Like every other human in existence, you have hurt somebody. This could be relatively small: you made a joke about someone’s appearance thatreallydidn’t land well. Or it could be really, really big: you sexually assaulted somebody. This raises the question: what can and can’t be forgiven? Regardless of the scope or scale of harm, we all hurt people. But we can also all learn to practice accountability. Accountability doesn’t mean apologizing to save our reputations, or making excuses for ourbehavior....

I recently had a discussion with a friend consideringtherapyfor the first time. Though she had been ruminating on it for a few months, she remained hesitant. “I just feel like there’s nothing reallythatwrong with me, you know? All things considered, I’m doing alright. I should just deal with it,” she told me. I did know. Just a few years ago, I was in the same boat. Despite lifelonganxietyand years ofdepressiveepisodes, I was convinced I didn’t need therapy....

Updated 12/19/2022.Anger is an expected — often healthy — emotion everyone experiences, but if your temper is hijacking your life, something more might be happening. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) through either in-person oronline therapyor counseling services can be a productive and practical approach to treating unhealthy anger issues.Angry feelings that are out of control and destructive can damage more than just your relationships.Researchshows uncontrolled rage can affect your health and well-being, too....

It would be nice if every relationship had a straight 50/50 power dynamic split…but those in relationships will tell you that’s probably not the case in their partnership. Relationshipsshouldbe about a shared, equal bond, where partners are teammates who make compromises and share power, rather than a coach versus team member dynamic. Right? Think about this common question couples get asked: “So, who wears the pants in this relationship?” Usually, pop culture tells us the man in a heterosexual couple should “wear the pants....

The night of my firstdatewith my ex, I felt strong, instant chemistry. The butterflies in my stomach felt more like large birds, and each kiss felt like 4th of July fireworks. Actually, even just looking at him made me feel fireworks! I learned it the hard way: Sparks are fun, but they’re notwhat makes a relationship last. Couples Therapy OnlineStrengthen your relationship through couples therapy you can participate in together or apart, at your convenience....

Some people keep feelings andemotionsclose to the vest. They aren’t bad people, but it can be frustrating when we’re only treated to occasional glimmers of their sparkling personality. Their slow message response times (leaving you “on read”) and unaccepted invitations make you feel unwanted, or that you’re the only person putting in any effort. Having a heart-to-heart with a cheerful, friendly person, however, rarely feels like a struggle. But if everyone was cheerful and friendly, we’d already have world peace....

Updated on 1/11/2023 Knowing you have commitment issues in your intimate relationship is one thing. Knowing what to do about the commitment phobes is entirely different. If you’re in a relationship and you feel like you’re ready to take the next step, but your romantic partner seems hesitant, or if it’s you who’s hesitant, it might be time to start asking,what are commitment issuesreally about? More importantly, how can you fix them to ensure future committed relationships?...

The anxiety starts in my chest and then blooms, smothering my lungs and filling my belly: a guy has just asked me out.Oh no, I think, panicked.Am I interested? How do I turn him down? But even for people who haven’t experiencedharassment, turning someone down can be pretty, well, awkward. Walking the line between clarity and tact can feel like a serious high-wire act. This can be especially true for women, who are often trained to prioritize other people’s feelings over our own boundaries....

When you’re looking down the barrel of aschoolmidterm report or a major work project, finding inspiration should be easy. You’re on deadline, after all! But the urge to procrastinate strikes us all, and often at the worst times. Procrastination takes many forms, and leans on avoidant traits that end up harming us in the long run.. Here are the main reasons we procrastinate — and how to stop. 1. The pursuit of perfection A project left undone still has potential for perfection....

At a young age, many of us are taught that telling a lie isabsolutelybad. Yet as we grow up, we slowly become exposed to small, “white” lies — those told to keep us from becoming upset orsad. Even as we transition into adulthood, well-meaning lies are often told to shield a person from criticism or added hardship. But can we ever be sure telling a lie is the right thing to do?...

When someone has wronged you in some way,angeris a natural reaction. If what happened is especially painful — or if the person who hurt you is unwilling to take responsibility — you may start to form a grudge against that person. Many of us hold grudges for a limited time, and are able to let them go after some healthy processing. Others hold onto them for years, and may even have grudges stemming from their childhood....

Updated on 1/27/2022 “Defense mechanisms are unhealthy ways in which a person deals with internal stressors in their life. They alleviate an issue in the interim, but there is no long lasting effect. In defense mechanisms, it’s important to recognize that there are different tiers: lower or primitive mechanisms and higher or intellectual ones.” We use manydifferent defense mechanismsto shield ourselves from difficult thoughts, behaviors, people, and events. As you read, you’ll seedefense mechanism examplesand learn how these coping skills can influence your interactions with others....

Here are 5 examples of (many different) impulsive behaviors that could be destroying your mental health. Excessive Drinking Excessive drinkingand binge drinking are dangerous, asalcohol alters chemicals in the brainand affects how neurotransmitters function, which is crucial for good mental health. We all know that drinking has a way of making us release our inhibitions…and that isn’t necessarily a good thing. For example, the impulsiveness of excessive drinking can lead to even more regrettable impulsive behaviors, like starting a fight or having unprotected sex....

If you’ve hit rock bottom before, you know how much it sucks…and you probably want to make sure you never get to that point again. Maybe you remember the warning signs you felt the last time, and now you’re sitting here thinking, “Oh crap, I feel a breakdown coming on!” Well, that’s your sign that you gotta protect yourself and prevent that nervous breakdown from actually happening. Unfortunately, it’s not so effective to just sit around and wish rock bottom away....

Confidence is elusive for many people. There are many factors that can undermine confidence, but most of them are related to your past experiences in the world — first as a child and then as an adult — and how these experiences have led you to think of yourself. How to Increase Your Confidence If you’re looking for constructive ideas on how to make lasting changes to yourconfidence, here are few ways to do so…...