Whether you have a wonderful relationship with your mom, a strained one, or even none at all, most people (particularly women)wish they could change their mom in some ways. Maybe it’s natural to wish that the relationship that begins as the closest human bond could evolve a little more. What We Wish We Could Change About Mom For most of us, our mother’s gave us life, nurtured us, cleaned, fed, put up with our whining....

Lacking mental health support, too many American women experience emotional crises as they navigate contemporary motherhood. As founder of ESME.com (Empowering Strong Moms Everywhere), every day I witness mothers who are lonely, exhausted, anxious, depressed, suffering from PTSD, and pushed to their psychological limits. “Sexism is making women sick,” warned Jessica Valenti inher now-classic column forThe Guardian. The constant threat of being attacked, insulted, and dismissed instills in women a sense of hypervigilance that’s associated with psychological distress....

One afternoon last August, I had just had the absolute worst day ever: I had come down with a painful summer cold, I was exhausted from working the last two weekends in a row, and my beloved bike had been stolen while I was at work. I arrived at my therapist’s office ready to vent when she greeted me in the waiting room and told me that she had forgotten that we had switched my appointment time, and so had double-booked herself....

I had a friend in college who was always taking advantage of me — but I didn’t realize it at first. She would vent to me endlessly about her relationship problems, never letting me get a word in or really asking me about what was going on in my own life.She was my friend, and I wanted to be there for her! Whenever we’d hang out, the conversation revolve around her venting....

Updated 10/22/2021You can’t go through life without having a bad day every now and then. Most of the time, it’s easy for us to tell ourselves that things happen, and not every day can be a great day. We trust that life will get better. Even though sometimes we have people or things to blame for our disappointments, we understand that often, nobody is really at fault. At times, we even need to acknowledge that we’re bringing some of our struggles upon ourselves....

Only recently did I find out that there is a term to describe the type of attraction I’ve always experienced with my husband. It turns out that I am sapiosexual – i.e., I’m attracted to someone based primarily on their intellectual prowess. Who knew? The Definition of “Sapiosexual” Couples Therapy OnlineStrengthen your relationship through couples therapy you can participate in together or apart, at your convenience.Learn more Couples Therapy OnlineStrengthen your relationship through couples therapy you can participate in together or apart, at your convenience....

It’s common to wonder about your life’s direction at certain ages, during adolescence or at mid-life, but honestly, these big questions are worth asking anytime. We all want to find meaning and fulfillment, making the best use of our limited time on Earth. We often hear phrases such as “find your passion” or “do what you love,” which make it sound as if finding just the right thing to do in life will fix all of your other problems....

May is Mental Health Month — a time to come together to raise awareness about mental health issues, work to expand access to care, and support those who are struggling. This month we’re speaking to experts in the field about their therapeutic work, as well as their own experience and challenges with mental health. When Lori Gottlieb was a new therapist beginning her practice in Los Angeles, seeing clients dealing with a host of issues, she hadn’t expectedthisto be the time she experienced a crisis of her own....

One of the things I’ve always admired about myself is that sometimes my behavior, when overly stressed or anxious, can feel beneficial. A few minutes to whisk the vacuum across the living room floor, and it’s like I meditated; give me a sponge and a grimy bathroom, and I’ll give you shine and calm. Looking at a spotless and tidy home, whatever’s bothering me feels temporarily paused. Cleanliness translates tolower stress and anxiety for me— and a flawless home for my family growing up, my roommates in college, and my husband now — how lucky are they?...

Mental health statistics may not always be at the top of your mind, even when you’re going through a crisis of your own. Some of us get headaches when we even think about math – especially statistics. Yet, hard data based on empirical research helps us better understand the world around us and the people in it. When it comes to mental health, so many of us feel isolated and utterly alone in our struggles....

The Causes of Love Addiction While it may sound like just the stuff of love songs, love addiction is real and possible. Of course,wanting and craving love isn’t a problem in and of itself, and just because you’re madly in love with somebody, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a love addiction. However, just like a drug, love can be very addictive, because in it’s own way, itisa drug. So, what causes a love addiction?...

Life as a teen has never been easy, but today it’s a stressed out pressure cooker of grades, tests, and college admissions. According to astudyfrom New York University in 2015, “youth experience high levels of chronic stress,” most of it related to the pressure to succeed. What’s worse, this stress and anxiety can actually lead to other mental health concerns. Common Stressors As anadolescent, the world begins to open up to you....

It’s a common trope that you’re supposed to bemoody and stressed out as a teen, but for many of us, any “normal” angst turns into serious problems when combined with anxiety or depression. In fact, according to onestudy, up to 20 percent of teenagers experience depression, while otherresearchfound almost 32 percent of teens suffer anxiety. How Depression and Anxiety Affect Teens at School When checking in on yourself to make sure depression and anxiety aren’taffecting your performance at school, here are the major signs to look out for....

Updated 3/4/2022 Do you find yourself experiencing emotions more deeply and intensely than those around you? Perhaps you’ve been told you’re “too sensitive” or “too emotional.” For some people whofeel emotions more fiercelythan others, their brain might be processing information differently. For the15 to 20 percentof the population who are classified as what’s known ashighly sensitive people, there are other contributing factors that are likely to play a role, like grief, life situations, or even a mental health condition....

After countless swipes left and right (mostly left), blind dates, speed dates, awkward dates, always-only-first dates, you’ve met someone you think is wonderful — and he or she seems to think you’re wonderful back. Eventually, neither of you wants to live without each other, so you’re ready to go all in and make a firm commitment. This is exciting, but it can also be terrifying. After all, finding and committing to the right partner is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your lifetime....