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

Authenticity

Is It a Behavioral Peculiarity or Psychiatric Disorder?

Richard M Restak M.D. on August 13, 2026 in The Changing Brain

Behavioral diagnoses aren’t valid unless they take into account social and cultural settings.

Behavioral diagnoses aren’t valid unless they take into account social and cultural settings.

Cognition

"My Ex Is Crazy": True or False?

Trond Arne Undheim Ph.D. on August 13, 2026 in The Adaptive Mind

At 18, I wrote two pages about why a relationship was ending. Then a label offered to explain all of it in a sentence. Today, a chatbot would agree before you finished typing.

At 18, I wrote two pages about why a relationship was ending. Then a label offered to explain all of it in a sentence. Today, a chatbot would agree before you finished typing.

Cognition

The Mental Trap That Keeps Us Solving the Wrong Problem

Ryan C. Warner Ph.D. on August 13, 2026 in Leadership, Diversity, and Wellness

Most of us don't fail to solve problems, we fail to ask whether we're solving the right one.

Most of us don't fail to solve problems, we fail to ask whether we're solving the right one.

Integrative Medicine

Treating Disease vs. Helping People Heal

Lance Garrison, Ph.D. on August 13, 2026 in Collaborative Care

Integrated care brings together the expertise necessary to understand and treat the whole person, and expands what excellent treatment can accomplish.

Integrated care brings together the expertise necessary to understand and treat the whole person, and expands what excellent treatment can accomplish.

Media

Mental Health and Manifestation Culture

Holly Avella, Ph.D. on August 13, 2026 in Mood Disorders

From the telegraph to television to TikTok, communication technologies have been suggested to access a realm beyond our senses.

From the telegraph to television to TikTok, communication technologies have been suggested to access a realm beyond our senses.

Defense Mechanisms

Humor as a Psychological Defense Mechanism

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on August 13, 2026 in Up and Running

Humor can heal, but it might also be an unconscious Band-Aid for deeper emotional wounds.

Humor can heal, but it might also be an unconscious Band-Aid for deeper emotional wounds.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Why Myths Still Matter: Did Odysseus Suffer From PTSD?

Stephen A. Diamond Ph.D. on August 13, 2026 in Evil Deeds

The trauma of Odysseus.

The trauma of Odysseus.

Narcissism

Please Stop Calling Everyone a Narcissist

Rachel Needle Psy.D. on August 13, 2026 in Mental and Sexual Health

Before you label your ex, your mother, or your boss a narcissist, try describing what they actually do.

Before you label your ex, your mother, or your boss a narcissist, try describing what they actually do.

Deception

Why We Lie About Who We Are

Enterprise ADHD Institute on August 13, 2026 in Is This How Normal People Feel?

Everyone's talking about the Cambridge professor, Jason Arday, this week. I'm more curious about what makes anyone want to reinvent themselves.

Everyone's talking about the Cambridge professor, Jason Arday, this week. I'm more curious about what makes anyone want to reinvent themselves.

Unconscious

Why Overthinking Keeps You Stuck

Mark Shelvock, RP, MACP, MA on August 13, 2026 in Navigating the Serpentine Path

The most articulate and logical people are often the most immobilized.

The most articulate and logical people are often the most immobilized.

ADHD

How ADHD Stimulant Medications Really Work

Sharon Saline Psy.D. on August 13, 2026 in On Your Way with ADHD

Recent research shows how attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medications boost motivation. This is how they work.

Recent research shows how attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medications boost motivation. This is how they work.

Identity

What Keeps You From Feeling Truly Loved

Jan Bonhoeffer M.D. on August 13, 2026 in Heart of Healthcare

The person you’ve been pretending to be may be the very thing keeping you from feeling truly loved.

The person you’ve been pretending to be may be the very thing keeping you from feeling truly loved.

ADHD

What a 20-Minute ADHD Evaluation Can and Can't Tell You

Ryan S. Sultán MD on August 13, 2026 in Talking Scientifically About Mental Health

Online platforms have helped increase access to ADHD evaluations. Here is what a real ADHD evaluation requires and five questions to ask before you schedule one.

Online platforms have helped increase access to ADHD evaluations. Here is what a real ADHD evaluation requires and five questions to ask before you schedule one.

Personal Perspectives

What an Earthquake Taught Me About Identity

Sigifredo Castell Britton Ph.D. on August 13, 2026 in Emotional Origins of Violence

Personal Perspective: An earthquake interrupted a restorative justice session and left me reflecting on grief, identity, and the people we reach for when everything changes.

Personal Perspective: An earthquake interrupted a restorative justice session and left me reflecting on grief, identity, and the people we reach for when everything changes.

Assertiveness

Let Life Come to You, and Seize the Day

Paul J Dunion Ed.D. on August 13, 2026 in The Secular Mystic Path

You can live the dance of letting life come and seizing the day.

You can live the dance of letting life come and seizing the day.

Bias

How Much Psychology Can You Really Trust?

Richard Brown PhD on August 13, 2026 in Understanding Health Behaviors

What if psychology's most popular ideas aren't as solid as they seem? Weak evidence has a way of becoming conventional wisdom, but scepticism can protect us from being misled.

What if psychology's most popular ideas aren't as solid as they seem? Weak evidence has a way of becoming conventional wisdom, but scepticism can protect us from being misled.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Therapists Are Coming (for the Next Generation)

Matt Bishop Ed.D., LMFT on August 12, 2026 in Depth and Dopamine

Personal Perspective: Today’s adults may resist AI therapy. But children raised with AI will have no such resistance to something they grew up with.

Personal Perspective: Today’s adults may resist AI therapy. But children raised with AI will have no such resistance to something they grew up with.

Creativity

Writing Your Own Fanfiction Is Good for You

Lynn Zubernis Ph.D. on August 12, 2026 in The Science of Fandom

When fans use AI to write fanfiction, other fans feel betrayed — and writers lose the benefits of imaginary play, expressive writing, and invaluable practice.

When fans use AI to write fanfiction, other fans feel betrayed — and writers lose the benefits of imaginary play, expressive writing, and invaluable practice.

Parenting

The Back-to-School Parent Trap

Nathan Astle CFT-I on August 12, 2026 in The Psychology of Debt

Parents are doing much more than just buying school supplies. They’re carrying the emotional weight of wanting their children to feel like they belong.

Parents are doing much more than just buying school supplies. They’re carrying the emotional weight of wanting their children to feel like they belong.

Intelligence

A Kind of Intelligence That Matters More Than IQ

Mark Travers Ph.D. on August 12, 2026 in Social Instincts

Not all kinds of intelligence can be measured on standardized tests.

Not all kinds of intelligence can be measured on standardized tests.

Emotion Regulation

Why Your Coping Strategy Isn't Working and What to Try

Rachel Diamond Ph.D. on August 12, 2026 in Preparing for Parenthood

Are you using the right coping strategy for your nervous system? The key is understanding whether your nervous system is over- or under-activated.

Are you using the right coping strategy for your nervous system? The key is understanding whether your nervous system is over- or under-activated.

Self-Help

When Helping Becomes Losing Yourself

Lisa Liggins-Chambers Ph.D. on August 12, 2026 in Spotlight on Special Education

When the person everyone depends on needs help, too.

When the person everyone depends on needs help, too.

Anxiety

Overthinking: When the Solution Becomes the Problem

Joanna Hardis LISW-S on August 12, 2026 in Stop Worrying, Start Living

Learn how solutions like overthinking, seeking reassurance, and worrying may become problems when we're trying to figure something out and how to break the obsessive thought loops.

Learn how solutions like overthinking, seeking reassurance, and worrying may become problems when we're trying to figure something out and how to break the obsessive thought loops.

Artificial Intelligence

What Sam Altman Wouldn’t Ask ChatGPT

Jagpreet Chhatwal Ph.D. on August 12, 2026 in Looking Inward for a Healthier Society

What a wise man, Harvard researchers, a spiritual teacher, and your own vagus nerve can teach us about a question AI cannot—or should not—answer.

What a wise man, Harvard researchers, a spiritual teacher, and your own vagus nerve can teach us about a question AI cannot—or should not—answer.

Postpartum Psychosis

Postpartum Psychosis: A Clinical Perspective on a Tragic Case

Judy Greene M.D. on August 12, 2026 in Reproductive Psychiatry

Postpartum psychosis can hide behind anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Learn why recognizing its shifting symptoms can be lifesaving.

Postpartum psychosis can hide behind anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Learn why recognizing its shifting symptoms can be lifesaving.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Light My Fire in the Shadows: The High-Contrast Universe of BPD

Stoyan V. Sgourev Ph.D. on August 12, 2026 in Identity and Creativity

Explore the high-contrast world of BPD through Caravaggio's chiaroscuro and the volatile soundscape of The Doors.

Explore the high-contrast world of BPD through Caravaggio's chiaroscuro and the volatile soundscape of The Doors.

Chronic Illness

Coping With Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on August 12, 2026 in Chronically Me

Coping with chronic illness stress can be viewed as effective information processing.

Coping with chronic illness stress can be viewed as effective information processing.

Parenting

When Your Adult Child’s Crises Become Your Life

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on August 12, 2026 in Liking the Child You Love

You can love your adult child deeply without living on permanent high alert by being in a state of emotional standby.

You can love your adult child deeply without living on permanent high alert by being in a state of emotional standby.

Mindfulness

5 Simple Steps to Learn Mindfulness That Really Work

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on August 12, 2026 in Childhood Emotional Neglect

A psychologist who once dismissed mindfulness explains why it feels impossible for emotionally neglected people, and a simple exercise that makes it work.

A psychologist who once dismissed mindfulness explains why it feels impossible for emotionally neglected people, and a simple exercise that makes it work.