Can Trauma Survivors Ever Have Healthy Relationships? - Kaytee Gillis, LCSW-BACS
Many of the coping skills people learn in childhood are used in their first romantic relationships.
Some of these coping skills can be dysfunctional, unhealthy, or even harmful to themselves and their partner(s).
Without doing the work of growth, these same behavior patterns will continue long into adulthood.
Take The ACE Quiz — And Learn What It Does And Doesn't Mean - LAURA STARECHESKI
An ACE score is a tally of different types of abuse, neglect, and other hallmarks of a rough childhood.
According to the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, the rougher your childhood, the higher your score is likely to be and the higher your risk for later health problems.
The Essential Ingredient for Happiness and Well-Being... and what to do if you feel you're missing it. - Arash Emamzadeh
Well-being is associated with living an engaged, pleasant, and meaningful life.
High levels of engagement, increased meaningfulness, and better mood may require greater levels of autonomy.
We experience more autonomy when we perform an activity for internal reasons (e.g., self-expression) than external ones (e.g., rewards).
Trying to make other people happy makes us happier than trying to make ourselves happy - Beth Ellwood
The secret to happiness may lie in doing things to make other people happy, rather than ourselves, according to a series of five studies published in the Journal of Positive Psychology.
The findings suggest that doing things for others enhances well-being by fulfilling a psychological need for connection with others — even if that person is a stranger
How Stereotypic Portrayals of Manhood Disadvantage Our Boys - Adam A. Rogers Ph.D.
Masculinity is not toxic, but many common images of masculinity are.
Boys do not often endorse these images, but they feel increased expectations to do so as they grow up.
Parents and caregivers are well positioned to help boys find and express positive forms of masculinity.
What It Means to "Matter" - Isaac Prilleltensky Ph.D.
When a person both feels valued and adds value to themselves and others, they become happier and healthier.
Wellness and worthiness depend on fairness in relationships, at work, and in the community.
A "me culture" focuses on one's right to feel valued. A "we culture" balances one's rights with a responsibility to feel valued and add value.
3 Essentials for Staying in Love - Kimberly Key
Researchers have found that the most positive feeling that reduces inflammatory and disease-causing chemicals in the body is the state of awe.
Feelings of awe appear to be a component of first love.
Being in love requires practicing intimacy. When people are mutually intimate, research shows they have longer and healthier lives.
Exploring the Differences Between Male and Female Friendships - Kristen Fuller, M.D.
Female friendships thrive on intimacy and emotional connection. Women want to feel emotionally connected and supported.
The intimate, face-to-face relationships between women have a lot to do with oxytocin, the bonding or "love potion" hormone.
Friendships between males are often more transactional. Men tend to value friendships that are more shared activity-based.
Men Can Embrace Responsive Desire - Barry W. McCarthy Ph.D.
Responsive sexual desire is as valuable for male sexuality as it is for female sexuality.
Sexual desire develops from giving and receiving pleasure-oriented touching.
“Wise men” learn to accept that responsive desire is more valuable than spontaneous desire.
When You're Too Angry to Confront Someone Effectively - Leon F Seltzer PhD
Waiting too long to vent your anger will make it impossible to do so assertively, since it's bound to come out aggressively.
One key reason not to react in fury when you feel offended is that you could be off-base about the other's (possibly benign) intentions.
Once you've gained additional insight into what you're actually reacting to in the provocative situation, your anger will likely soften.
6 Steps to Self-Acceptance - Karyl McBride Ph.D.
Self-acceptance means that you understand you are human, with all your strengths and weaknesses.
Self-acceptance does not mean you’re perfect or better than others.
Accepting yourself will help you become more accepting, and less critical, of others.
Why Men May Struggle to Communicate Their Feelings - Kate Balestrieri Psy.D., CST, PACT-III, CSAT-S
The demands of rigid masculinity make it difficult for many men to fully express their needs in relationships.
Alexithymia presents a hosts of challenges in relationships, for both partners.
Men deserve to be seen, and their emotions validated, without their masculinity being called into question.
How Does Trauma Hijack the Brain? - Monica Johnson Psy.D.
Trauma can confuse the communication between the three parts of your brain.
Learn about and reflect on how each part of your brain reacts in different situations.
Use that information to help identify interventions that can help lessen the influence of these traumas.
How Complex PTSD Can Affect Intimate Relationships - Annie Tanasugarn Ph.D., CCTSA
Feeling unsafe is one of the biggest signs of cPTSD.
When feeling safe is compromised, hypervigilance or shutting down are common.
Intimate relationships are often negatively impacted for those struggling with cPTSD.
Knowing the signs and symptoms can help with healing and improving relationship quality.
How to Love Yourself More - Tchiki Davis, Ph.D.
Research suggests that having positive feelings about yourself may be a crucial ingredient for happiness and success.
Self-love can feel uncomfortable at first. Gradually easing into self-love strategies can help.
Practicing self-compassion, loving kindness, forgiveness, and self-gratitude can help people learn to love themselves.
Building Exceptional Relationships - Rahul Bhandari
Exceptional relationships positively contribute to our health, wealth, and happiness.
Truth-telling, honesty, and investment in each other's learning and growth characterize exceptional relationships.
It’s a good idea to go slow and be mindful of reciprocity as a relationship develops.
10 Ways That Better Boundaries Can Improve Your Life - Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D.
When people hear encouragement about setting boundaries, it might be taken as a criticism of their behaviors or their tendency towards kindness.
However, creating healthy boundaries doesn’t just solve an immediate problem of someone wanting more than you can give, it actually can re-shape how you see yourself, your relationships, and the people with whom you have built these relationships.
When we create boundaries that reflect who we are and what we value, they can change our lives in a variety of ways.
How to Cope with the Pain of Rejection - Gina Simmons Schneider Ph.D.
Rejection can induce stomach aches, fatigue, physical pain, and deep sadness.
Rejection often triggers shame which motivates further social isolation.
Seeking a new tribe offers the opportunity for different social connections and healing experiences.
The 7 Types of Friends, and Which Is Most Essential for Our Happiness - Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D.
There are seven basic types of friendships and they all have value.
Feeling that you are part of a larger community can positively affect life satisfaction and longevity.
Making the effort to connect and communicate with those who "people your life" can change your own life for the better.
Are You Too Hard on Yourself? - Vanessa Moore Ph.D.
Most people are much harder on themselves than on their friends.
Habitual self-criticism induces stress and damages emotional and physical wellbeing.
Showing compassion towards yourself induces greater security, wellbeing and happiness.