peteet Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in When Family Hurts

When mothers center men, daughters can learn painful lessons about love, silence, and self-worth. Here’s how that pattern forms—and how healing begins.

When mothers center men, daughters can learn painful lessons about love, silence, and self-worth. Here’s how that pattern forms—and how healing begins.

A somewhat bizarre evening with a famous guru at London’s Royal Albert Hall became an unexpected lesson in spiritual narcissism.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

What’s Up with Molly (MDMA) After the Executive Order?

Mark S. Gold M.D. on May 18, 2026 in Addiction Outlook

The FDA still requires convincing safety and efficacy data on psychedelic agents, including MDMA, before approval. The VA and DoD are expected to expand clinical trials.

The FDA still requires convincing safety and efficacy data on psychedelic agents, including MDMA, before approval. The VA and DoD are expected to expand clinical trials.

Artificial Intelligence

We All Use AI. Here’s How to Use It Well

Faisal Hoque on May 18, 2026 in Code & Conscience

The question isn’t whether to use AI; every serious person in every serious field will. The question is how to use it in a way that keeps the human element alive.

The question isn’t whether to use AI; every serious person in every serious field will. The question is how to use it in a way that keeps the human element alive.

Deception

To Lie or Not to Lie May Be Personality-Driven

Debbie Peterson on May 18, 2026 in Where Women Govern

New understanding of frequent liars includes Machiavellianism and moral disengagement.

New understanding of frequent liars includes Machiavellianism and moral disengagement.

Career

Work Is Medicine, But We Keep Prescribing the Wrong Dose

David Hanscom MD on May 18, 2026 in Anxiety: Another Name for Pain

Patients on disability often don't feel heard and are labeled by medical professionals. The mental health consequences are dire. Feeling safe is basic to healing.

Patients on disability often don't feel heard and are labeled by medical professionals. The mental health consequences are dire. Feeling safe is basic to healing.

Relationships

Modern Relationship Trap: Mistaking Analysis for Intimacy

Jill P. Weber Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in Having Sex, Wanting Intimacy

Learning psychology jargon for what hurts you in your relationship gratifies the brain but it doesn’t ease the heart. Finding the softer emotions speaks to the heart of connection.

Learning psychology jargon for what hurts you in your relationship gratifies the brain but it doesn’t ease the heart. Finding the softer emotions speaks to the heart of connection.

Attachment

Why Do I Miss Someone Who Hurt Me?

Mags Lesiak MPhil on May 18, 2026 in Psychology in the Courtroom

Research suggests emotional attachment itself can become part of coercive control, making separation painful, confusing, and difficult to understand.

Research suggests emotional attachment itself can become part of coercive control, making separation painful, confusing, and difficult to understand.

Politics

No Place for Politics in Therapy?

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on May 18, 2026 in Modern Life Is Rubbish (or Is It?)

Personal Perspective: Some people claim that the psychotherapy room is no place for politics, but is it even possible to keep the political out of the room?

Personal Perspective: Some people claim that the psychotherapy room is no place for politics, but is it even possible to keep the political out of the room?

Anxiety

12 Activities to Reduce Intolerance of Uncertainty

Bridget Flynn Walker Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in Anxiety Relief for Kids and Teens

You can use the scientifically proven cognitive-behavioral therapy practice of exposure to reduce anxiety associated with situations that trigger uncertainty for you.

You can use the scientifically proven cognitive-behavioral therapy practice of exposure to reduce anxiety associated with situations that trigger uncertainty for you.

Relationships

Getting Closer to Stepchildren Through Working Together

Lawrence Ganong Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in Stepping Together

I study how stepparents build rewarding relationships with stepchildren. Having fun together is one way, but a less obvious approach to bonding is by working with stepchildren.

I study how stepparents build rewarding relationships with stepchildren. Having fun together is one way, but a less obvious approach to bonding is by working with stepchildren.

Animal Behavior

Richly Deserved Love Letters to Misconstrued Wild Neighbors

Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in Animal Emotions

Jason Bittel writes about mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates, a must-read for telling us who they really are and why we must accept their company.

Jason Bittel writes about mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates, a must-read for telling us who they really are and why we must accept their company.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Transformation Won’t Work Without Meaning

Wes Adams and Tamara Myles on May 18, 2026 in Meaningful Work

Meaningful work may be the missing infrastructure that helps people adapt to AI-driven change.

Meaningful work may be the missing infrastructure that helps people adapt to AI-driven change.

Social Media

Stop Diagnosing Yourself From Social Media Posts

Isabelle Morley Psy.D. on May 18, 2026 in Love Them or Leave Them

If you spend enough time online, almost any normal human experience can start to seem pathological. Here’s why so many have come to see themselves in every diagnosis.

If you spend enough time online, almost any normal human experience can start to seem pathological. Here’s why so many have come to see themselves in every diagnosis.

Aging

Aging, Desire, and the Fear of Becoming Invisible

Moshe Ratson MBA, MFT on May 18, 2026 in The Wisdom of Anger

Many adults carry longing, desire, vulnerability, and the need for connection long after society expects them to become less visible.

Many adults carry longing, desire, vulnerability, and the need for connection long after society expects them to become less visible.

Free Will

When Biology Alters Behavior

Michiko Kimura Bruno M.D. on May 18, 2026 in Breaking Good

Who is responsible for negative behavior, such as sexual compulsions, that is driven by biological changes in the brain? Here, a neurologist reflects on the difficult question of free will.

Who is responsible for negative behavior, such as sexual compulsions, that is driven by biological changes in the brain? Here, a neurologist reflects on the difficult question of free will.

Empathy

How to Protect Yourself From Empathy Fatigue

Dan Roberts MBACP on May 18, 2026 in The Calm Self

If you are a sensitive soul, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the world's suffering. Buddhism has the answer: taking compassionate action.

If you are a sensitive soul, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the world's suffering. Buddhism has the answer: taking compassionate action.

Extroversion

Is It Possible to Be Too Extraverted?

Shannon Sauer-Zavala Ph.D. on May 18, 2026 in Self: Made

High extraversion is socially rewarded—but pushed too far, it can crowd out the people around you. Here's how to share the spotlight without losing your edge.

High extraversion is socially rewarded—but pushed too far, it can crowd out the people around you. Here's how to share the spotlight without losing your edge.