You check your phone and your stomach drops. Another text from them. You know engaging will leave you drained, anxious, or second-guessing yourself for hours, but ignoring it feels impossible. You’re stuck in this loop: caring about someone who consistently leaves you feeling worse, not better. Detachment isn’t about becoming…
Boundaries are a popular topic right now, especially on social media. But if you consider yourself a people pleaser, you might find it stressful—if not impossible—to set them. I’m here to convince you that setting healthy boundaries is worth the effort, both for your own well-being and your ability to…
You cancel plans with friends—again—because your partner needs you. You stay up until 2 a.m. managing your adult sibling’s crisis, even though you have an important meeting in the morning. You feel responsible for keeping everyone around you happy, and when they’re not, you’re convinced it’s your fault. What feels…
Think of the individual events in any memory as pieces of a puzzle. Some are clearly defined: It’s easy to spot which piece fits with another piece. Others may be foggy, disjointed, or annoyingly absent, so your brain has a hard time seeing the whole picture. When you can’t remember…
Picture this: You’ve been swiping on the dating apps for a few months now. You find a few people you like and get conversations going, talking for a while, and things seem to be going well—well enough that you might even plan a date with them. Then, out of nowhere,…
Divorce is hard. It means that an influential chapter of your life is ending and one of the most important people in your life won’t be there like they were. “Divorce is hugely impactful in almost all aspects of our lives,” says Whitney McSparran, a licensed professional clinical counselor at…
Your last relationship ended months ago, but your body still tenses up when someone raises their voice. You find yourself constantly analyzing your new partner’s mood, searching for signs they might turn on you. Simple disagreements feel like threats, and you catch yourself either shutting down completely or preparing to…
Picture a couple who just moved in together: Let’s call them Dan and Amy. Amy has been working late because she has a big presentation coming up. One evening, she texts Dan and asks him to make dinner while she’s on her way home. Dan enthusiastically agrees, sending multiple heart…
If you’ve found yourself thinking “I have no desire for my husband,” it doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed. This realization can feel isolating, leaving you wondering whether to stay or leave. But there’s a third option: reconnecting. “Emotional drift often happens gradually and subtly in relationships,” says Theresa Lupcho,…
There may come a time when someone with a mental health condition—like depression, anxiety, or PTSD—needs your help. While these conditions require proper treatment from a mental health professional, you can provide meaningful support through comfort, reassurance, and simply being present. When a friend or family member says, “I’m feeling…
A healthy relationship should make you feel safe, heard, and secure. Betrayal shatters that foundation entirely, leaving the betrayed partner feeling like their world has fundamentally changed and often questioning everything they thought they knew about their relationship. While betrayal occurs across all types of relationships, I see it most…
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…
