Relationships

If you’ve heard or read about dismissive avoidant attachment style, it may have sounded familiar. Maybe you dated someone who was emotionally unavailable and never let things get too deep. Or maybe you’re the one who always keeps partners at a safe emotional distance. Like other insecure attachment styles, dismissive…

“Do we need to take the knives with us?” my friend asks. The question is one I’ve never heard before. Two hours ago, I texted my friend and his husband that I was suicidal for the seventh time in my life. They both came over to hold me as I…

Movies, TV, and social media often make it seem like hot, frequent sex is the norm, even in long-married couples. So if that’s not the kind of intimacy between you and your partner, it can make you wonder: can a relationship survive without sex? The truth is, plenty of committed…

There’s no denying it: Making friends as an adult can often be awkward. Unless you happen to hit it off with your coworkers, roommates, or others you’re in close proximity with, you usually have to go out of your way to meet people you click with. And when you do,…

Whether you’re a chronic people-pleaser or simply someone who has a hard time saying “no” to the people you love, setting boundaries can be difficult, especially if you don’t have much practice setting them. But learning how to set a boundary is a crucial life skill that can improve your…

Dawn Laven (not her real name) and her husband have had sex maybe twice in 10 years. She blames the most recent drought on the discomforts of menopause, but the spark left her 27-year marriage long before that. “We’re just friends, roommates, people who do life together,” Laven says. “There’s…

Growing up doesn’t automatically mean leaving childhood behind. Sometimes the habits that helped you feel safe back then follow you into adulthood and shape how you see the world and interact with others. But spotting how childhood trauma affects relationships isn’t always easy, especially when it looks different for everyone….

You may think you know your partner, and you probably do know the basics. You know their favorite restaurant, shoe size, and how they take their coffee. You know where they work, that they never carry a balance on their credit card, have two best friends from college, and love…

The first couples therapy session can be a bit like a first date. There will probably be some nerves, a decent amount of information gathering, and by the end you’ll both probably be contemplating whether you want a second one. Starting any type of therapy can be intimidating, but couples…

I want to acknowledge how difficult this family dynamic is. This situation stirs up complicated emotions, and it’s easy to get trapped in these harmful relationship patterns with your mother. You might also have family members or friends offering their opinions on what you should do. Let’s cut through that…

When a friend or family member says, “I’m feeling really depressed and alone” or “My anxiety is through the roof and it’s making life really hard,” knowing how to respond can feel overwhelming. This isn’t an easy situation, and you may need support yourself when a loved one is struggling….

As a divorced mom of two boys, I’ve realized how common it is to feel lonely even when you’re rarely (if ever) alone. Like that time I got the stomach flu right before bedtime. I held a trash can in one arm while feeding my baby a bottle in the…