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

Artificial Intelligence

The Silent Erosion of Our Critical Thinking Skills

Jack Schafer Ph.D. on March 23, 2025 in Let Their Words Do the Talking

Overreliance on artificial intelligence may diminish critical thinking skills.

Overreliance on artificial intelligence may diminish critical thinking skills.

Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders Are on the Rise and It's Alarming

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on March 23, 2025 in From Both Sides of the Couch

Personal Perspective: Eating disorders are on the rise since the pandemic. From my own experience with anorexia, I know how these disorders can turn tragic.

Personal Perspective: Eating disorders are on the rise since the pandemic. From my own experience with anorexia, I know how these disorders can turn tragic.

Relationships

Rewriting Your Love Story

Allison Abrams LCSW-R on March 23, 2025 in Nurturing Self-Compassion

Childhood trauma can shape our adult relationships, but healing can help us rewrite our love story. Learn how to overcome the past and fall in love with safety and stability.

Childhood trauma can shape our adult relationships, but healing can help us rewrite our love story. Learn how to overcome the past and fall in love with safety and stability.

Happiness

The Success Traps

Dimitrios Tsatiris M.D. on March 23, 2025 in Anxiety in High-Achievers

Contrary to popular belief, success often does not lead to happiness. Here are five ways to avoid this trap.

Contrary to popular belief, success often does not lead to happiness. Here are five ways to avoid this trap.

Cognition

Thematic Scrambled Word Puzzles

Marcel Danesi Ph.D. on March 23, 2025 in Brain Workout

The combination of scrambled word puzzles with thematic puzzles, similar to the "Connections" puzzle, activate verbal thinking, which in turn strengthens control of language.

The combination of scrambled word puzzles with thematic puzzles, similar to the "Connections" puzzle, activate verbal thinking, which in turn strengthens control of language.

Religion

Can Religion Be Your Purpose?

Jordan Grumet M.D. on March 23, 2025 in The Regret-Free Life

Can religion be your true purpose? It depends. Discover how faith can fuel happiness—or create stress—depending on how you approach it.

Can religion be your true purpose? It depends. Discover how faith can fuel happiness—or create stress—depending on how you approach it.

Creativity

An Innovative "Snack" in Wellness

John McCarthy Ph.D. on March 23, 2025 in The Innovator Next Door

A "snack" may just be the remedy for a sedentary lifestyle... but not the kind of "snack" that you might suspect.

A "snack" may just be the remedy for a sedentary lifestyle... but not the kind of "snack" that you might suspect.

Fear

What Is Your Core Fear? Ready to Give It Up?

Robert Taibbi L.C.S.W. on March 23, 2025 in Fixing Families

Most of us walk out of our childhoods with core fears—abandonment, strong emotions, being seen, being invisible. Here are tips on how to upgrade the mental software.

Most of us walk out of our childhoods with core fears—abandonment, strong emotions, being seen, being invisible. Here are tips on how to upgrade the mental software.

Neurodiversity

Say It Right: A Neurodiversity Language Guide for Allies

Ludmila N. Praslova, Ph.D. on March 23, 2025 in Positively Different

Worried about saying the wrong thing when talking about neurodiversity? This guide breaks down the basics: what to say, what to avoid, and why it matters.

Worried about saying the wrong thing when talking about neurodiversity? This guide breaks down the basics: what to say, what to avoid, and why it matters.

Cognition

In the Post-Cognitive World, What Comes After Thinking?

John Nosta on March 23, 2025 in The Digital Self

Is cognition optional? AI proves smarts might not need a mind.

Is cognition optional? AI proves smarts might not need a mind.

Education

Silent Synapses

Mitchell B. Liester M.D. on March 23, 2025 in The Leading Edge

Silent synapses are dormant neural connections that hold untapped brain potential. Discover how ketamine, exercise, and other interventions can awaken these connections.

Silent synapses are dormant neural connections that hold untapped brain potential. Discover how ketamine, exercise, and other interventions can awaken these connections.

Forgiveness

Stop Trying to Get People With BPD or NPD to Apologize

Daniel S. Lobel Ph.D. on March 23, 2025 in My Side of the Couch

Learn how to stop pursuing worthless apologies and focus instead on constructive behavior change.

Learn how to stop pursuing worthless apologies and focus instead on constructive behavior change.

Parenting

7 Ideas for Creating Nurturing Moments

Elisa T. Bronfman, Ph.D., and Johanna D. Sagarin, Ph.D. on March 23, 2025 in Aligning for Growth

We see great benefits when families bond through creating nurturing moments. This is a brief, how-to guide to assist caregivers.

We see great benefits when families bond through creating nurturing moments. This is a brief, how-to guide to assist caregivers.

Memory

Do Your Photos Hold the Keys to Your Memories?

Sam Goldstein Ph.D. on March 23, 2025 in Common Sense Science

Viewing personal photos may enhance memory, reinforce identity, deepen recall, and spark vivid emotional connections to moments across your life story.

Viewing personal photos may enhance memory, reinforce identity, deepen recall, and spark vivid emotional connections to moments across your life story.

Relationships

The Inner World of Hindu-Muslim Couples

Dinesh Sharma Ph.D. on March 23, 2025 in Leaders in the Making

The inner lives of Hindu-Muslim couples in India.

The inner lives of Hindu-Muslim couples in India.

Moral Injury

Following Your Moral Compass

Jaimie L Lusk Psy.D. on March 23, 2025 in Threshold

Align your actions with your values and build resilience in the face of moral adversity.

Align your actions with your values and build resilience in the face of moral adversity.

Bias

Cognitive Biases and How They Lead to Bad Decisions

Neel Burton M.A., M.D. on March 23, 2025 in Hide and Seek

A cognitive bias is a mental shortcut intended to spare us time, effort, or discomfort, but at the cost of accuracy and reliability.

A cognitive bias is a mental shortcut intended to spare us time, effort, or discomfort, but at the cost of accuracy and reliability.

Grit

Finding Another Gear: Unlocking Growth When You’ve Plateaued

Tony Daloisio Ph.D. on March 23, 2025 in The Journey of Your Life

Think you’ve peaked? You might be one mindset shift away from surprising yourself. Learn how to unlock hidden potential when growth seems out of reach.

Think you’ve peaked? You might be one mindset shift away from surprising yourself. Learn how to unlock hidden potential when growth seems out of reach.

Neurodiversity

Why So Many Neurodivergent People Own a Business

Jennifer Gerlach LCSW on March 23, 2025 in Beyond Mental Health

A perfect recipe for innovation.

A perfect recipe for innovation.

Psychosis

Alternative Treatment Options for Serious Mental Illness

Yvette Sheline MD on March 23, 2025 in Navigating Mental Crises

For families facing serious mental illness, it is hard to determine the best course of action.

For families facing serious mental illness, it is hard to determine the best course of action.

Social Media

How Social Media Might Be Quietly Killing Your Confidence

Amy Morin on March 23, 2025 in What Mentally Strong People Don't Do

Social media is designed to get you to compare yourself to others. But you don't have to let comparison culture take a toll on your confidence.

Social media is designed to get you to compare yourself to others. But you don't have to let comparison culture take a toll on your confidence.

Relationships

Why Do We Hold on to Old Flames?

Allison Abrams LCSW-R on March 23, 2025 in Nurturing Self-Compassion

Holding onto old flames is something many of us experience. While natural to reminisce, there may be a deeper meaning behind why it can be hard to let go of past loves.

Holding onto old flames is something many of us experience. While natural to reminisce, there may be a deeper meaning behind why it can be hard to let go of past loves.

Hoarding

Hoarding Disorder Prevalence: A Scientific Assessment

Shirley M. Mueller M.D. on March 22, 2025 in The Mind of a Collector

A meta-analysis synthesized data from 11 carefully selected studies and found the estimated prevalence of hoarding disorder to be 2.5 percent, or 1 in 40 individuals.

A meta-analysis synthesized data from 11 carefully selected studies and found the estimated prevalence of hoarding disorder to be 2.5 percent, or 1 in 40 individuals.

Dopamine

The Dopamine Hijack

Kyle Emanuel Brown on March 22, 2025 in Total Self-Trust

Your brain isn't broken—it’s been hijacked by dopamine overload. Discover how modern life is stealing your focus and how to reset your motivation, clarity, and joy.

Your brain isn't broken—it’s been hijacked by dopamine overload. Discover how modern life is stealing your focus and how to reset your motivation, clarity, and joy.

Social Networking

The First 30 Seconds: 3 Keys to Instant Connection

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on March 22, 2025 in Liking the Child You Love

Whether it’s a work meeting, a new acquaintance, or a first date, those first moments set the stage for everything that follows. Here’s how to make them count.

Whether it’s a work meeting, a new acquaintance, or a first date, those first moments set the stage for everything that follows. Here’s how to make them count.

Perfectionism

The Anxiety of Asking for Help

Leon Garber LMHC on March 22, 2025 in Perfectionism

While asking for and receiving help is a common practice, perfectionists struggle with both, believing that they lead to catastrophic outcomes.

While asking for and receiving help is a common practice, perfectionists struggle with both, believing that they lead to catastrophic outcomes.

Emotion Regulation

Are You Ruminating or Obsessing?

Christine B. L. Adams M.D. on March 22, 2025 in Living on Automatic

Discover the differences between ruminations and obsessions and how their effects can be reduced, both clinically and non-clinically.

Discover the differences between ruminations and obsessions and how their effects can be reduced, both clinically and non-clinically.

Animal Behavior

How to Be a 'Good' Dog In a Human-Centered World

Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on March 22, 2025 in Animal Emotions

In a new book, Vivian Zottola examines both dogs’ and humans’ points of view and stresses the importance of using science-based, positive, force-free training.

In a new book, Vivian Zottola examines both dogs’ and humans’ points of view and stresses the importance of using science-based, positive, force-free training.

Artificial Intelligence

Thinking About Thinking—How AI Reshapes Cognition

John Nosta on March 22, 2025 in The Digital Self

What if cognition isn’t the pinnacle of intelligence but a temporary scaffolding that's dissolving as AI reveals new, fluid architectures of thought?

What if cognition isn’t the pinnacle of intelligence but a temporary scaffolding that's dissolving as AI reveals new, fluid architectures of thought?