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

Depression

How Cellular Aging Steals Desires and Joys

Hamid Zand Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in The Behavioral Microbiome

Aging cells become "zombie cells," leaking inflammatory chemicals that reach the brain. This disrupts dopamine, serotonin, and reward circuits, causing depression.

Aging cells become "zombie cells," leaking inflammatory chemicals that reach the brain. This disrupts dopamine, serotonin, and reward circuits, causing depression.

Parenting

When to Seek Mental Health Support for Your Child or Teen

Liz Nissim Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Special Matters

Is your child struggling emotionally, acting out, or dreading school—and you're not sure what to do next?

Is your child struggling emotionally, acting out, or dreading school—and you're not sure what to do next?

Fear

The Myth of Fearlessness

Alicia H. Clark Psy.D. on May 13, 2025 in Hack Your Anxiety

What if courage isn’t about being fearless? Learn how anxiety can fuel action and growth—drawing on Lincoln’s wisdom, neuroscience, and real-life psychological tools.

What if courage isn’t about being fearless? Learn how anxiety can fuel action and growth—drawing on Lincoln’s wisdom, neuroscience, and real-life psychological tools.

Happiness

Why Success Is Overrated

Jordan Grumet M.D. on May 13, 2025 in The Regret-Free Life

Success won’t make you happy for long. Here’s why purpose, identity, and connection beat ambition—every time.

Success won’t make you happy for long. Here’s why purpose, identity, and connection beat ambition—every time.

Positive Psychology

When Joy Feels Like a Threat

MaryCatherine McDonald Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in The Hope Circuit

What if joy doesn’t feel safe? A therapeutic rupture led me to rethink how we approach healing and how to build a bridge between trauma and joy.

What if joy doesn’t feel safe? A therapeutic rupture led me to rethink how we approach healing and how to build a bridge between trauma and joy.

Race and Ethnicity

From Drapetomania to Disparities: Freedom as a Diagnosis

Brianna A. Baker M.Phil. on May 13, 2025 in Black Mindscapes

Discover how a racist 1851 diagnosis still haunts Black mental health care today and why reclaiming our minds is a radical act of resistance and liberation.

Discover how a racist 1851 diagnosis still haunts Black mental health care today and why reclaiming our minds is a radical act of resistance and liberation.

Relationships

Being “Difficult” Might Just Save Your Life

Tonya Lester LCSW on May 13, 2025 in Staying Sane Inside Insanity

Tired of being “easy” to be around but hard on yourself? Here’s why being a little “difficult” might be the most freeing thing you ever do.

Tired of being “easy” to be around but hard on yourself? Here’s why being a little “difficult” might be the most freeing thing you ever do.

Deception

How to Protect Yourself From Truth-Twisting Manipulators

Bill Knaus Ed.D. on May 13, 2025 in Science and Sensibility

Manipulators twist truth and shift blame to escape detection. Uncover their tactics and learn 7 powerful strategies to take charge.

Manipulators twist truth and shift blame to escape detection. Uncover their tactics and learn 7 powerful strategies to take charge.

Cognition

The Face Ambivalence Shows

Allan Zuckoff Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Fueling the Fire of Change

Ambivalence can torment. It can also motivate and enable. What determines the face it shows us?

Ambivalence can torment. It can also motivate and enable. What determines the face it shows us?

Loneliness

Isolation Nation: Why Modern Life Feels So Empty

Anthony Silard Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in The Art of Living Free

Consider some of the social, economic, and cultural causes that have led to an increase in loneliness and isolation in our modern global society.

Consider some of the social, economic, and cultural causes that have led to an increase in loneliness and isolation in our modern global society.

Identity

Identity Niches: Have You Found Yours?

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in The Pathways of Experience

All of us want a setting where we can operate productively, where we possess an identity that is acceptable to us and that provides us with opportunities to have a fulfilling life.

All of us want a setting where we can operate productively, where we possess an identity that is acceptable to us and that provides us with opportunities to have a fulfilling life.

Neurodiversity

"Aren't We All Neurodivergent?"

Scott Barry Kaufman on May 13, 2025 in Beautiful Minds

Personal Perspective: If everyone is "neurodivergent," then what does the term even mean anymore?

Personal Perspective: If everyone is "neurodivergent," then what does the term even mean anymore?

Social Life

Am I My Neighbour’s Keeper? The Psychology of Responsibility

Michael Ungar Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Nurturing Resilience

Living in a collective commons means we share responsibility to keep everyone mentally and physically safe. When do individual choices compromise another's psychological health?

Living in a collective commons means we share responsibility to keep everyone mentally and physically safe. When do individual choices compromise another's psychological health?

Education

When Your School Reaches Out, Reach Back Out, and Quickly

Pamela D. Brown Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in School Culture

If you get a call or email from your child’s teacher, act quickly and don’t panic.

If you get a call or email from your child’s teacher, act quickly and don’t panic.

Mindfulness

Untapped Mindfulness Hacks From Human Labor and Birth

Diane N Solomon Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in The Narrative Nurse Practitioner

Though newly explored, the integrated psychological and physical processes of childbirth offer a metaphor for life's stressors.

Though newly explored, the integrated psychological and physical processes of childbirth offer a metaphor for life's stressors.

Moral Injury

Are We All Suffering From Moral Injury?

Arthur Dobrin D.S.W. on May 13, 2025 in Am I Right?

With air traffic controllers in Newark on trauma leave, it feels as though the whole country is suffering from moral injury.

With air traffic controllers in Newark on trauma leave, it feels as though the whole country is suffering from moral injury.

Career

The Paradox of Successful Problem-Solving

Zorana Ivcevic Pringle Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Creativity: The Art and Science

The science of creativity finds a paradoxical effect: The best way to successful problem-solving is time spent on problem-finding.

The science of creativity finds a paradoxical effect: The best way to successful problem-solving is time spent on problem-finding.

Sex

Sexuality and Parenting

Heather Rose Artushin LISW-CP on May 13, 2025 in Well Read

Societal messages about motherhood reflect an incompatibility between sexuality and parenting. Author Honor Jones shares her take on motherhood, sexual pleasure, and healing.

Societal messages about motherhood reflect an incompatibility between sexuality and parenting. Author Honor Jones shares her take on motherhood, sexual pleasure, and healing.

Marriage

2 Hidden Factors That Can Chip Away at a Marriage

Mark Travers Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Social Instincts

Unrealistic expectations can place strain on your marriage.

Unrealistic expectations can place strain on your marriage.

Grief

Why Feeling Your Pain Is the Key to Emotional Healing

Itai Ivtzan Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Mindfulness for Wellbeing

Discover why your emotional pain isn't a mistake to fix, but a pathway to profound healing. Research reveals how embracing difficult feelings can transform your healing journey.

Discover why your emotional pain isn't a mistake to fix, but a pathway to profound healing. Research reveals how embracing difficult feelings can transform your healing journey.

Leadership

Struggling With Leadership? That Might Be a Strength

Patricia Grabarek, Ph.D., and Katina Sawyer, Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Leading for Wellness

Think that leaders need to be perfect to perform at their peak? Think again. Leaders who recognize and share their struggles are often more effective.

Think that leaders need to be perfect to perform at their peak? Think again. Leaders who recognize and share their struggles are often more effective.

Mindfulness

Should Mindfulness Be Nonjudgmental?

Aaron Ben-Zeév Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in In the Name of Love

Mindfulness involves both a cognitive and an evaluative approach, enabling us to understand and accept others while enhancing our own well-being.

Mindfulness involves both a cognitive and an evaluative approach, enabling us to understand and accept others while enhancing our own well-being.

Career

The Complex Nature of Kindness at Work

Eva Ritvo M.D. on May 13, 2025 in On Vitality

From empathy to honesty, personality shapes kindness at work. We can balance diverse temperaments for a more harmonious and effective workplace.

From empathy to honesty, personality shapes kindness at work. We can balance diverse temperaments for a more harmonious and effective workplace.

Neurodiversity

From Neurodiversity to Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice

Erin Bulluss, Ph.D., and Rachel Samson, M.Psych on May 13, 2025 in The Good Therapist

How to provide effective and ethical therapy to clients across the broad spectrum of neurodiversity.

How to provide effective and ethical therapy to clients across the broad spectrum of neurodiversity.

Autism

Marriage and Parenting With Autism and OCPD Traits

Eva A. Mendes LMHC on May 13, 2025 in The Heart of Autism

When autism and OCPD collide with ADHD in marriage, chaos can erupt. Discover how Jay and Lisa navigate love, control, and neurodiverse parenting.

When autism and OCPD collide with ADHD in marriage, chaos can erupt. Discover how Jay and Lisa navigate love, control, and neurodiverse parenting.

Artificial Intelligence

The Right Vibe: How We Can Begin to Get Back to It

Michele K. Lewis Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Cultural Neuroscience

We need more social engagement and empathy in real-time with other humans to get back to an authentic human "vibe."

We need more social engagement and empathy in real-time with other humans to get back to an authentic human "vibe."

Marriage

Should You Celebrate the Anniversary of a Bad Day?

Lindsay Weisner Psy.D. on May 13, 2025 in The Venn Diagram Life

Want to know how to get over a less-than-perfect wedding day?

Want to know how to get over a less-than-perfect wedding day?

Bullying

How It Feels to Be Excluded by Your Family

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Childhood Emotional Neglect

When a family member is treated as if they are different or flawed, they believe it. However, many excluded people would be surprised to find the true reason why they were judged.

When a family member is treated as if they are different or flawed, they believe it. However, many excluded people would be surprised to find the true reason why they were judged.

Parenting

6 Types of Parents: Which One Are You?

Robert Taibbi L.C.S.W. on May 13, 2025 in Fixing Families

We each have our own parenting style. 6 common types, their strengths and weaknesses, and tips on how to upgrade.

We each have our own parenting style. 6 common types, their strengths and weaknesses, and tips on how to upgrade.