Mental Health &
Psychology Blogs

Today I Love The Quiet Joy

I used to be cuter ...Today I love the quiet joy all around, like that found in happy relationships. I love seeing people who have found their hearts desire and are comfortable in the company of that desired person, happily anticipating reunion and savoring the company when the reunion...

Have you ever experienced a traumatic situation?Do you feel you have overcome the negative effects of the trauma?Trauma is a powerful word. Many clients who see me almost stagger when I mention I believe they have experienced trauma. When clients hear me label some of their most disturbing and unhealthy experiences as trauma they look puzzled.Interestingly, most...

Why Happy Countries Have Sad Kids

Two studies by United Nations organizations found a paradox. A number of the countries that led the world in signs of happiness—quality of life, education and healthcare—also led in the number of their young people who suffered from depression and anxiety.When the UN released its annual World Happiness Report, the usual suspects were again...

The Ultimate Mindfulness Exercise: Relating To Your Mind Like A Tantruming Child

I’m fortunate to be teaching a semester long graduate course on mindfulness. Having expanded my knowledge on the topic, being entrenched in continually researching it, and the incredible curiosity and inquisitiveness of...

Death Of A New Year

I guarantee you know an old Scottish poem written in 1788 by Robert Burns. You might attempt to sing it every new year's eve at the stroke of midnight. I say "attempt" since few know...

Comparing Yourself To Others Who Do Not Live With Bipolar Disorder

Do you find yourself comparing your life to that of someone who does not live with bipolar disorder, or the often anxiety disorder that comes along with it? I do. It is...

Sex Ed Gone Wrong: Skewed by Abuse and Misogyny

Teaching children about human sexual relations is probably the hardest part of being a parent. Some parents are too embarrassed to look into the eyes of what was their innocent little baby...

4 Ways to Stay Stuck in a Relationship with a Narcissist

Whenever I write about falling in love with someone high in narcissistic traits, I always get messages from readers that all boil down to the same thing: “Why did it take me so long to see? Why is it so obvious in hindsight when it wasn’t when I was actually living it?”

People with Mental Illness, Targets for Fraud

I work from home, and even though we’re on the Do Not Call list, the phone rings all day. Robo-calls fish for people gullible or uninformed, and those with impaired judgment such as some with serious mental illness or cognitive decline are especially at risk.

An Ounce Of Prevention

Prevent this!!!That's a wonderful old saying, isn't it?And yes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The problem is that there is no cure for ADHD.And while what happened to me last night could have been prevented in several ways, it also could have happened to anyone.So why...

Today I Love Nature’s Art

Preparing for MonarchsToday I love nature's art and that it shows up when and where it pleases. I love the wonder of flowers growing in pavement cracks, frosted windows that look like forest ferns, milkweed pods in winter, tree branches with snow highlights, the beautiful sun when it is...

The Mini Dinosaur in My Living Room

There he is - my real, live mini-dinosaur and the book Dr. Brusatte wrote about him - right in my living room!I just finished reading the most fabulous book. The guy who wrote it is way younger than me and vastly more distinguished.And this is a very good thing, given what his...

Doing Healthy Conflict: Tips For Success

If you've been following my blog you've read about how the Compassion Cycle and Formula for Compassionate Conflict gives us a way to engage conflict without casualties. You've read several real-life examples...

The Day I Realized My Foster Daughter’s Biological Mom Was My Equal

If you'd have asked me at any point over the past four months about the worth of my foster daughter's biological mother, I would have told you that she is loved beyond...

Can Malignant Narcissists and Psychopaths Change? Why You Shouldn’t Count On It

Malignant narcissism has been described as an "intermediate" between Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder, two disorders which, despite some differences like the level of grandiosity and tendency for criminal behavior...

The Problem with Praising Kids TOO Much

My Mom will be the first person to tell you: She praised me too much when I was growing up. While the Greatest Generation may've been too cold, too aloof, perhaps too...

Why Spirituality is Good for Your Mental Health

Spirituality, or being concerned about your connection to the human spirit and the light all around us, is beneficial and uplifting for our overall mental health and quality of life....

Today I Love Morning Sun Through Cedars

Good morning, Mr. SunToday I love morning sun through cedars on a winter's day when the air smells like winter might be pondering the softening of its grasp on the northern half of the world. I love the sounds of jays and crows calling through the pines and cedars as...

Guerilla Generosity

Linda: Good will, which is literally the desire for good to come to oneself and/or others, is a vital aspect of the foundation of any relationship. Without a spirit of good will, couples...

Not Always So Well-butrin

“Dr. N, I am not saying we should spike the football but I believe we are making progress!” I enthusiastically write.Dr. N, who is equal parts friend and mentor, has been prescribing...