Halloween is one of the most popular U.S. holidays—this October, we’re set to spend a whopping $10 billion on treats, Halloween costumes, and decorations. The psychology behind Halloween costumes is intriguing: Studies show that when costumes render us anonymous, we may feel more confident displaying malicious behavior towards others. More…
Humans haven’t yet adapted to facing their own reflection all the time, whether they’re looking into mirrors, taking selfies, or talking to their coworkers on Zoom. People now ask cosmetic surgeons to make their faces look more like their Instagram filters. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a serious mental health…
I spend a lot of my time writing and utilizing my imagination. I can create a writing prompt out of almost anything. When I daydream, my creativity goes wild. I live in my fantasy land, conjuring up ideas for my next article or blog post. As I daydream, I attempt…
While talking to a young woman in recovery (with over 100 days), the topic of change arose. She said that she was unhappy with who she was. I probed further, asking what worried her about her life. She went on to tell me about all of the things she’d done…
Personality disorders are characterized by unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that make everyday functioning significantly difficult. The 10 personality disorders have each been analyzed and defined; however, there is still much to understand, such as how and why these disorders develop. Many experts agree that both genetic and environmental factors are…
Abuse is never the victim’s fault; however, the way that you respond to abusive behavior might signal to your partner that the abuse is okay. First, if you allow your significant other to spew condescending comments at you, they’ll continue to do so; it’s important that you put your foot…
Teenagers are at an increased risk for experiencing mental health issues, as their brains continue to develop and change throughout this delicate time in life. This means it’s incredibly important for their loved ones to keep a watchful eye on them and understand red flags that might signify a serious…
When my little brother turned 10 years old, he expressed a sudden interest in playing football. This was a shock to say the least, as my siblings and I grew up living and breathing soccer, basketball, even tennis—basically every sport but football. And the unchartered territory made us nervous. Even…
In order to achieve some personal goals of mine, I decided to embark on a new health and fitness journey this past summer. It was nothing crazy, I just pledged to eat better and work out 5 days a week. Simple. Well, a few days into it, my good friend—who…