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

Loneliness

What Does Connection Feel Like?

Hilary Jacobs Hendel LCSW on July 16, 2025 in Emotion as Information

Connection is a felt experience that nourishes our hearts, minds, and nervous systems. Learn how to cultivate a greater sense of connection.

Connection is a felt experience that nourishes our hearts, minds, and nervous systems. Learn how to cultivate a greater sense of connection.

Cognition

This Simple Test Predicts Your Brain Size and Health

Austin Perlmutter M.D. on July 16, 2025 in The Modern Brain

Your walking pace reveals your brain’s health and your overall age. Midlife speed tests link slower miles per hour to brain shrinkage, lesions, and faster cognitive decline.

Your walking pace reveals your brain’s health and your overall age. Midlife speed tests link slower miles per hour to brain shrinkage, lesions, and faster cognitive decline.

Post-Traumatic Growth

Meaning Is Made, Not Found

Carolyn Roy-Bornstein M.D. on July 16, 2025 in Last Stop on the Struggle Bus

We can shape our own future and create the meaningful life we want with a few practical everyday practices.

We can shape our own future and create the meaningful life we want with a few practical everyday practices.

Trauma

What Deploying to Iraq Taught Me About Trauma

Forrest Talley Ph.D. on July 16, 2025 in Relationship Emporium

Two soldiers. Two traumas. One shared lesson: When tenacity meets courage, healing—and meaning—can take root, even in the harshest places.

Two soldiers. Two traumas. One shared lesson: When tenacity meets courage, healing—and meaning—can take root, even in the harshest places.

Compassion Fatigue

What Is the Cost of Caring?

Carole Trottere on July 16, 2025 in The Ones We Love

The opioid crisis takes a deep, emotional toll on caregivers, first responders, and grieving families.

The opioid crisis takes a deep, emotional toll on caregivers, first responders, and grieving families.

Family Dynamics

What to Do Before Reconnecting With an Estranged Relative

Sarah Epstein LMFT on July 16, 2025 in Between the Generations

Thinking of reconnecting with an estranged relative? Consider these key questions to help guide your decision and set realistic expectations for the relationship.

Thinking of reconnecting with an estranged relative? Consider these key questions to help guide your decision and set realistic expectations for the relationship.

ADHD

“Can I Stay on Adderall or Ritalin During Pregnancy?”

Judy Greene M.D. on July 16, 2025 in Reproductive Psychiatry

Many pregnant women wonder if it's safe to stay on medications like Adderall or Ritalin.

Many pregnant women wonder if it's safe to stay on medications like Adderall or Ritalin.

Identity

Emerging Identity and Adulthood in Film 'Higher Learning'

Katherine Marshall Woods Psy.D. on July 16, 2025 in PsychMinded Set

During emerging adulthood, individuals learn about themselves while being exposed to peers with varying identities. They can also find community in the face of traumatic events.

During emerging adulthood, individuals learn about themselves while being exposed to peers with varying identities. They can also find community in the face of traumatic events.

Ethics and Morality

Questioning Rules Is Essential for Moral Development

Timothy Cook M.Ed. on July 16, 2025 in The Algorithmic Mind

Kids need to learn when to follow rules and when to question them. These four strategies can help parents develop ethical thinking over mere obedience.

Kids need to learn when to follow rules and when to question them. These four strategies can help parents develop ethical thinking over mere obedience.

Altruism

For Pain Relief: Schadenfreude or Altruism, It's Your Choice

David Hanscom MD on July 16, 2025 in Anxiety: Another Name for Pain

Schadenfreude is a survival emotion that activates pleasure circuits and decreases pain. So does altruism, if you make it accessible.

Schadenfreude is a survival emotion that activates pleasure circuits and decreases pain. So does altruism, if you make it accessible.

Evolutionary Psychology

The Enemy Within: Evolution’s Role in Human Conflict

Sam Goldstein Ph.D. on July 16, 2025 in Common Sense Science

Human conflict arises from traits such as tribalism, aggression, and irrationality. To mitigate conflict, we must reframe our cultural systems to temper our primal instincts.

Human conflict arises from traits such as tribalism, aggression, and irrationality. To mitigate conflict, we must reframe our cultural systems to temper our primal instincts.

Depression

The Pain of Demoralization Is Like a Broken Heart

Jennifer Gerlach LCSW on July 16, 2025 in Beyond Mental Health

Have you ever felt demoralized?

Have you ever felt demoralized?

Psychedelics

At Death’s Door: Psychedelic Psychotherapy for End of Life

Michael Ryoshin Sapiro, Psy.D. on July 16, 2025 in Truth Medicine

For people facing their own deaths due to old age, illness, or injury, psychedelic psychotherapy has the potential to bring peace, resolve, and acceptance of the great mystery.

For people facing their own deaths due to old age, illness, or injury, psychedelic psychotherapy has the potential to bring peace, resolve, and acceptance of the great mystery.

Relationships

3 Green Flags You Should Always Treasure in a Relationship

Mark Travers Ph.D. on July 16, 2025 in Social Instincts

If your partner ticks all three of these boxes, they're a real keeper.

If your partner ticks all three of these boxes, they're a real keeper.

Cognition

How Much Do You Trust Expert Opinion?

Christopher Dwyer Ph.D. on July 16, 2025 in Thoughts on Thinking

Personal Perspective: You may be, understandably, sceptical of ‘authority opinion’; but you certainly should heed ‘expert interpretation.’

Personal Perspective: You may be, understandably, sceptical of ‘authority opinion’; but you certainly should heed ‘expert interpretation.’

Survivor Guilt

Vicarious Trauma and Survivor Guilt in Kerrville

Ruth E. Stitt M.S., M.Div., LPCS on July 15, 2025 in Walking in Wisdom

After caring for individuals in Kerrville after the catastrophic floods, some of the psychological impacts observed included vicarious trauma and survivor's guilt.

After caring for individuals in Kerrville after the catastrophic floods, some of the psychological impacts observed included vicarious trauma and survivor's guilt.

Psychopharmacology

Emotional Reactions to Tardive Dyskinesia

Sarah Merritt Ryan on July 15, 2025 in Healing Mind

Personal Perspective: I was self-conscious about having tardive dyskinesia symptoms in my first job after my last hospitalization. However, I got my first promotion.

Personal Perspective: I was self-conscious about having tardive dyskinesia symptoms in my first job after my last hospitalization. However, I got my first promotion.

Coaching

What About Feedback? A Gift or a Deal-Breaker?

Tony Daloisio Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in The Journey of Your Life

Learn when and how to give feedback so it helps, not harms, your relationships, your team, and your impact.

Learn when and how to give feedback so it helps, not harms, your relationships, your team, and your impact.

Introversion

Prep Meets Improv: A Toolkit for Introverts

Nancy Ancowitz on July 15, 2025 in Self-Promotion for Introverts

Feel awkward when put on the spot? Learn how preparation and improv together help introverts speak up with calm, clarity, and confidence—on their own terms.

Feel awkward when put on the spot? Learn how preparation and improv together help introverts speak up with calm, clarity, and confidence—on their own terms.

Sport and Competition

Just Another Day in the Gym: Maltreatment in Youth Sports

Monica Vilhauer Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Philosophy for Curious Souls

Personal Perspective: Emotional abuse was a prevalent, yet unrecognized and unnamed, part of growing up in youth sports in the '80s and '90s. It continues today.

Personal Perspective: Emotional abuse was a prevalent, yet unrecognized and unnamed, part of growing up in youth sports in the '80s and '90s. It continues today.

Aging

Caring for an Elderly, Difficult Parent at a Time of Transition

Franne Sippel Ed.D., LP on July 15, 2025 in Don't Shoot the Messenger

Personal Perspective: Caring for an aging parent is no small feat. It's even more challenging when the relationship has been a struggle and your parent has mental health issues.

Personal Perspective: Caring for an aging parent is no small feat. It's even more challenging when the relationship has been a struggle and your parent has mental health issues.

Conformity

The Benefits and Downsides of Fitting In

Monica Vermani C. Psych. on July 15, 2025 in A Deeper Wellness

What drives the urge to fit in, and what are the drawbacks and dangers of aligning with and conforming to group dynamics?

What drives the urge to fit in, and what are the drawbacks and dangers of aligning with and conforming to group dynamics?

Animal Behavior

The Surprising Secret Lives of Playful, Singing, Savvy Seals

Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Animal Emotions

Alix Morris' "A Year With the Seals" is a love letter to these charismatic, imperiled beings and an exploration of the effects of our intrusions into diverse, fragile ecosystems.

Alix Morris' "A Year With the Seals" is a love letter to these charismatic, imperiled beings and an exploration of the effects of our intrusions into diverse, fragile ecosystems.

Humor

Stand Up for Mental Health with David Granirer

Nichole Force M.A. on July 15, 2025 in Humor Rx

The strategic use of humor ended a woman’s fear of flying and turned a schizophrenic man into a confident public speaker. The founder of Stand Up For Mental Health tells you how.

The strategic use of humor ended a woman’s fear of flying and turned a schizophrenic man into a confident public speaker. The founder of Stand Up For Mental Health tells you how.

Child Development

Raising Socially Conscious Youth

Erlanger A. Turner Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in The Race to Good Health

In today's society, many youth are drawn to social movements and activism. Here are 5 science-based, practical strategies for supporting your child's civic engagement.

In today's society, many youth are drawn to social movements and activism. Here are 5 science-based, practical strategies for supporting your child's civic engagement.

Cognition

Think Like a Detective, Write Like a Scientist

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Thinking About Kids

Tackling complex puzzles requires a different set of skills than simple writing tasks. Borrowing the non-linear techniques detectives use to organize data can help.

Tackling complex puzzles requires a different set of skills than simple writing tasks. Borrowing the non-linear techniques detectives use to organize data can help.

Eating Disorders

How to Talk to Someone About an Eating Disorder

Giulia Suro Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Missing Links

Eating disorders can be hard to recognize and harder to discuss. Here's how to speak up with care, reduce shame, and support someone who may be struggling.

Eating disorders can be hard to recognize and harder to discuss. Here's how to speak up with care, reduce shame, and support someone who may be struggling.

Pornography

Why Do Women View Pornography?

Michael Castleman M.A. on July 15, 2025 in All About Sex

The myth is that women abhor pornography. But a recent study shows that some women say they learn valuable sexual lessons from porn, even when they hate how it portrays women.

The myth is that women abhor pornography. But a recent study shows that some women say they learn valuable sexual lessons from porn, even when they hate how it portrays women.

Resilience

Ikigai: A Compass You Can Use to Navigate Challenging Times

Debra M. Kawahara Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Seeds of Wisdom

During times of uncertainty, ikigai provides stability and guidance, serving as a compass with four points, which directs us on a path to personal agency and hope.

During times of uncertainty, ikigai provides stability and guidance, serving as a compass with four points, which directs us on a path to personal agency and hope.