Trauma bonding is a psychological phenomenon that occurs in abusive or toxic relationships. It involves a powerful and unhealthy attachment to an abuser, often resulting from a cycle of positive and negative experiences. Bonding of this type may also be referred to as “Stockholm Syndrome.” The dynamics in this syndrome are complex, but by recognizing […]
Friendships with others (the “family you choose”) are such an important part of our lives. The kindness and support our true friends provide is often essential to our own sense of well-being, comfort, health, and happiness. Given the significant role they can play in our lives, it’s important to choose our friends and friendships wisely. […]
Forty or fifty years ago, things were pretty clear. When you hit the age of 21, you were on your own. In some communities, the norm was even earlier – it was time to support yourself when you reached the age of 18. But over the last few decades, it has become increasingly common for […]
I don’t think any of us intend to become a martyr. But boy it sure seems like many of us wind up playing that incredibly unhealthy role! Do you take on too much? Do you feel taken for granted? You may have martyr syndrome. How It Feels to be Taken for Granted The other day […]
Do you sometimes wonder if you’re losing your mind? Question your own memories? Do you doubt facts you once would have stated with pride? Or your own ability to judge character? Perhaps you feel as though your sanity is in question. The truth may be that your mind is perfectly intact. You may just be […]
Have you ever wondered what happened to that long-lost romance from your past? He or she was the one that got away, leaving you with unanswered questions and a lingering sense of what could have been. Seeking to find closure for a long-lost romance can be painful. But although it may be a challenging and […]
Our world is so divided. It’s incredible how many of us leap to judge others who think differently than we do. When we see others behave this way, it creates the impression that disrespecting those who have a different set of beliefs is okay. Even admired or, in some cases, rewarded or applauded. What happened […]
I have a friend who once said to me, “Regret is a useless emotion.” She may have been right. But regardless of how well regret serves us, it can certainly be powerful. Most of us will experience regret at one time or another. When we do, it can be almost impossible to shake. Our brains […]
Most of us can probably relate to what it’s like to deal with someone who stonewalls us. We want to talk; they walk away. If a difficult topic arises, they avoid the issue or distract us with unrelated criticisms. Maybe they just change the subject in an effort to avoid real communication. Unfortunately, this practice […]
Learned helplessness is a psychological concept that refers to a state where people feel unable to change their circumstances, even when opportunities for change exist. In the context of relationships, learned helplessness can lead to feelings of powerlessness, resentment, and a lack of motivation to improve the relationship. Learned helplessness can doom a relationship. But […]
We humans are social creatures. We crave companionship and interaction with others. Besides satisfying these needs, healthy friendships, marriages, partnerships, and relationships with other family members provide us with love, support, and companionship. At times, however, negative feelings can overcome the good, and the result is an unhappy relationship. When this happens, we can begin […]
Relationships are an essential to our happiness and well-being. However, not all relationships are healthy and fulfilling. Some relationships are worse than merely unhealthy – they are downright dangerous and threatening to both our emotional and mental health. Understanding the signs of a toxic relationship is critical, because detecting these issues early makes it much […]
Do you believe in love at first sight? We’ve heard fairy tales about it, read books, heard songs, even watched movies where love at first sight is the main premise. Whether we believe them or not, people we know claim to have experienced it. Or perhaps we have experienced it ourselves. Do You Believe in […]
Relationships help us stay connected to the people we care about and provide us with a sense of belonging. However, relationships can also be challenging, especially when it comes to setting healthy boundaries. Boundaries are important, if not essential. They help us establish our needs, expectations, and limits. For the best outcomes, it’s key to […]
Relationships play a significant role in satisfying our needs for companionship, support, and human interaction. In this way, relationships, especially healthy ones, bolster both our physical and mental well-being. Unfortunately, relationships can also be a source of distress. Especially when our partner is unwilling or unable to satisfy our personal emotional relationships needs or unwilling […]
Relationships are challenging. People have different priorities, opinions, strengths, challenges, faults, skills, and idiosyncrasies. With all the different attitudes, thoughts, and feelings we each bring to a relationship, it’s kind of a miracle that any relationship is successful, let alone happy. But, despite all these complexities, it’s actually quite simple to predict which relationships will […]
