Ask a Therapist, Mental Health Topics, Relationships How can I reassure my fiancé I’m in this for the long run? by Emily Simonian, M.A., LMFT on Aug 5, 2022 Q: My fiancé and I are going to have a couples counseling session on the 9th of august but he has abandonment issues with me, due to our past of me leaving when things got to be difficult and I’d shut down. How can I reassure him with action that…
Depression, Disorders, Mental Health Topics Depressive disorders: Definition, types, and contributing factors by Jason Crosby on Aug 5, 2022 Known more commonly and collectively as depression, depressive disorders are a set of closely related mental health conditions that affect a person’s mood, energy, nervous system, sleep cycles, biochemistry, and even brain waves. There’s little in an individual’s daily life that depressive disorders won’t affect—but other than a shared capacity…
Communication, Mental Health Topics, Relationships What can I do if my partner doesn’t trust me? by Jason Crosby on Aug 4, 2022 Q: My girlfriend of three years is starting to bother me. We’ve had our share of ups and downs, but we’ve always managed to talk things through whenever there’s been a disagreement. Except for one issue: She doesn’t trust me when I’m out and about with other people, specifically my…
Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health Topics Depression and anxiety: Exploring their links by Wistar Murray on Aug 2, 2022 Depression and anxiety might be the Ross and Rachel of the mental health field. You try to think of them as separate entities, two platonic Friends with a romantic history, but then they’re back together again. And even in the episodes when they’re not together, you still feel the tension. …
Media Use, Mental Health Topics The unintended side effects of spending too much time on social media by Austin Fabel on Aug 1, 2022 In late 2010, Steve Jobs was still at the head of Apple and had recently unveiled the first iPad. Jobs was well known for his personality and would often call reporters to let them know how he felt about their reviews. At times, these conversations would involve a pat on…
Coping Skills, Mental Health Topics, Relationships How can I keep passive-aggressive behavior from affecting me? by Jason Crosby on Jul 27, 2022 Q: I have a neighbor that I struggle to get along with—we’ll call her Heather. I met Heather when we first moved into our neighborhood a few months ago. She and her husband live across the street and came to say hi while my girlfriend and I were carrying boxes…
Anger Management, Mental Health Topics Are anger issues genetic? Can anger run in families? by Taylor Bennett on Jul 22, 2022 Do you struggle with expressing your feelings? Instead of calmly communicating how you feel, do you resort to lashing out in anger instead? Finally, is there no real rhyme or reason for why you react with anger? Anger is a natural reaction in many situations. It’s healthy to recognize the…
Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Flowers, chocolate, and CBT: Date night ideas for an anxious or depressed partner by Wistar Murray on Jul 22, 2022 If you’re expecting tips on what medium-priced champagne to buy in order to sweep your lover off their feet this Saturday night, you’re in the wrong place. Sorry. It’s not going to be that kind of a date night. You probably won’t end up in a Jacuzzi, or on a…
Abuse & Neglect, Mental Health Topics, Power & Control How to protect yourself from mind control techniques and cult recruitment (it’s not as far-fetched as you think) by Wistar Murray on Jul 22, 2022 The idea of brainwashing had a viral moment in the 1950s when the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) decided to wage psychological warfare against Communism. Project MKUltra secretly experimented with “mind control” techniques, dosing people with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) without their consent. In fact, at one point the CIA…
Mental Health Topics, Relationships How long-term couples can establish new relationship boundaries by Wistar Murray on Jul 21, 2022 Most guides to defining healthy relationship boundaries focus on new couples. How do you set your personal rules of engagement from the beginning so both partners feel safe and respected? But people in long-term relationships know that love is dynamic. Humans continually grow and change both as individuals and as…
Feelings & Emotions, Mental Health Topics, Work & Careers Why do I feel guilty taking time off work? How can I fix this? by Taylor Bennett on Jul 20, 2022 “I’m going to take Monday off,” you tell your partner with confidence. “I’m overdue for a mental health day.” The next morning, you walk into the office and open your inbox to draft an email to your manager: Good morning! I’m writing to let you know that I’ll be taking…
Health & Exercise, Mental Health Topics How can I cope with gym anxiety and feeling self-conscious at the gym? by Jason Crosby on Jul 19, 2022 Q: I make a point to go to the gym at least 3 times a week. It’s been one of my New Year’s resolutions, and so far it’s going great. It’s just that I get pretty bad gym anxiety when I’m there. There are a few things that set it…