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

Gratitude

The Mental Health Benefits of Giving Thanks

Susan B Trachman M.D. on November 23, 2024 in It's Not Just in Your Head

Did you know that practicing gratitude positively affects your physical and mental health?

Did you know that practicing gratitude positively affects your physical and mental health?

Attention

Having Reply-All Regret? Stop Being 'That Person' in the Chat

Ruth Gotian Ed.D., M.S. on November 23, 2024 in Optimizing Success

Over-promotion and "reply all" habits can hurt your reputation. Instead, build authentic connections, amplify others, and foster collaboration that truly stands out.

Over-promotion and "reply all" habits can hurt your reputation. Instead, build authentic connections, amplify others, and foster collaboration that truly stands out.

Grief

How to Deal With Grief During the Holidays

Barbara Greenberg Ph.D. on November 23, 2024 in The Teen Doctor

Whether you've recently lost a loved one or know someone who has, these strategies can help make the holidays less difficult.

Whether you've recently lost a loved one or know someone who has, these strategies can help make the holidays less difficult.

Academic Problems and Skills

Managing Mental Health and Well-Being During Exam Season

Ed Ergenzinger J.D., Ph.D. on November 23, 2024 in Night Sweats and Delusions of Grandeur

Exam season is extremely stressful for college and professional students. Following a few simple tips can help mitigate exam-related stress.

Exam season is extremely stressful for college and professional students. Following a few simple tips can help mitigate exam-related stress.

Catastrophizing

Cut Out Catastrophizing

Jennifer Caspari Ph.D. on November 23, 2024 in Living Well When Your Body Doesn't Cooperate

Catastrophizing fuels and maintains distress. To pull out of this negative focus on the future, engage with the present moment.

Catastrophizing fuels and maintains distress. To pull out of this negative focus on the future, engage with the present moment.

Near-Death Experiences

Stepping Out of Time

Steve Taylor Ph.D. on November 23, 2024 in Out of the Darkness

Why does time seem to expand during accidents and emergencies? Why does it sometimes disappear altogether? It's because time is a flexible construct determined by state of mind.

Why does time seem to expand during accidents and emergencies? Why does it sometimes disappear altogether? It's because time is a flexible construct determined by state of mind.

Relationships

Why the New Year Sparks Breakups: 3 Hidden Reasons

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on November 23, 2024 in Liking the Child You Love

The turn of the calendar can bring deep reflection, tough choices, and sometimes breakups. Here’s why it happens and how to navigate it.

The turn of the calendar can bring deep reflection, tough choices, and sometimes breakups. Here’s why it happens and how to navigate it.

Gratitude

Gratitude: Finding Sweetness in the Bitterness

Alex Snider on November 23, 2024 in Human Bureaucracy

Gratitude isn’t about waiting for life to be perfect. It’s about learning to see the good even, or perhaps especially, in hard times.

Gratitude isn’t about waiting for life to be perfect. It’s about learning to see the good even, or perhaps especially, in hard times.

Emotional Intelligence

Empathetic Attunement and Meaningful Moments of Connection

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D. on November 23, 2024 in Everyday Resilience

Genuine connection happens when we feel seen, heard, and understood. Empathetic attunement can help turn an interaction into a powerful moment of connection.

Genuine connection happens when we feel seen, heard, and understood. Empathetic attunement can help turn an interaction into a powerful moment of connection.

Trauma

From Trauma to a Legacy of Hope: Creating a Family Narrative

Suzanne B. Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP on November 23, 2024 in Speaking About Trauma

A traumatic event can leave a family in pain without the words they need to address the unthinkable together.

A traumatic event can leave a family in pain without the words they need to address the unthinkable together.

Sex

Cycles of Desire

Gurit E. Birnbaum, Ph.D. on November 23, 2024 in Intimately Connected

From teenage surges to midlife shifts, our hormones silently shape our desires, attractions, and sexual behaviors in ways that might surprise you.

From teenage surges to midlife shifts, our hormones silently shape our desires, attractions, and sexual behaviors in ways that might surprise you.

Punishment

The Prison of the Future: A Humane, Evidence-Based Approach

The Learning and Implicit Processes Lab on November 23, 2024 in Spontaneous Thoughts

Prisons often punish rather than rehabilitate, worsening issues for inmates and society. Evidence-based reforms focus on reintegration and skill-building for lasting change.

Prisons often punish rather than rehabilitate, worsening issues for inmates and society. Evidence-based reforms focus on reintegration and skill-building for lasting change.

Emotional Abuse

5 Ways People Try to Control Us

Diane E Dreher Ph.D. on November 23, 2024 in Your Personal Renaissance

If you have felt powerless in a personal, workplace, or political relationship, this could be why.

If you have felt powerless in a personal, workplace, or political relationship, this could be why.

Law and Crime

Does Crime Run in Families?

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., M.Div., Ph.D. on November 23, 2024 in Why Bad Looks Good

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." We've all heard the expression. But when it comes to criminality, is it true?

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." We've all heard the expression. But when it comes to criminality, is it true?

Beauty

How to Experience the Depth in Every Moment

Nauman Naeem M.D. on November 23, 2024 in The Universe Within

Our lives have become so chaotic that we often only focus on the destination. We lose sight of the journey and miss the beauty and depth that exists in every moment.

Our lives have become so chaotic that we often only focus on the destination. We lose sight of the journey and miss the beauty and depth that exists in every moment.

Infertility

Motherhood Reimagined

S. Fenella Das Gupta Ph.D., MFT on November 22, 2024 in Creating 2 Pink Lines

Personal Perspective: After years of infertility, motherhood wasn’t what I expected. It’s a mix of joy, trauma, and growth that reshaped me entirely.

Personal Perspective: After years of infertility, motherhood wasn’t what I expected. It’s a mix of joy, trauma, and growth that reshaped me entirely.

Neurodiversity

Juggling Creativity, Productivity, and Neurodiversity

Katie Rose Guest Pryal J.D., Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Living Neurodivergence

Personal Perspective: Balancing the personal and professional as a neurodivergent creative person.

Personal Perspective: Balancing the personal and professional as a neurodivergent creative person.

Politics

Discussing Politics at Holiday Gatherings

Tania Israel Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Ready to Be Strong

Ready for post-election holiday gatherings? Here’s how to have political conversations that deepen, rather than damage, your family relationships.

Ready for post-election holiday gatherings? Here’s how to have political conversations that deepen, rather than damage, your family relationships.

Parenting

3 Ways to Prevent Holiday Drama With Your Adult Children

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Liking the Child You Love

Holidays can be a time of joy, but tension with adult children can quickly steal the sparkle—here’s how to keep the peace without sacrificing connection.

Holidays can be a time of joy, but tension with adult children can quickly steal the sparkle—here’s how to keep the peace without sacrificing connection.

“Indecision may or may not be my problem.”- Jimmy Buffett

Optimism

Easy Ways to Generate Hope

Gina Simmons Schneider Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Frazzlebrain

Cynicism and pessimism are on the rise. Studies show that cultivating optimism and hopefulness can improve mental and physical health and strengthen resilience.

Cynicism and pessimism are on the rise. Studies show that cultivating optimism and hopefulness can improve mental and physical health and strengthen resilience.

ADHD

Common Signs That ADHD Is Impacting Your Emotions

Catherine J. Mutti-Driscoll Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Empowerment Is Real

Understanding the emotional challenges of ADHD helps individuals to identify their symptoms better and seek effective support.

Understanding the emotional challenges of ADHD helps individuals to identify their symptoms better and seek effective support.

Sex

Why Do We Blame Men for Their Own Sexual Difficulties?

Justin J. Lehmiller Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in The Myths of Sex

All too often, sex therapists attribute men's sexual problems to masturbating in the "wrong" way. Blaming people for their own problems isn't helpful. Here's a better approach.

All too often, sex therapists attribute men's sexual problems to masturbating in the "wrong" way. Blaming people for their own problems isn't helpful. Here's a better approach.

Terror Management Theory

Terror Management and the "Worm at the Core"

Travis Langley Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Beyond Heroes and Villains

Existential psychologists suggested that mortality salience motivates our choices. Terror management theorists agree.

Existential psychologists suggested that mortality salience motivates our choices. Terror management theorists agree.

Parenting

How to Connect With Your Kids

Daniela Owen Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Be Amazing!

Connecting with your kids is as much about doing the things they enjoy as it is about involving them in the things you enjoy and have to do.

Connecting with your kids is as much about doing the things they enjoy as it is about involving them in the things you enjoy and have to do.

Midlife

America's Midlife Crisis

David Evans on November 22, 2024 in Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Our country has entered new, uncharted territory. How will we respond to it?

Our country has entered new, uncharted territory. How will we respond to it?

Cognition

The Psychology of the Paragraph

Christopher Dwyer Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Thoughts on Thinking

Paragraphs represent an idea unit, like a building block of cognitive architecture; understanding them might not only improve writing but also the way you think about thinking.

Paragraphs represent an idea unit, like a building block of cognitive architecture; understanding them might not only improve writing but also the way you think about thinking.

Chronic Pain

Want to Be Smarter and Live Longer?

David Hanscom MD on November 22, 2024 in Anxiety: Another Name for Pain

We undertake heroic efforts to improve our quality of life and live longer. One simpler approach is to play racquet sports. They are accessible, and the effects are profound.

We undertake heroic efforts to improve our quality of life and live longer. One simpler approach is to play racquet sports. They are accessible, and the effects are profound.

Leadership

The Surprising Value of Ambivalence in Management

Victor Lipman on November 22, 2024 in Mind of the Manager

How an ambivalent style of leadership can improve team performance.

How an ambivalent style of leadership can improve team performance.