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

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.

Artificial Intelligence

AI and the Abdication of Thought

John Nosta on November 22, 2024 in The Digital Self

For all their promise, LLMs can become crutches, turning an intellectual partnership into the abdication of thought.

For all their promise, LLMs can become crutches, turning an intellectual partnership into the abdication of thought.

Relationships

When to End It: A Checklist for Moving On

Matt Wotton, MBA and Graham Johnston, MBA on November 22, 2024 in Get Some Help!

Pay attention to these red flags. They're unlikely to go away.

Pay attention to these red flags. They're unlikely to go away.

Behavioral Finance

Money Talks: Decoding the Cultural Messages We Receive

Nathan Astle MFT, CFT-I on November 22, 2024 in The Psychology of Debt

Cultural messages may affect people's view of finances and their relationship with spending or saving money. Understanding these messages leads to better financial wellness.

Cultural messages may affect people's view of finances and their relationship with spending or saving money. Understanding these messages leads to better financial wellness.

Aging

The Double Standard of Aging for Women

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on November 22, 2024 in Invisible Bruises

There is a societal tendency to associate aging with decline for women, while for men, it’s often seen as a sign of wisdom and success.

There is a societal tendency to associate aging with decline for women, while for men, it’s often seen as a sign of wisdom and success.

Education

What to Do When Your Child Hates School

Judy Willis M.D., M.Ed. on November 22, 2024 in Radical Teaching

When you connect kids' classroom studies to their interests and their lives, you can reverse school negativity and promote children’s more positive responses to school.

When you connect kids' classroom studies to their interests and their lives, you can reverse school negativity and promote children’s more positive responses to school.

Anger

The High Cost of Contempt

Steven Stosny, Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Anger in the Age of Entitlement

Although aimed at others, contempt is filled with hidden self-anger, if not self-contempt. It’s hardly possible to like yourself while feeling contempt.

Although aimed at others, contempt is filled with hidden self-anger, if not self-contempt. It’s hardly possible to like yourself while feeling contempt.

Friends

How to Survive the Holidays With Your Ex

Lindsay Weisner Psy.D. on November 22, 2024 in The Venn Diagram Life

Can you handle the holidays with a reminder that your relationship didn't have the happily ever after ending that you planned?

Can you handle the holidays with a reminder that your relationship didn't have the happily ever after ending that you planned?

Bias

5 Tips to Fight Prejudice and Build a Successful Community

J. Ibeh Agbanyim Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Humanizing the World of Work

Here's why focusing on the big picture benefits more people in the community.

Here's why focusing on the big picture benefits more people in the community.

Parenting

Making Holiday Co-Parenting Work

Lisa Zeiderman Esq., CFL on November 22, 2024 in Legal Matters

Navigating shared custody during the holidays? Discover practical tips to reduce stress, foster joy, and create lasting memories for your children.

Navigating shared custody during the holidays? Discover practical tips to reduce stress, foster joy, and create lasting memories for your children.

Marriage

3 Ways to Improve Your Communication for a Stronger Marriage

Mark Travers Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Social Instincts

Want a long-lasting marriage? High quality communication is the best way to ensure it.

Want a long-lasting marriage? High quality communication is the best way to ensure it.

Attention

The Psychology of Attention: Lessons from Simone Weil

Finn Janning Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Philosophies in Psychology

Simone Weil’s radical vision of attention and its relevance to modern psychology.

Simone Weil’s radical vision of attention and its relevance to modern psychology.

Stress

This One Trick Can Decrease the Stress of Family Gatherings

Joseph A. Shrand M.D. on November 22, 2024 in The I-M Approach

Family meals like Thanksgiving can lead to drama. This simple exercise at the dinner table can build the trust needed to share one's perspective.

Family meals like Thanksgiving can lead to drama. This simple exercise at the dinner table can build the trust needed to share one's perspective.

Stress

An Ancient Cure for Modern Stress: Fallow Seasons

Ludmila N. Praslova, Ph.D. on November 22, 2024 in Positively Different

Pushing through exhaustion? Stop. An ancient wisdom of fallow seasons holds a timeless remedy for today’s hustle.

Pushing through exhaustion? Stop. An ancient wisdom of fallow seasons holds a timeless remedy for today’s hustle.

Grief

Helping Your Kids When You're Grieving Yourself

Sophia Dembling on November 22, 2024 in Widow's Walk

Parents and children can learn to grieve their loss together. These tips can help.

Parents and children can learn to grieve their loss together. These tips can help.

Sport and Competition

The Paradox of Ultra-Endurance Sports

Jaimie L Lusk Psy.D. on November 22, 2024 in Threshold

It is important to consider the mental health challenges faced by ultra-endurance athletes, calling for a balanced approach to their comprehensive care.

It is important to consider the mental health challenges faced by ultra-endurance athletes, calling for a balanced approach to their comprehensive care.