Being able to hold opposing emotions is one of the hallmarks of good mental health. Something can be both bitter and sweet, and we tend to feel that we must pick sides. To our confusion, we often can’t stick with one or the other feelings — either getting pulled back and forth, or stuck in […]
Understanding Suicide: Why do people kill themselves?
The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide On the surface, suicide seems incomprehensible, contrary to our deepest instincts for survival. Losing a loved one to suicide often causes profound, unbearable anguish to those left behind, who question what they could have done differently to prevent this tragic loss. Yet suicide in the United States has climbed […]
The Emotional Benefits of Decluttering and Why It’s Hard
How Clutter Becomes Us Originally published as Tidying Up? Why It’s Harder Than ‘Does This Spark Joy?’ in WebMD We accumulate a lot of things in the course of our lives. Some of it we need, some of it we don’t. Collecting objects and loving things is natural—children do it from an early age. Babies […]
When Strong Emotions Derail You: How to manage
How do emotions get us into trouble? Some strong emotions are enjoyable, but some can knock us off balance. Becoming overwhelmed with emotions may lead to unhealthy reactions and misunderstandings, with the potential to get us into trouble at work, at home, or in social settings. Common expressions like ”he was blinded by emotion” or […]
When a Beloved Pet Dies
My clients often feel ashamed of their grief following the death of a pet because it’s “only” a dog or a cat (or bird, fish, rabbit…). Yet companion animals can provide us with love and devotion in a way that’s different from, and can even exceed, what we feel from a family member or friend. […]
