Mental Health Topics

New research from the University of Illinois says that surprises are the perfect recipe for influencing social change. According to this study, “Surprise, Recipes for Surprise, and Social Influence,” surprises make for memorable, stimulating experiences, but they also prompt people to change their thoughts and even influence them to take…

Have you ever picked up a book during a difficult time, in hopes of being transported to a different place? In hopes of feeling safe and comforted? In hopes of returning to the present with a new and improved mentality? If you haven’t, you should. Because time and time again,…

I struggle with social anxiety. It takes some time for me to warm up to people, and until I do, I’m incredibly quiet and decently awkward. This makes first impressions and introductions pretty painful—I’m talking job interviews, blind dates, work functions, meet-the-parents… I never know what to say, what to…

Imagine this: You and your friend are going out for your weekly dinner date and you couldn’t be more excited. You grin from ear-to-ear thinking about the slice (or two) of greasy pepperoni pizza you’re about to indulge in. But when you pick up your friend, she doesn’t appear to…

According to new research, older people rely on schematic memory, which may have troubling consequences. More specifically, this study “Differentiating True and False Schematic Memories in Older Adults,” says that as people age, they typically rely on schematic memory, which helps them remember the basics of an event—however, because they…

Oftentimes, we take for granted those who mean the most to us: our significant others, our best friends, even (and especially) our beloved family members. This is natural, and we’re all guilty of doing it, but that’s not to say that we can’t put a little extra effort into showing…

The topic of conversation on my favorite radio show this morning was the new-age approach to meeting and mingling with others: online dating. But they weren’t talking about any average guy or gal signing up for Match.com or swiping left and right on Tinder—they were talking about married guys and…

If you’re like me, your anxiety gets a little out of whack from time to time… and often for no good reason. You’re walking to work, or hanging out with friends, when out of nowhere this heaviness bombards you, an unexplained worry takes over, and your happiness, productivity, peace, contentment—you…

My anxiety has felt… closer, lately. It used to be this distant threat that I could close the door on or swallow deep down. Now, it’s a heaviness that sits in my throat and weighs on my mind. Sometimes, it hits me like a baseball gone rogue. Most of the…

I’m not going to pretend like I’m a dating expert—in fact, I’m far from it. I’ve gone on a few dates here and there, but I’m notorious for canceling just days (sometimes hours) before. I know what you’re thinking, what a jerk. And I completely agree with you. It’s just…

Any time I’m left alone in a public space, I dig my phone out of my pocket and act like I have important business to attend to. This is never truly the case. I’m just so awkward and so nervous around strangers that I must engage in an imaginary conversation…

Can you still keep a secret in the 21st century? Well, I certainly can and do on a daily basis. For over 30 years, most of my adult life has been about keeping secrets. Although I have one or two of my own which I have shared with a couple…