Dating someone with a mental illness: 7 steps that will support a happy, healthy relationship by Nora Mork | Jul 16, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships The world of mental health can be an intimidating one. Certainly, for the 1 in 3 of us who are living with such a condition, and the daily challenges it can bring. But also, for those looking in from the outside, whether that’s supporting a friend, family member or even…
Women who go on dates with someone they are not romantically interested in, just to get free food, are more likely to exhibit psychopathic and narcissistic traits by Taylor Bennett | Jun 28, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Women's Issues A new study says that women who go on dates just for free food are more likely to exhibit dark personality traits like psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. A “foodie call” is where someone goes out with someone despite a lack of romantic interest because they want a free meal. This…
What is a spiritual love? How does spirituality come into play in relationships? by Taylor Bennett | May 24, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Religion & Spirituality Spiritual Purposes in Relationships: Life Blessings and Life Lessons What is a spiritual love? As with many questions about our spirituality, there isn’t one definition or example of a spiritual love. That said, spiritual love can refer to a love that is rooted in or supported by a deep spiritual…
Relationship stigma makes couples vulnerable to mental health problems (Video) by Taylor Bennett | Apr 15, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships Relationship stigma from loved ones is linked to mental health issues. This, from a Pace University study that analyzed 467 adults in same-sex and/or interracial relationships. The team found that relationship stigma from friends was linked to greater depression symptoms and, in turn, poor overall health. Also, relationship stigma from…
Dogs have an uncanny ability to make us happy: They have quirky personalities, love us unconditionally, and help us slow our racing thoughts by Taylor Bennett | Apr 10, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Psychology, Relationships Before I took my leap of faith and adopted my dog, Mila, I surveyed everyone in my life to see what they thought. Did they think I could handle it? Did they think it was a good idea? Did they think I was ready for the responsibility? The overwhelming answer…
Reconciliation after divorce: Was divorce a mistake? Does your relationship deserve another shot? by Taylor Bennett | Mar 15, 2019 | Life Transition, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Marriage can be beautiful. It can also be incredibly problematic and end in divorce. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, just about 40 to 50% of couples divorce. And the divorce rate for second, third, and other subsequent marriages is even higher. The main causes for divorce? Here…
What divorce taught me about marriage: 4 people share how their divorce helped them understand what a healthy relationship is by Taylor Bennett | Mar 15, 2019 | Life Transition, Mental Health Topics, Relationships None of us anticipate divorcing the person we vowed to spend the rest of our lives with. We make this promise because we want to stand next to this person—and don’t expect, can’t imagine, this will ever change. But, as we all know, this can and does sometimes change. What…
Will I be happier divorced? How do I know if it’s the right decision? by Taylor Bennett | Mar 13, 2019 | Life Transition, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Every now and then, you hear about couples who divorce and then get back together. My childhood friend’s parents were one of those couples. After nearly 15 years of marriage, Cara’s mother decided she wanted a divorce—she blamed her husband (Cara’s dad) for every bad thing in her life and…
Can divorce cause PTSD? Therapy can help you heal from harmful symptoms like night terrors, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts by Taylor Bennett | Mar 13, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Trauma PTSD is often painted a certain way: the result of war, car accidents, assault, and other violent events; however, deep-rooted emotional experiences can cause PTSD, too. Divorce can bring on PTSD, specifically symptoms like night terrors, flashbacks, and troubling thoughts about the divorce or marriage. These symptoms can become exacerbated…
Divorce recovery: You can heal properly by surrendering to the pain, forgiving, and focusing on self-care by Taylor Bennett | Mar 11, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Self-Care Any breakup is hard, but divorce is especially difficult, as you have to say goodbye to the person you planned to spend forever with. Fortunately, you can take matters into your own hands and recover: the three keys are giving in to the pain, forgiving yourself, and practicing self-care. Additionally, it’s…
When a commitment phobe is in love: Is their relationship doomed? by Taylor Bennett | Mar 8, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships Commitment issues can cause one to fear and even run away from the potential of love—but commitment-phobes can overcome their fear and let love in. That said, commitment issues can seriously hinder a relationship, especially if one partner is ready to move forward but the other is not. While it…
Is my significant other afraid of commitment? If your partner isn’t ready to take the next step, ask yourself these two important questions by Ana Jovanovic | Mar 7, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships Commitment always comes with an element of anxiety. We rarely have a completely clear understanding of what will happen once we fall in love, start living with someone, get married, or have a child. We always feel a little bit anxious about how things are going to turn out. Those…