Recent Posts

The Complex Relationship Between Dissociation and Narcissism

Dissociation and narcissism are intertwined, both stemming from early trauma. Narcissists may dissociate vulnerable emotions, leading to behaviors that harm relationships.

Dissociation and narcissism are intertwined, both stemming from early trauma. Narcissists may dissociate vulnerable emotions, leading to behaviors that harm relationships.

Psychological Effects of Losing a Home After Fire

Losing a home from a residential fire or wildfire is a significant trauma. Learn how this loss is more than physical or financial, but also involves a collapse of the self.

Losing a home from a residential fire or wildfire is a significant trauma. Learn how this loss is more than physical or financial, but also involves a collapse of the self.

Guilt, Shame, and Cooperation

Discover the hidden power of guilt and shame: how they shape our behavior, foster connection, and, when unchecked, can lead to manipulation or deep emotional pain.

Discover the hidden power of guilt and shame: how they shape our behavior, foster connection, and, when unchecked, can lead to manipulation or deep emotional pain.

Inside Dissociation

Dissociative experiences can be hard to understand but treatment is possible. The non-verbal nature of dissociation may seem confusing to those who have never experienced it.

Dissociative experiences can be hard to understand but treatment is possible. The non-verbal nature of dissociation may seem confusing to those who have never experienced it.

Are Humans Too Robotic?

What personality traits do you think you have? Have you ever thought of them as a form of programming that could be hacked?

What personality traits do you think you have? Have you ever thought of them as a form of programming that could be hacked?

Many Americans Are Dissociated From the Climate Crisis

Do you wonder why the U.S. has failed to aggressively address the climate and biodiversity crisis? A primary reason is that many Americans have simply dissociated from it.

Do you wonder why the U.S. has failed to aggressively address the climate and biodiversity crisis? A primary reason is that many Americans have simply dissociated from it.

Our True Self Is Calm, Confident, and Compassionate

Richard Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, describes the qualities that emerge when we're able to embrace the rejected parts of ourselves.

Richard Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, describes the qualities that emerge when we're able to embrace the rejected parts of ourselves.

Even the Worst of Us Are Inherently Good

Richard Schwarts, founder of Internal Family Systems Therapy, explains key ideas at the heart of IFS in this interview.

Richard Schwarts, founder of Internal Family Systems Therapy, explains key ideas at the heart of IFS in this interview.

Discovering the Family Within

Psychologist Richard Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems, explains the key ideas behind his influential therapy.

Psychologist Richard Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems, explains the key ideas behind his influential therapy.

Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia—On the Same Spectrum?

Could bipolar disorder and schizophrenia fall on the same spectrum?

Could bipolar disorder and schizophrenia fall on the same spectrum?

Help for Survivors Who Are Triggered by the Election

Strategies to help you take care of yourself when you are triggered.

Strategies to help you take care of yourself when you are triggered.

Ketamine Use Disorder Is on the Rise

Increasing numbers of people around the world are becoming addicted to ketamine: What you need to know.

Increasing numbers of people around the world are becoming addicted to ketamine: What you need to know.

Healing Shame and Trauma Through Writing and Reading

What role can writing and reading play in navigating trauma? Memoirist Barrie Miskin discusses her writing process and how it offered closure, connection, and hope.

What role can writing and reading play in navigating trauma? Memoirist Barrie Miskin discusses her writing process and how it offered closure, connection, and hope.

Depersonalization: Learning to Feel Again

Recovering your lost sense of self

Recovering your lost sense of self

"Didi": Insecurity, Dissociation, Cringe, and Sense of Self

Sean Wang's debut feature "Didi" provides a layered look at Asian American boyhood and interiority, complete with cringe and dissociation. It's a great companion to "Inside Out 2."

Sean Wang's debut feature "Didi" provides a layered look at Asian American boyhood and interiority, complete with cringe and dissociation. It's a great companion to "Inside Out 2."

5 Reasons You're Not Borderline Even If TikTok Says You Are

Your mental health is unlikely to be diagnosed by #Relatable online.

Your mental health is unlikely to be diagnosed by #Relatable online.

Grief Is a Necessary Part of Healing After a Divorce

Navigating divorce when managing post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociation.

Navigating divorce when managing post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociation.

Dissociation Isn't Always About Trauma

Dissociation spans everyday experiences and many psychiatric disorders. See how it is more common than you might think and understand it's treatability.

Dissociation spans everyday experiences and many psychiatric disorders. See how it is more common than you might think and understand it's treatability.

Why Your Therapist Should Be Asking You About Your Period

Why didn't anybody tell me this? The important reasons why you and your therapist should understand your menstrual cycle.

Why didn't anybody tell me this? The important reasons why you and your therapist should understand your menstrual cycle.

How Well Can Divorce Be Predicted?

9 issues are especially telling, including plans for the future.

9 issues are especially telling, including plans for the future.

4 Realities About the Consequences of Trauma

Dispelling common misconceptions about the after-effects of experiencing trauma.

Dispelling common misconceptions about the after-effects of experiencing trauma.

Dissociation Comes to the Rescue, or Does It?

Trauma can significantly affect an individual and family, particularly when culture and acculturation are involved, as shown in the film 'Safe Among Stars' (2019) by Jess X Snow.

Trauma can significantly affect an individual and family, particularly when culture and acculturation are involved, as shown in the film 'Safe Among Stars' (2019) by Jess X Snow.

Suffering in Silence? Time to Get Loud About Pain During Sex

When our pain is dismissed by those around us, we might learn to dismiss it ourselves. Without the space to tell others how we feel, we can lose our voice.

When our pain is dismissed by those around us, we might learn to dismiss it ourselves. Without the space to tell others how we feel, we can lose our voice.

Are Smaller Screens Making Us More Self-Absorbed?

We have access to news almost anytime and anywhere. But increasing reliance on small screens may be contributing to greater self-absorption.

We have access to news almost anytime and anywhere. But increasing reliance on small screens may be contributing to greater self-absorption.

Who's Watching Whom?: The Dangers of Surveillance Capitalism

Algorithms learn our preferences and create endless feedback loops, giving us more of the same. The digital world is about maximizing profits, not optimizing lives.

Algorithms learn our preferences and create endless feedback loops, giving us more of the same. The digital world is about maximizing profits, not optimizing lives.

Deceived and Manipulated by a Fake Mental Illness

Movies like "Split" sacrifice truth for drama, relying on negative stereotypes about violence and mental illness. Here's how one predator used this to his advantage.

Movies like "Split" sacrifice truth for drama, relying on negative stereotypes about violence and mental illness. Here's how one predator used this to his advantage.

No Compromise: The Dangerous Dream That We Can Have It All

We're born inconsistent and tend to rationalize away our cognitive dissonance. Accepting this helps explain the rise of ideologies that promise you can have it all.

We're born inconsistent and tend to rationalize away our cognitive dissonance. Accepting this helps explain the rise of ideologies that promise you can have it all.

Blaming the Victim: The Psychology of Innocence and Guilt

Why are the innocent sometimes blamed for crimes against themselves? The psychology involved can derive from the violence of the crime and from individual dissociation.

Why are the innocent sometimes blamed for crimes against themselves? The psychology involved can derive from the violence of the crime and from individual dissociation.

Reassessing Male Sex Trafficking Statistics

A male sex-trafficking survivor advocates for inclusive support and recognition for all victims of abuse, regardless of gender.

A male sex-trafficking survivor advocates for inclusive support and recognition for all victims of abuse, regardless of gender.

Scapegoating Mental Illness in the Netflix Show "You"

Spoiler alert: In the Netflix show "You," a played-out plot twist of scapegoating mental illness is used to justify the main character's violence.

Spoiler alert: In the Netflix show "You," a played-out plot twist of scapegoating mental illness is used to justify the main character's violence.