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

Alcoholism

I Thought Drinking Made Me Cool. I Was Wrong

Jeanette Hu AMFT on July 11, 2025 in Sober Curiosity

Personal Perspective: A therapist's personal lesson on what happens when we stop chasing approval and start being real?

Personal Perspective: A therapist's personal lesson on what happens when we stop chasing approval and start being real?

Positive Psychology

Why Lifelong Learning Feeds the Soul

Susanna Newsonen on July 11, 2025 in The Path to Passionate Happiness

The science of learning and how it nourishes well-being.

The science of learning and how it nourishes well-being.

Happiness

The Misery of Chasing Happiness

Mark Lipton Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in Transformative Leadership

What if everything you've been told about happiness is wrong? Solid empirical research reveals why chasing joy might be sabotaging the very life you want.

What if everything you've been told about happiness is wrong? Solid empirical research reveals why chasing joy might be sabotaging the very life you want.

ADHD debates are getting increasingly polarized. The history of ADHD, however, can help inform these debates, leading to more nuanced understandings of this complex condition.

Spirituality

The First Stage of Enlightenment: A Psychological Approach

Tchiki Davis, Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in Click Here for Happiness

According to ancient Buddhist texts, there are four stages between initial awakening and full enlightenment. Here, we discuss the first.

According to ancient Buddhist texts, there are four stages between initial awakening and full enlightenment. Here, we discuss the first.

Intelligence

Curiosity Saved the Cat

Cynthia Vejar Ph.D., LPC, LSC/PPS, NCC on July 11, 2025 in Meaningful Connections

Curiosity drives growth, creativity, and connection—not just answers. Here's how to spark it daily and why it’s the quiet superpower behind learning and discovery.

Curiosity drives growth, creativity, and connection—not just answers. Here's how to spark it daily and why it’s the quiet superpower behind learning and discovery.

Self-Help

Splitting: How to Outgrow It

Steven Stosny, Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in Anger in the Age of Entitlement

Although it can seem like narcissism, the selfie culture is more a product of immature thinking, of wanting attention by seeming to be smart, moral, attractive, or interesting.

Although it can seem like narcissism, the selfie culture is more a product of immature thinking, of wanting attention by seeming to be smart, moral, attractive, or interesting.

Suicide

A 10-Point Plan to End Suicides

John Bateson on July 11, 2025 in Goodbye, Suicide

Personal Perspective: Individuals, businesses, schools, and government all have roles to play in suicide prevention.

Personal Perspective: Individuals, businesses, schools, and government all have roles to play in suicide prevention.

Depression

The Scopolamine Breakthrough

Mitchell B. Liester M.D. on July 11, 2025 in The Leading Edge

A motion sickness drug that treats severe depression in hours? Discover how scopolamine may revolutionize mental health treatment for millions worldwide.

A motion sickness drug that treats severe depression in hours? Discover how scopolamine may revolutionize mental health treatment for millions worldwide.

Aging

The Transformative Power of Home Funerals

Suzanne B. O’Brien RN on July 11, 2025 in The Rebirth of Death

More and more people are returning to the longtime tradition of a home funeral/wake to not only
save money but have more control over the ceremony.

More and more people are returning to the longtime tradition of a home funeral/wake to not only
save money but have more control over the ceremony.

Diet

Meat: The Ultimate Power Trip?

Sophie Attwood Ph.D., C. Psych. on July 11, 2025 in Nudging Nutrition

Meat intake continues to rise despite growing evidence of the health and environmental risks. Is our need for social dominance the real reason we continue to eat animals?

Meat intake continues to rise despite growing evidence of the health and environmental risks. Is our need for social dominance the real reason we continue to eat animals?

Psychology

Psychology Broadens Its Reach in the Middle East

John McCarthy Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in The Innovator Next Door

Professional associations can be transformational throughout the world. The Middle East Psychological Association has high aims.

Professional associations can be transformational throughout the world. The Middle East Psychological Association has high aims.

Neuroscience

Unlocking the Role of Glial Cells in the Brain

Ragnar Purje Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in Recovery From Brain Injury

Glial cells support neurological structures, function, cognition, behaviours, physical skills, and motor coordination.

Glial cells support neurological structures, function, cognition, behaviours, physical skills, and motor coordination.

Resilience

Is a Solitary Tree Lonely?

Madelyn Blair Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in Resilient Leadership

Personal Perspective: Seeing a solitary tree taught me lessons about resilient leadership. My insights began when I talked with children about the tree that I thought was lonely.

Personal Perspective: Seeing a solitary tree taught me lessons about resilient leadership. My insights began when I talked with children about the tree that I thought was lonely.

Shame

The Silent Weight of Shame in Medicine

Cynthia Chen-Joea DO, MPH, FAAFP, DABOM on July 11, 2025 in The Other Side of the White Coat

Personal Perspective: One patient changed everything for me. This is how shame quietly thrives in medicine and why naming it may be the first step toward healing.

Personal Perspective: One patient changed everything for me. This is how shame quietly thrives in medicine and why naming it may be the first step toward healing.

Relationships

3 Common Texting Red Flags to Look Out For

Mark Travers Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in Social Instincts

Are you too invested in a relationship with someone who is emotionally unavailable? Repeating patterns in text messages are worth paying attention to.

Are you too invested in a relationship with someone who is emotionally unavailable? Repeating patterns in text messages are worth paying attention to.

Creativity

Need a Creativity Boost? Here’s How

Nick Morgan Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in Communications That Matter

Creative thinking isn’t about abandoning your expertise—it’s about refreshing it. These five practices can help you shake off the dust and re-engage your mind in unexpected ways.

Creative thinking isn’t about abandoning your expertise—it’s about refreshing it. These five practices can help you shake off the dust and re-engage your mind in unexpected ways.

Attention

One Thing at a Time

Sam Goldstein Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in Common Sense Science

Brains do not multitask; they engage one task at a time while holding others in reserve. Evolutionary filters manage attention by prioritizing relevant stimuli and a strong focus.

Brains do not multitask; they engage one task at a time while holding others in reserve. Evolutionary filters manage attention by prioritizing relevant stimuli and a strong focus.

Personal Perspectives

The Surprising Upside of Moderate Anxiety

Cristi Bundukamara Ed.D., PMHNP on July 11, 2025 in Empowered

Are we demonizing anxiety, when we can instead examine its usefulness?

Are we demonizing anxiety, when we can instead examine its usefulness?

ADHD

Strategies to Boost Executive Function in the ADHD Brain

Catherine J. Mutti-Driscoll Ph.D. on July 11, 2025 in Empowerment Is Real

Planning and prioritizing for the ADHD brain.

Planning and prioritizing for the ADHD brain.

Trauma

The Real Reason Trauma Affects People Differently

Antonieta Contreras on July 10, 2025 in Traumatization and Its Aftermath

Identical experiences can devastate one person while leaving another unscathed. The resons why may change how you think about trauma.

Identical experiences can devastate one person while leaving another unscathed. The resons why may change how you think about trauma.

Grief

When Motherhood Dreams End, but the Feelings Don’t

S. Fenella Das Gupta Ph.D., MFT on July 10, 2025 in Creating 2 Pink Lines

When the fertility journey ends, it doesn’t mean the feelings disappear. Here’s how to begin to build a meaningful life on your own terms.

When the fertility journey ends, it doesn’t mean the feelings disappear. Here’s how to begin to build a meaningful life on your own terms.

Aging

My Parkinson’s Year 6 Update

Larry D. Rosen Ph.D. on July 10, 2025 in Rewired: The Psychology of Technology

Personal Perspective: In my sixth year of Parkinson's, cognitive changes leave me wondering how much of this decline is due to the disease and how much simply to aging.

Personal Perspective: In my sixth year of Parkinson's, cognitive changes leave me wondering how much of this decline is due to the disease and how much simply to aging.

Education

Dos and Don’ts for College Students Seeking Research Experience

Roger Kreuz Ph.D. on July 10, 2025 in Small Talk and Big Questions

There are lots of bad ways to ask professors about working in their research labs, but these suggestions should help.

There are lots of bad ways to ask professors about working in their research labs, but these suggestions should help.

Moral Injury

Reconnecting With Our World

Jaimie L Lusk Psy.D. on July 10, 2025 in Threshold

Joanna Macy's transformative work helps us find hope, resilience, and empowerment in challenging times, contributing to a more just and sustainable world.

Joanna Macy's transformative work helps us find hope, resilience, and empowerment in challenging times, contributing to a more just and sustainable world.

Body Image

What to Say (and Not Say) About Your Child’s Body

Carolyn Karoll LCSW-C, CEDS-C on July 10, 2025 in Eating Disorder Recovery

Talk to your kids about their bodies with care and confidence, helping them build respect, trust, and a positive body image for life.

Talk to your kids about their bodies with care and confidence, helping them build respect, trust, and a positive body image for life.

Defense Mechanisms

The Sophisticated Defense Mechanism of Optimization

Vanessa Scaringi Ph.D., CEDS-C on July 10, 2025 in Body Acceptance

Constantly setting goals and seeking perfection may be a way of avoiding difficult realities. Unpacking this potential defense mechanism could help connect us to our humanity.

Constantly setting goals and seeking perfection may be a way of avoiding difficult realities. Unpacking this potential defense mechanism could help connect us to our humanity.

Artificial Intelligence

Designing Artificial Consciousness from Natural Intelligence

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on July 10, 2025 in ExperiMentations

Professor Karl Friston discusses the future of mind, intelligence, and agency.

Professor Karl Friston discusses the future of mind, intelligence, and agency.

Addiction

Addicted to Addiction

Tom Bellamy, Ph.D. on July 10, 2025 in Everyday Neuroscience

When so many behaviours get called addictions, what does the term really mean?

When so many behaviours get called addictions, what does the term really mean?