Blog for Better Living
How to Handle Stress and Anxiety After the Election Results
By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | January 10, 2025
Emotions ran particularly high during this election season given the significance of the topics being debated, such as women’s reproductive rights, immigration and mass deportation, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and transgender rights, to name a few. Our country remains in a state of political divisiveness. As such, it is understandable that those on the losing side […]
Read MoreThought Crimes: Why Your Thoughts Don’t Define You
By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | December 6, 2024
Have you even beaten yourself up, judged yourself, or felt ashamed for having a thought that might upset others if you shared it with them? Does thinking poorly about someone make you a bad person? Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung was among the first to grapple with these concepts, which are referred to as “thought crimes.” […]
Read MoreCultivating Calm in Crisis
By: Ashley Malooly, Ph.D. | November 22, 2024
As much as we hope to avoid them, at some point or another, we are all inevitably affected by crises in our lives. For example, an unexpected bill shows up, a pet or a child falls ill, your flight gets canceled, you need to have a high-stakes conversation with a loved one. All these situations […]
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Balancing Motherhood This Holiday Season
By: Niyatee Sukumaran, Ph.D. | November 15, 2024
The holidays are a time when traditions, family gatherings, and festivities take center stage, and for many mothers, this means taking on the responsibility of organizing the celebrations. The role of the mother as the “heart” of holiday traditions is deeply ingrained in many societies, particularly in cultures where familial ties and communal gatherings are […]
Read MoreOvercoming Midlife Malaise: Simple Strategies for Renewal
By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | November 1, 2024
What is my purpose? How can I make the most of the time I have left? Is this all there is to life? If you’ve been pondering these questions, you may be experiencing midlife malaise. While having a “midlife crisis” is often stereotyped by getting a divorce, splurging on an expensive sports car, and pursuing […]
Read MoreAnxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement, Relationships, Stress
Non-Psychological Factors Contributing to Anxiety: It’s Not All in Your Head
By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | October 25, 2024
Anxiety is commonly associated with psychological triggers like stress, trauma, or major life changes. However, many people experience anxiety that arises from underlying physical and environmental factors that frequently go unnoticed. The body and mind are closely interconnected, and disturbances in physical health can appear as emotional and cognitive symptoms. If you are struggling with […]
Read MoreUnderstanding Religious Trauma and Its Effects
By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | September 6, 2024
Trauma refers to the profound emotional and psychological impact that occurs when an individual’s sense of safety is compromised and their ability to cope is overwhelmed. Such experiences often shatter a person’s sense of security, which can have lasting physical, emotional, and psychological effects. Trauma can arise from a wide array of experiences and is […]
Read MoreNavigating Mental Health Advice
By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | August 23, 2024
How to Identify What Works and What Doesn’t Mental health has become a prominent and widely discussed topic since the pandemic, and there is currently more information on the subject than ever before. This change has benefits like de-stigmatizing mental illness and helping people feel more comfortable accessing services. However, the sheer amount of […]
Read MoreSelf-Care Made Simple With GRAPES
By: Ashley Malooly, Ph.D. | August 16, 2024
Self-neglect and self-loathing are out, and self-care is in! Everyone from celebrities to doctors, morning shows, and even business publications promote the need for improved self-care practices. It’s no surprise that giving yourself some personal time helps lessen stress. Research shows that practicing self-care daily has a profound effect on both our mental and physical […]
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