All of us have wasted money on items and services we don’t need, purchases we eventually realized were not worth the time or investment. Think about all the expired food you have had to throw out, tickets to movies that looked terrible, clothes you don’t wear (but the sale made them too tempting to pass up). Sometimes the experience of shopping provides more pleasure than what we end up buying. Children feel joy simply walking through a Toys R’ Us....

What exactly was running through Belfort’s mind when he made that decision? What about his innate characteristics and experiences made him so insatiably greedy, willing to put the desire for more income and assets over family and his own freedom? There are millions of people like Belfort who have inspired researchers to explore the psychology of greed. Here is what psychologists have learned so far: The Addiction Connection Addiction is often about the pursuit of a reward in the face of risk....

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been a caretaker. When I was five and our father left our family, I became my pregnant mother’s little helper, rubbing her feet and bringing her snacks and tea. I took care of my sister when my mother was busy working or tending house. And when my sister couldn’t sleep during those nights we’d stay at our dad’s house, I’d lie with her until she drifted off....

Point blank — relationships are complicated. When they go south, they can sometimes be a blame game, and it’s all too easy point fingers at our partner when you-know-what hits the fan. But can we blame mental illness on our partner? While relationships can be amazing, enriching experiences, they do have the potential to be unhealthy and harmful to your mental health, and therefore, your overall well being. Couples Therapy OnlineStrengthen your relationship through couples therapy you can participate in together or apart, at your convenience....

We all know (and hate) hangovers. A crazy night out drinking too much alcohol can lead to a slew of unpleasant symptoms the next morning. But did you know there’s another type of hangover that has absolutely nothing to do with drinking? You might wake up feeling drained, exhausted, moody, or a bit off…except, the night before wasn’t fun at all. In fact, it was quite the opposite! Welcome to the emotional hangover....

I’ve had severepanic attackson and off since I was 16 years old. Although I may never be able to pinpoint their exact cause, I’ve long suspected that some of the traumas I experienced as a child (divorce, abandonment, custody battles, and verbal abuse) contributed to my panic disorder. Recently, though, mytherapistmentioned something in passing that illuminated the whole phenomenon for me in an entirely different way. She said that when we hold our emotions inside, they tend to kind of morph into conditions like anxiety and panic....

The following is intended for readers 18+ When there is a tremendous disparity between partners’ sex drives, relationships can be difficult to manage. The low-libido partner may feel pushed and resentful, and the high-libido partner can feel abandoned, betrayed, rejected, and angry. While both individuals within this dynamic struggle, the higher-libido partner has unique challenges, and their perspective will be the focus of this post. Couples Therapy OnlineStrengthen your relationship through couples therapy you can participate in together or apart, at your convenience....

The text message hit like cannon fire from close range. I crumbled to the ground, holding my stomach. It was an early morning winter in the kitchen of our Brooklyn apartment. My wife and two kids came running. “What’s wrong?” “What happened?” “What’s wrong?” What happened? What was wrong? Mike O’Shea was going to die. And I’d be introduced to a grief that would cripple me for many years. I like to think that Mike and I had been friends since before we were born....

Updated 06/10/2024 What is Empty Nest Syndrome?Empty nest syndrome (ENS) is the term coined to describe the mixed emotions many parents experience during the transitional period when grown children leave home and venture out into the world. It can cause grief, sadness, feelings of loss or despair, fear, anger, or irritability. While it’s not a clinical diagnosis, empty nest syndromeisreal and impacts both moms and dads, according toresearch.You’ve raised your child for nearly two decades — your focus has been on homework, practices, school events, social interactions, sports games, parent-teacher conferences, making sure they’ve eaten, have clothes, get to the doctor and dentist, and so much more....

I remember what I was wearing: A blue tank top with a picture of a peacock, jean short-shorts, and flip-flops. I remember the weather: High summer, sweet grass scenting the air and the sun just beginning its slow descent to the horizon. I was walking down a country road, lost in my thirteen-year-old daydreams, when suddenly — Honk honk! A car horn split the air with its grating clamor. A group of men in the car waved their hands and heads out the windows, hollering at me....

Licensing Info:Licensed Clinical Social Worker Psychotherapy “R” privilege [LCSW-R] in New York Where You Live:Ellenville, NY Amount of Time Working at Talkspace:1 year Time Working as a Therapist:11 years Why are you working in therapy/mental health? I have always been drawn to helping peopleimprove their quality of life. Having overcome many personal challenges, I know first hand how important it is to be able to help others and have someone available when support is needed....

Updated on 3/4/2022 For survivors, the #MeToo campaign can be an empowering and validating way to share their story, many for the first time. It’s also overwhelming, especially forsexual assaultsurvivors who deal with mental health symptoms as a result of their trauma. While sharing our stories is crucial, the deluge of reminders of our own sexual assaults can be exhausting and even retraumatizing. With that in mind, here are seven self-care tips for sexual assault survivors....

After being medicated for 12 years, it feels like my pill bottles have become an extension of my own body. Pill popping has turned into an art that comes as naturally as breathing. At this point in my life, coming off of my meds isn’t something I can see happening anytime soon, or anytime at all, for that matter. As my 24th birthday rolled around, and I realized I’d been medicated for exactly half of my life so far, I couldn’t help but wonder —am I going to be on meds forever?...

By the time I was 12 years old, I had moved 10 times — more if you count the separate moves my parents made after they split up. My parents were hippies (or beatniks, if you ask my mother), always up for an adventure, and always hoping that a change of place would fix their problems and make them happy. In certain ways, I see the moves we made when I was a kid as part of a wild, interesting, beautiful ride....

Therapists are as unique as the clients who seek their help. Talkspace’s “Meet Our Therapists” series offers intimate access to the mental health professionals who provide care. It’s a view of their passion for making therapy more accessible. Check out our latest interview below! Licensing Info:Licensed Professional Counselor [LPC] in Wisconsin (6329-125) and Texas (77669) Time Working With Talkspace:6 months Time Working as a Therapist:3 years Why are you working in therapy/mental health?...