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

Animal Behavior

The Perils of Being a Puma in Human-Dominated Landscapes

Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on March 21, 2025 in Animal Emotions

Tiffany Yap and Meital Smith's beautifully written and illustrated comic book is a must-read, scientifically based story about what it is like to be a wild cat in human environs.

Tiffany Yap and Meital Smith's beautifully written and illustrated comic book is a must-read, scientifically based story about what it is like to be a wild cat in human environs.

Happiness

Do Little Things Truly Make Us Happy?

Sam Goldstein Ph.D. on March 21, 2025 in Raising Resilient Children

Happiness stems from small moments, strong relationships, and acts of kindness—not wealth. By appreciating daily joys and helping others, we can cultivate lasting fulfillment.

Happiness stems from small moments, strong relationships, and acts of kindness—not wealth. By appreciating daily joys and helping others, we can cultivate lasting fulfillment.

Relationships

The Hamster of Love

Phil Stark, LMFT on March 21, 2025 in Dude, Where’s My Car-tharsis?

Sometime we protect ourselves from intimacy in relationships in ways we don't always recognize.

Sometime we protect ourselves from intimacy in relationships in ways we don't always recognize.

Friends

Is Competition a Problem in Middle-Class Friendships?

Dr Esther R. Cole, CPsychol, M.A. Oxon on March 21, 2025 in Lifespan Psychology

Competition in friendships isn’t always healthy. Beware of frenemies and observe who’s really got your back.

Competition in friendships isn’t always healthy. Beware of frenemies and observe who’s really got your back.

Grief

A Tornado, a Young Girl's Loss, and a Mission

Michelle Shreeve MA on March 21, 2025 in Coping with Parental Death

Diving into movies can help teens break down the big feelings and emotions they are trying to process while navigating the death of a parent.

Diving into movies can help teens break down the big feelings and emotions they are trying to process while navigating the death of a parent.

Bias

As Simple as M&M: Teaching Kids About Racism Through Play

Isha W. Metzger Ph.D., LCP on March 20, 2025 in Black and EMPOWERED

Play-based activities create fun opportunities to model empathy and respect for differences. You can use M&M’s to help teach kids about inclusion, fairness, and diversity.

Play-based activities create fun opportunities to model empathy and respect for differences. You can use M&M’s to help teach kids about inclusion, fairness, and diversity.

Sport and Competition

March Madness: Mental Health Pressures in Collegiate Sports

Brook Choulet M.D. on March 20, 2025 in Sports and Performance Psychiatry

March Madness amplifies the mental strain on student-athletes, from social media scrutiny to sports betting pressure. Supporting their mental health is vital.

March Madness amplifies the mental strain on student-athletes, from social media scrutiny to sports betting pressure. Supporting their mental health is vital.

Mental Health Stigma

We Are Women, Hear Us Roar

Julie Radlauer-Doerfler LMHC on March 20, 2025 in Becoming Happier

Women have higher rates of mental health conditions, but strengthening protective factors like these can help level the playing field.

Women have higher rates of mental health conditions, but strengthening protective factors like these can help level the playing field.

Anxiety

Strategies to Use When You're Stuck on a Plane

Margaret Smith Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in The Athlete's Nervous System

The next time you're on a plane, try these body-based practices that can provide relief when you’re “stuck” in tight spaces.

The next time you're on a plane, try these body-based practices that can provide relief when you’re “stuck” in tight spaces.

Self-Help

Finding a Path When Things Feel Out of Control

Martha Kauppi, LMFT, CST-S on March 20, 2025 in Relational Intimacy

Here’s a checklist to help you push forward when you feel stuck and overwhelmed.

Here’s a checklist to help you push forward when you feel stuck and overwhelmed.

Cognitive Reappraisal

Spring Cleaning for Your Mind

Shannon Sauer-Zavala Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in Self: Made

Clean out the mental cobwebs keeping you stuck and work your way to a clearer, lighter mind.

Clean out the mental cobwebs keeping you stuck and work your way to a clearer, lighter mind.

Pregnancy

To Doula or Not to Doula?

Georgia Witkin Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in The Chronicles of Infertility

Thanks to social media buzz, more patients have been asking about doulas and the benefits they offer. How do you find one? Here’s what you need to know.

Thanks to social media buzz, more patients have been asking about doulas and the benefits they offer. How do you find one? Here’s what you need to know.

Relationships

Fear of Regret: The Hidden Struggle of Relationship OCD

Ran Littman Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in Relationship OCD

Fear of regret is natural in love, but for those with relationship OCD, it can lead to a paralyzing cycle of doubt, fear, and compulsions. Here’s how to start breaking free.

Fear of regret is natural in love, but for those with relationship OCD, it can lead to a paralyzing cycle of doubt, fear, and compulsions. Here’s how to start breaking free.

Depression

Sad News About the Summertime Blues

Monica Vermani C. Psych. on March 20, 2025 in A Deeper Wellness

For sufferers of summertime SAD, recognizing the signs and managing symptoms are crucial for conquering this rare form of seasonal affective disorder.

For sufferers of summertime SAD, recognizing the signs and managing symptoms are crucial for conquering this rare form of seasonal affective disorder.

Therapy

Is Clinical Psychology Doing Enough to Reach Male Patients?

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in Our Evolutionary Selves

Since most psychologists are female, should there be more emphasis in their training on male psychology?

Since most psychologists are female, should there be more emphasis in their training on male psychology?

Education

Twice-Exceptional Homeschooling

Jessica Koehler Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in Beyond School Walls

Twice-exceptional learners thrive with AI, online tools, and a hack schooling mindset. Discover how to create a personalized, flexible, and engaging homeschool experience.

Twice-exceptional learners thrive with AI, online tools, and a hack schooling mindset. Discover how to create a personalized, flexible, and engaging homeschool experience.

Media

Is the "White Lotus" Monologue "Kinda Magical," or Orientalism?

Treena Orchard Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in The Kaleidescope

Sam Rockwell's jaw-dropping monologue in a recent episode of HBO's "The White Lotus" has fired up commentary, but its darker subtext has been largely ignored.

Sam Rockwell's jaw-dropping monologue in a recent episode of HBO's "The White Lotus" has fired up commentary, but its darker subtext has been largely ignored.

Artificial Intelligence

Will AI Companions Make Us Lonelier?

Kaamna Bhojwani MA on March 20, 2025 in Becoming Technosexual

Will AI companions offering instant companionship actually make us lonelier in the long run?

Will AI companions offering instant companionship actually make us lonelier in the long run?

Stress

Is the News Cycle Making You Anxious, Angry, and Stressed?

Esther Sternberg M.D. on March 20, 2025 in Creating Wellbeing Wherever You Are

Is the constant news barrage making you anxious? Turn down your stress response with friends and peaceful places, and then channel your stress energy into action.

Is the constant news barrage making you anxious? Turn down your stress response with friends and peaceful places, and then channel your stress energy into action.

Health

The Pitfalls of Being "Health" Obsessed

Vanessa Scaringi Ph.D., CEDS-C on March 20, 2025 in Body Acceptance

With so much media focus on healthful eating, there is a tendency to demonize certain foods. Before you jump on the bandwagon, consider the potential risks.

With so much media focus on healthful eating, there is a tendency to demonize certain foods. Before you jump on the bandwagon, consider the potential risks.

Relationships

All In: The Courage to Commit Without Guarantee

Randi Gunther Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in Rediscovering Love

Afraid to truly commit? Discover why holding back sabotages love and the importance of embracing vulnerability, risk, and living "all in."

Afraid to truly commit? Discover why holding back sabotages love and the importance of embracing vulnerability, risk, and living "all in."

Bullying

What to Do When a Bully Tries to Intimidate You

Riana Elyse Anderson Ph.D. LCP on March 20, 2025 in Young, Gifted, and Black

Personal Perspective: Bullies can be intimidating. Even when facing a government, there are strategies that can lead to victory. The journey of a mentee taught me a thing or two.

Personal Perspective: Bullies can be intimidating. Even when facing a government, there are strategies that can lead to victory. The journey of a mentee taught me a thing or two.

Anxiety

Is OCD the Opposite of Narcissism?

Michael Alcee Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in Live Life Creatively

As a person with OCD, do you give away too much of yourself? Selfish empathy is here to save the day.

As a person with OCD, do you give away too much of yourself? Selfish empathy is here to save the day.

Psychiatry

If You're Over 65 and Need a Psychiatrist, You Need to Know This

Eugene Rubin M.D., Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in Demystifying Psychiatry

On average, only a third of psychiatrists accept traditional Medicare, but this varies significantly among states.

On average, only a third of psychiatrists accept traditional Medicare, but this varies significantly among states.

Health

On Balancing Complex, Competing Ideas

Sandro Galea M.D. on March 20, 2025 in Talking About Health

How can we exert constructive influence amid challenge and uncertainty?

How can we exert constructive influence amid challenge and uncertainty?

Career

Want to Boost Your Career? How to Go Fast the Right Way

Robert Kovach Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in The Psychology of Work

The saying suggests that you should always go farther, not faster. But sometimes speed makes sense for your career. Here's how to go fast alone, without losing the race.

The saying suggests that you should always go farther, not faster. But sometimes speed makes sense for your career. Here's how to go fast alone, without losing the race.

Self-Talk

Calm Your Inner Critic: How to Be Your Best With Less Stress

Katrina McCoy Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in Finding the Right Words

When we can cultivate a compassionate collaboration with our inner critic, we can actually be more effective and have a higher sense of well-being.

When we can cultivate a compassionate collaboration with our inner critic, we can actually be more effective and have a higher sense of well-being.

Sex

Why Emotional Regulation and Attachment Matter in Sex

Kari Rusnak, MA, LPC,CMHC on March 20, 2025 in Happy Healthy Relationships

Attachment styles and emotional regulation shape intimacy and impact sexual satisfaction. Learn strategies to enhance connection in relationships.

Attachment styles and emotional regulation shape intimacy and impact sexual satisfaction. Learn strategies to enhance connection in relationships.

Parenting

The 5 Most Damaging Words to Say to a Struggling Adult Child

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on March 20, 2025 in Liking the Child You Love

“You need to grow up” may sound like sound advice, but it can be a devastating blow to a struggling adult child. Here’s why and how to offer real support.

“You need to grow up” may sound like sound advice, but it can be a devastating blow to a struggling adult child. Here’s why and how to offer real support.