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

Trauma

How and Why Is My Trauma Affecting Me?

Rubin Khoddam Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in The Addiction Connection

Feeling overwhelmed by trauma and anxiety? Learn about how and why it may be impacting you.

Feeling overwhelmed by trauma and anxiety? Learn about how and why it may be impacting you.

Sex

How the Psychology of Gifting Can Help a Sexual Relationship

Sari Cooper, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor, LCSW-R on February 8, 2023 in Sex Esteem

Giving and receiving gifts might not be too dissimilar to giving and receiving in the bedroom.

Giving and receiving gifts might not be too dissimilar to giving and receiving in the bedroom.

Relationships

4 Ways Love Heals the Heart

Thomas Rutledge Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in The Healthy Journey

Although it may not taste as good as chocolate, love is one of the best things you can give your heart for a healthy and fulfilling life.

Although it may not taste as good as chocolate, love is one of the best things you can give your heart for a healthy and fulfilling life.

Decision-Making

Mass Incarceration Affects Half as Many as Mass Probation

Miko M. Wilford Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in (In)Justice System

While America’s problem with mass incarceration is often the focus of public scrutiny, we often ignore its inextricable link to another issue that touches even more people.

While America’s problem with mass incarceration is often the focus of public scrutiny, we often ignore its inextricable link to another issue that touches even more people.

Trauma

Treating Traumatic Stress in First Responders

Ellen Kirschman Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Cop Doc

How to help first responders and their families.

How to help first responders and their families.

Decision-Making

Why Less Is Often More

Liraz Margalit Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Behind Online Behavior

Western society teaches us to believe that the more choices we have, the happier we will be. Yet, life satisfaction has not improved for generations.

Western society teaches us to believe that the more choices we have, the happier we will be. Yet, life satisfaction has not improved for generations.

Repression

Should We Tell Children to Grin and Bear It?

Lawrence J. Cohen Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Playful Parenting

A Personal Perspective: What's better, a positive attitude or emotional authenticity? What's worse, a fake smile or an honest tantrum?

A Personal Perspective: What's better, a positive attitude or emotional authenticity? What's worse, a fake smile or an honest tantrum?

Motivation

These Are the Words That Successful Leaders Use

Bobby Hoffman Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Motivate!

Do you use the language of a compelling and persuasive leader? What you say makes a difference, but often how you say it matters even more.

Do you use the language of a compelling and persuasive leader? What you say makes a difference, but often how you say it matters even more.

Trauma

Well-Being Is Inherently Holistic

Abdulrahman Bindamnan on February 8, 2023 in Zero-Generation Students

A Personal Perspective: If you are incredibly ‎successful in one domain, others may presume you ‎live a happy life.

A Personal Perspective: If you are incredibly ‎successful in one domain, others may presume you ‎live a happy life.

Animal Behavior

Elephants Speak in Voices Too Deep to Hear

Ainsley Hawthorn Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in The Sensory Revolution

Infrasound enables elephants to communicate over long distances.

Infrasound enables elephants to communicate over long distances.

Relationships

Are Disney Princess Movies "Bad" for Kids?

Cara Goodwin, Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Parenting Translator

Research takes a deeper look at Disney princesses and princes, and the influence of the movies and TV shows that feature them.

Research takes a deeper look at Disney princesses and princes, and the influence of the movies and TV shows that feature them.

Relationships

How Do Your Family and Friends Affect Your Health?

Jenalee Doom Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Origins of Health

A few tips from the science of social relationships may lead to better mental and physical health.

A few tips from the science of social relationships may lead to better mental and physical health.

Career

Standing Out Requires Soft Skills, Not Just Technical Ones

Bruce Tulgan, JD on February 8, 2023 in Navigating the New Workplace

Over time, you can get a reputation for making good decisions and not just getting things done, but getting them done right.

Over time, you can get a reputation for making good decisions and not just getting things done, but getting them done right.

Parenting

The Two Top Skills Your Child Needs for a Successful Life

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Liking the Child You Love

Your child's success in life comes down to two crucial skills. Here's what they are and how to best teach them.

Your child's success in life comes down to two crucial skills. Here's what they are and how to best teach them.

Integrative Medicine

A Cure for Long COVID?

Yochai Re’em M.D. on February 8, 2023 in Long Covid Lessons

Is that treatment actually going to cure your long COVID? Or is it too good to be true?

Is that treatment actually going to cure your long COVID? Or is it too good to be true?

Relationships

6 Traits That Can Make Someone Seem Undateable

Mark Travers Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Social Instincts

Evolutionary thinking can help you pick better partners by spotting red flags.

Evolutionary thinking can help you pick better partners by spotting red flags.

Bipolar Disorder

How Bad Can Bipolar Disorder and Coexisting Conditions Get?

Marc Lener MD on February 8, 2023 in A Biopsychosocial Solution

Bipolar disorder can lead to other mental health conditions that can make treatment challenging. Treatments often require a great deal of mental health and social support.

Bipolar disorder can lead to other mental health conditions that can make treatment challenging. Treatments often require a great deal of mental health and social support.

Attention

Can We Still Pay Attention to Each Other?

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on February 8, 2023 in Life Gets Better

Personal Perspective: Many of us can't recall how it feels to give or receive undivided attention.

Personal Perspective: Many of us can't recall how it feels to give or receive undivided attention.

Anxiety

The Opposite of Emotional Neglect: Emotional Attunement

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Childhood Emotional Neglect

What's almost like a superpower in relationships? What both prevents and heals emotional neglect? Emotional attunement, and you can learn it.

What's almost like a superpower in relationships? What both prevents and heals emotional neglect? Emotional attunement, and you can learn it.

Animal Behavior

Bats’ Whiskers Aid in Feeding From Flowers

Mary Bates Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Animal Minds

Nectar-eating bats have muzzles full of long, forward-facing whiskers. How do they use the sense of touch when hovering to feed at flowers?

Nectar-eating bats have muzzles full of long, forward-facing whiskers. How do they use the sense of touch when hovering to feed at flowers?

Relationships

Loving on the Edge

Mary C. Lamia Ph.D. on February 8, 2023 in Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings

The complexity of someone’s history may provide intrinsic value to a relationship rather than be inherently damaging.

The complexity of someone’s history may provide intrinsic value to a relationship rather than be inherently damaging.

Stress

How Much Nature Exposure is Enough?

Kim Meidenbauer Ph.D. on February 7, 2023 in Environ-mentality

You might be surprised at the amount of nature exposure needed to improve your mood and boost your focus.

You might be surprised at the amount of nature exposure needed to improve your mood and boost your focus.

Mating

John Alcock Inspired a Generation

Douglas T. Kenrick Ph.D. on February 7, 2023 in Sex, Murder, and the Meaning of Life

John Alcock inspired a generation of researchers interested in evolution and behavior.

John Alcock inspired a generation of researchers interested in evolution and behavior.

Sexual Orientation

My Personal Experience with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Mark B. Baer, Esq. on February 7, 2023 in Empathy and Relationships

Doing things that cause it to be unsafe for LGBTQ+ people to be open about being LGBTQ+ and not living their lives celibate and alone does not eliminate their existence.

Doing things that cause it to be unsafe for LGBTQ+ people to be open about being LGBTQ+ and not living their lives celibate and alone does not eliminate their existence.

Self-Help

Should Happiness Be a Factor in Our Decisions?

Theo Tsaousides Ph.D. on February 7, 2023 in Smashing the Brainblocks

The truth is, we are not impressive fortune-tellers of our emotional future.  

The truth is, we are not impressive fortune-tellers of our emotional future.  

Relationships

How to Write a Love Letter and Poem

Diana Raab Ph.D. on February 7, 2023 in The Empowerment Diary

Have you always wanted to write a love letter or love poem but haven't known how to start? This post will kick-start your creative endeavor.

Have you always wanted to write a love letter or love poem but haven't known how to start? This post will kick-start your creative endeavor.

Personality

Why Do We Anthropomorphize Corporations?

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on February 7, 2023 in Mind, Brain, and Value

Corporations are people, too—at least in how we see their personalities.

Corporations are people, too—at least in how we see their personalities.

Career

Managing "Should" Feelings on an (Almost) Day Off

Mary Allen on February 7, 2023 in Adventures in Healing

A Personal Perspective: Thinking about how much you'll get done on your day off creates its own kind of pressure.

A Personal Perspective: Thinking about how much you'll get done on your day off creates its own kind of pressure.

Adolescence

Is Social Media Use Really Problematic for Teens?

Erlanger A. Turner Ph.D. on February 7, 2023 in The Race to Good Health

Research findings suggest social media use can lead to poor mental health for adolescents. What can parents do to help reduce these negative outcomes?

Research findings suggest social media use can lead to poor mental health for adolescents. What can parents do to help reduce these negative outcomes?

Self-Control

Having Difficulty With Self-Discipline?

Michael W. Wiederman Ph.D. on February 7, 2023 in Mindful Professional Development

Ever find self-discipline a challenge at work? Nurture a mindset that leads to success, and strengthen your willpower in the process.

Ever find self-discipline a challenge at work? Nurture a mindset that leads to success, and strengthen your willpower in the process.