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

Fear

3 Questions to Help Conquer Fear and Feel More Alive

Donald Altman on October 2, 2023 in Practical Mindfulness

Is doubt holding you back from taking a risk or trying something new? Three simple questions can help you break free.

Is doubt holding you back from taking a risk or trying something new? Three simple questions can help you break free.

Alcoholism

The Link Between Alcohol and Suicide

Simon Sherry Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in Psymon Says

Recent research shows that alcohol use has a significant impact on the risk of death by suicide, and some people are more at risk than others.

Recent research shows that alcohol use has a significant impact on the risk of death by suicide, and some people are more at risk than others.

Sleep

Is Blue Light Good or Bad for You?

Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in Click Here for Happiness

Learn the facts about blue light, the threats it poses, and how to reduce your exposure.

Learn the facts about blue light, the threats it poses, and how to reduce your exposure.

Cognition

"Breaking Through" With Books

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in The Fainting Couch

Can literature truly transform minds and lives? Explore the findings in this study of Shared Reading as a therapeutic approach.

Can literature truly transform minds and lives? Explore the findings in this study of Shared Reading as a therapeutic approach.

Therapy

Should Your Therapist Look Like You?

Michael Karson Ph.D., J.D. on October 2, 2023 in Feeling Our Way

Explore the patient’s expectations of therapy to avoid a misalliance around how alike the patient and therapist are.

Explore the patient’s expectations of therapy to avoid a misalliance around how alike the patient and therapist are.

Education

Befriending (Intense) Feelings: Practice

Amy Saltzman M.D. on October 2, 2023 in Find Your True Flow

Learning to befriend your feelings can help in every area of your life—work, family, friendships. and day-to-day activities.

Learning to befriend your feelings can help in every area of your life—work, family, friendships. and day-to-day activities.

Artificial Intelligence

Starting a Corporate Digital Transformation Journey?

Larry Stybel on October 2, 2023 in Platform for Success

Digital/AI transformation is the wave of the future: When should you respectfully decline to get involved?

Digital/AI transformation is the wave of the future: When should you respectfully decline to get involved?

Gender

Halloween a Bit of Harmless Fun?

Cathrine Jansson-Boyd Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in Consumer Psychology

Are Halloween costumes a good influence on young people? Or are they contributing to people holding on to negative female stereotypes?

Are Halloween costumes a good influence on young people? Or are they contributing to people holding on to negative female stereotypes?

Family Dynamics

The Value of Family Stories

Robyn Fivush Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in The Stories of Our Lives

Family stories define who we are and who we strive to be by anchoring us in our past and cementing our current connections.

Family stories define who we are and who we strive to be by anchoring us in our past and cementing our current connections.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Robert LeVine: A Founder of Psychological Anthropology

Dinesh Sharma Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in Leaders in the Making

The pioneering work of a cultural explorer of the psyche who researched childhood around the globe.

The pioneering work of a cultural explorer of the psyche who researched childhood around the globe.

Wisdom

What Is the Opposite of Wisdom?

Jeremy E. Sherman Ph.D., MPP on October 2, 2023 in Jerkology

If you're dealing with a narcissist, you need to read between the lines to their simple robotic formula. Here it is.

If you're dealing with a narcissist, you need to read between the lines to their simple robotic formula. Here it is.

Resilience

2 Ways to Cope with Homesickness

Tara Denneny LCSW on October 2, 2023 in Life in Transition

Homesickness is an unavoidable part of transitioning to a new place. These strategies can help.

Homesickness is an unavoidable part of transitioning to a new place. These strategies can help.

Psychopathy

Psychopaths Use Negative Mimicry to Lure In Targets

Jourdan Travers LCSW on October 2, 2023 in Hard, Cold Research

How do psychopaths attract people when they have such repelling traits?

How do psychopaths attract people when they have such repelling traits?

Genetics

Sperm Banks, Egg Facilities, and the Backfire Effect

Wendy Kramer on October 2, 2023 in Donor Family Matters

The backfire effect helps to explain why gamete brokers often struggle with changing policy in light of new evidence presented to them about donor families.

The backfire effect helps to explain why gamete brokers often struggle with changing policy in light of new evidence presented to them about donor families.

Career

2 Reasons to Try Out the "Bare Minimum Monday" Trend

Mark Travers Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in Social Instincts

How to transform your Monday blues into a thoughtful minimal approach.

How to transform your Monday blues into a thoughtful minimal approach.

Cognitive Dissonance

The Psychology of Tattoo Regret

Bence Nanay Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in Psychology Tomorrow

Why do some of us regret getting our tattoos? And why are others so persistently resistant to doing so?

Why do some of us regret getting our tattoos? And why are others so persistently resistant to doing so?

Anxiety

2 Things Not to Say When Your Child Says “I Hate You!”

Hilary Jacobs Hendel LCSW on October 2, 2023 in Emotion as Information

Parents often think that children shouldn't use the word "hate." But the word itself isn't the problem, and how parents respond can make all the difference.

Parents often think that children shouldn't use the word "hate." But the word itself isn't the problem, and how parents respond can make all the difference.

Harm Reduction

How to Judge Harm Reduction's Success

Abdullah Shihipar on October 2, 2023 in Fighting a Crisis

Harm reduction is making strides in the US but also facing a backlash. The data and evidence base shows how it works, but misunderstandings persist. Here's how to understand it.

Harm reduction is making strides in the US but also facing a backlash. The data and evidence base shows how it works, but misunderstandings persist. Here's how to understand it.

Leadership

Navigating Leadership Transitions: From Expert to Leader

Palena R. Neale Ph.D, PCC on October 2, 2023 in Leading for Success

Are you a leader still identifying as your former role? If you suffer from "identity foreclosure," these 3 tips can help you inhabit your leadership role.

Are you a leader still identifying as your former role? If you suffer from "identity foreclosure," these 3 tips can help you inhabit your leadership role.

Mindfulness

How Your Brain Reacts to Threats

Rick Hanson Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in Your Wise Brain

Be mindful of the degree to which your brain is wired to make you afraid so that you walk around with an ongoing trickle of anxiety keeping you on alert.

Be mindful of the degree to which your brain is wired to make you afraid so that you walk around with an ongoing trickle of anxiety keeping you on alert.

Philosophy

A Fight Breaks Out in the Science of Consciousness

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in Theory of Knowledge

A fight has broken out in the field of consciousness research. An open letter signed by more than 100 scientist claimed a leading theory was "pseudoscience."

A fight has broken out in the field of consciousness research. An open letter signed by more than 100 scientist claimed a leading theory was "pseudoscience."

Attention

Fame in the Brain—Global Workspace Theories of Consciousness

Ralph Lewis M.D. on October 2, 2023 in Finding Purpose

GWTs propose that information becomes conscious when it gains the brain's attentional spotlight and is broadcast to a global workspace. Experts like GWT. The media has other ideas.

GWTs propose that information becomes conscious when it gains the brain's attentional spotlight and is broadcast to a global workspace. Experts like GWT. The media has other ideas.

Emotion Regulation

The Path to Your True Self: What’s Missing in How I Feel

Susanna Wu-Pong Calvert Ph.D., MAPP, RPh on October 2, 2023 in The Heart of Healing

A Personal Perspective: I've learned that gifts and healing lie just beneath the feelings I've been trying to avoid.

A Personal Perspective: I've learned that gifts and healing lie just beneath the feelings I've been trying to avoid.

ADHD

Recognising Undiagnosed ADHD in Adult Women

Amanda Moses B S.Sc on October 2, 2023 in Thinking About Becoming a Psychologist?

Often, adult women with ADHD have adeptly masked their struggles, making detection a complex challenge.

Often, adult women with ADHD have adeptly masked their struggles, making detection a complex challenge.

OCD

The Reality of Animal Hoarding

Stanley Coren PhD., DSc, FRSC on October 2, 2023 in Canine Corner

Over 250,000 animals in the U.S. suffer from neglect or abuse caused by animal hoarding. Yet despite the gravity, effective treatments for hoarding have yet to be discovered.

Over 250,000 animals in the U.S. suffer from neglect or abuse caused by animal hoarding. Yet despite the gravity, effective treatments for hoarding have yet to be discovered.

Attention

The Hidden Systems That Determine Our Attention

Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D. on October 2, 2023 in What Is a Human?

A common misconception is that the visual process works like a camera, but our attention is more of a mental process than a visual one.

A common misconception is that the visual process works like a camera, but our attention is more of a mental process than a visual one.

Sex

Paralyzed by Fear: Why Many Rape Victims Don’t Resist

Michael Castleman M.A. on October 2, 2023 in All About Sex

"Fight-or-flight" doesn't accurately capture how many victims of sexual assault respond in the moment.

"Fight-or-flight" doesn't accurately capture how many victims of sexual assault respond in the moment.

Adolescence

Rent a Mom When You Head to College

Tim Elmore on October 2, 2023 in Artificial Maturity

Parents are willing to take unbelievable measures when their kids aren’t ready to leave the house.

Parents are willing to take unbelievable measures when their kids aren’t ready to leave the house.

Heuristics

Does Everything Cause Cancer?

Jennifer Kilkus Ph.D., ABPP on October 2, 2023 in Navigating Cancer

Clickbait headlines and overstated findings can make it seem like nothing is safe. Read between the headlines to better understand cancer risk.

Clickbait headlines and overstated findings can make it seem like nothing is safe. Read between the headlines to better understand cancer risk.