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

Compulsive Behaviors

What Old Psychology Can Teach Us About New Betting

Max Alberhasky Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in Psychology, Money, and Happiness

Psychology explains why so many smart people become hooked on betting.

Psychology explains why so many smart people become hooked on betting.

Stress

The Let-Down Effect: When De-Stressing Makes You Sick

Marc Schoen Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in 5 Cents: The Doctor Is In

You push through the deadline, power through the crisis, and hold it together when it matters most. And then, just as the pressure lifts, you get sick. Welcome to the Let-Down Effect.

You push through the deadline, power through the crisis, and hold it together when it matters most. And then, just as the pressure lifts, you get sick. Welcome to the Let-Down Effect.

Mating

What if Your "Type" Is Just Unfinished Business?

Anna Elton PhD, LMFT, CST on April 12, 2026 in Life, Love, Etc.

What you experience as desire is often the result of early sexual imprinting, emotional learning, and patterns the brain has learned to recognize.

What you experience as desire is often the result of early sexual imprinting, emotional learning, and patterns the brain has learned to recognize.

Burnout

Is Believing You're Burned Out Burning You Out?

Amy Morin on April 12, 2026 in What Mentally Strong People Don't Do

Burnout and exhaustion are separate problems with different solutions. It's important to distinguish what's going on so you can give your brain what it actually needs.

Burnout and exhaustion are separate problems with different solutions. It's important to distinguish what's going on so you can give your brain what it actually needs.

Wisdom

Becoming Comfortable With Discomfort

Maggie Rowe on April 12, 2026 in Bodhisattva Wannabe

Personal Perspective: What if the thing you keep avoiding is the very thing that might wake you up?

Personal Perspective: What if the thing you keep avoiding is the very thing that might wake you up?

Sport and Competition

How Judgments and Opinions Can Make Matters Worse

David Udelf Psy.D. on April 12, 2026 in Sport Between the Ears

We're all victims of our mind producing opinions that can corrupt decision-making and performance. Psychological flexibility can prevent that and enable effectiveness.

We're all victims of our mind producing opinions that can corrupt decision-making and performance. Psychological flexibility can prevent that and enable effectiveness.

Anxiety

It’s Time to Rethink the “Anxiety Drives PDA” Narrative

Paul Sunseri Psy.D. on April 12, 2026 in Mental Health Reimagined

We know PDA and anxiety travel together—just as they do in ADHD and ODD—but what if anxiety is the exhaust, not the engine, of chronic interpersonal and demand conflict?

We know PDA and anxiety travel together—just as they do in ADHD and ODD—but what if anxiety is the exhaust, not the engine, of chronic interpersonal and demand conflict?

Self-Help

Resentment Resolution: Free Yourself From Emotional Burdens

Steven Stosny, Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in Anger in the Age of Entitlement

The chain of resentment extends into the distant past. In advanced stages, it goes into the future as well.

The chain of resentment extends into the distant past. In advanced stages, it goes into the future as well.

Career

How Silence Makes Work Meetings Meaningful

Olga V Lehmann Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in The Low-Threshold Intervention

Effective meetings craft a balance between words and silences. These are five ways to make decisions in your team inclusive and prevent groupthink.

Effective meetings craft a balance between words and silences. These are five ways to make decisions in your team inclusive and prevent groupthink.

Philosophy

Painting With Blood: Who Does It and Who Collects It

Shirley M. Mueller M.D. on April 12, 2026 in The Mind of a Collector

Blood art has moved from the margins of contemporary practice into the mainstream of serious collecting and institutional recognition.

Blood art has moved from the margins of contemporary practice into the mainstream of serious collecting and institutional recognition.

Midlife

Beyond Vanity: Feeling Attractive in Midlife

Judith Zackson Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in Create the Life You Love

Looking better in midlife can reflect a deeper return to your sense of self.

Looking better in midlife can reflect a deeper return to your sense of self.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Are Muslim Arabs Especially Likely to Believe in Fate?

Lawrence T. White Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in Culture Conscious

Some researchers have claimed that Muslim Arabs, as a group, are inclined to believe that life events are predetermined and inevitable. Is that actually true?

Some researchers have claimed that Muslim Arabs, as a group, are inclined to believe that life events are predetermined and inevitable. Is that actually true?

Decision-Making

Our Feelings Contradict Each Other, and That's OK

Nancy Colier LCSW, Rev. on April 12, 2026 in Inviting a Monkey to Tea

All of life exists in contradiction.

All of life exists in contradiction.

Motivation

Why Reason Alone Doesn’t Motivate Us

Ira Bedzow Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in Life, Well Lived

We assume knowing what’s right will lead to action, but it rarely does. Motivation comes from what we care about, and lasting change happens when actions align with identity.

We assume knowing what’s right will lead to action, but it rarely does. Motivation comes from what we care about, and lasting change happens when actions align with identity.

Resilience

Developing True Resilience: Think Like a Scientist

Darby Bonomi Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in Getting Back on the Horse

True and lasting resilience is built over time by not just weathering life's storms, but growing from them.

True and lasting resilience is built over time by not just weathering life's storms, but growing from them.

Trauma

EMDR in a World Hyper‑Focused on Healing

Megan Ashley Smith on April 12, 2026 in Unpacking Therapy Culture

You don't need another checklist to follow. EMDR can help you make sense of your internal world and feel more human.

You don't need another checklist to follow. EMDR can help you make sense of your internal world and feel more human.

Relationships

A Liberating New Approach to Dating for Lonely Women

Rachel Allyn Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in The Pleasure Is All Yours

There's a growing trend of selective women who find themselves happily single, no longer buying into the old messages that their worth and validity come from being partnered.

There's a growing trend of selective women who find themselves happily single, no longer buying into the old messages that their worth and validity come from being partnered.

Parenting

A Classmate Has Died. How Do I Talk About It With My Child?

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on April 12, 2026 in Facing Life's Challenges

Talking with a child when they lose a peer can be daunting. Asking them to think about this as a fact can feel cruel. It's best to approach with a well-considered plan.

Talking with a child when they lose a peer can be daunting. Asking them to think about this as a fact can feel cruel. It's best to approach with a well-considered plan.

Animal Behavior

Rockhounding and Our Primordial Fascination With Crystals

Lori Plutchik, M.D. on April 12, 2026 in The Colors of Contemporary Psychiatry

Rockhounding connects us to our primordial interest in crystals and gemstones, as demonstrated in a fascinating new study of chimpanzees.

Rockhounding connects us to our primordial interest in crystals and gemstones, as demonstrated in a fascinating new study of chimpanzees.

Relationships

What Strong Couples Repair

Sefik Tagay Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in Restoring the Equilibrium

Lasting relationships protect core psychological needs and rely on rapid repair when conflict threatens safety, dignity, and connection.

Lasting relationships protect core psychological needs and rely on rapid repair when conflict threatens safety, dignity, and connection.

Parenting

Too Much Advice Is Making Us Worse at Parenting

Jenny Brown, Ph.D. on April 12, 2026 in The Paradoxical Path of Parental Differentiation

Too much parenting advice may be doing more harm than good, turning parenting into a high-stakes project rather than a lived relationship that fosters self-awareness.

Too much parenting advice may be doing more harm than good, turning parenting into a high-stakes project rather than a lived relationship that fosters self-awareness.

Anxiety

You Are Not a Project to Be Improved

Kristen Dial, Psy.D. on April 11, 2026 in The Space Between Us

We live in a culture that tells us to keep improving, but what if the pressure to get everything “right” is actually pulling us further from what we need most?

We live in a culture that tells us to keep improving, but what if the pressure to get everything “right” is actually pulling us further from what we need most?

Social Life

What Is Soft Socializing?

America Edwards, Ph.D. on April 11, 2026 in The Ties That Connect Us

Feeling drained by traditional socializing? Low-pressure, activity-based connection might be exactly what you need.

Feeling drained by traditional socializing? Low-pressure, activity-based connection might be exactly what you need.

Cognition

How to Break a Loop of Stuck Thinking

Alice Boyes Ph.D. on April 11, 2026 in In Practice

These nine diagnostic strategies can stop you from spinning in circles.

These nine diagnostic strategies can stop you from spinning in circles.

Psychedelics

The Art of Integration After a Psychedelic Experience

Michael Ryoshin Sapiro, Psy.D. on April 11, 2026 in Truth Medicine

The integration process after a psychedelic session must be done with care and intention to create sustained changes.

The integration process after a psychedelic session must be done with care and intention to create sustained changes.

Parenting

Parenting a Child With Pathological Demand Avoidance

Becky Ready Ph.D., ABPP on April 11, 2026 in Your Quality of Life

Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) involves powerful emotions and behaviors that are difficult to manage. A study sheds light on the experiences of mothers of children with PDA.

Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) involves powerful emotions and behaviors that are difficult to manage. A study sheds light on the experiences of mothers of children with PDA.

Relationships

The 5 Most Common Causes of Arguments and How to Avoid Them

Robert Taibbi L.C.S.W. on April 11, 2026 in Fixing Families

Arguments are the result of unresolved problems and poor emotional regulation. Here are five common causes and five preventive skills.

Arguments are the result of unresolved problems and poor emotional regulation. Here are five common causes and five preventive skills.

Personal Perspectives

Brain Injury May Reverse Pre-Injury Trauma Work

Shireen Jeejeebhoy on April 11, 2026 in Concussion Is Brain Injury

Personal Perspective: Trauma can reanimate after a brain injury. I found that this type of "unhealing" is not discussed during neuro-rehab.

Personal Perspective: Trauma can reanimate after a brain injury. I found that this type of "unhealing" is not discussed during neuro-rehab.

Perfectionism

The Obsessive-Compulsive Pursuit of Clarity Over Freedom

Leon Garber LMHC on April 11, 2026 in Perfectionism

People with obsessive-compulsive tendencies struggle when life feels chaotic. Yet embracing ambiguity can help us lead more meaningful lives.

People with obsessive-compulsive tendencies struggle when life feels chaotic. Yet embracing ambiguity can help us lead more meaningful lives.