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Have you ever been annoyed by another person’s attempt to justify their unacceptable behavior? That person may have been rationalizing, i.e. using logic as an unconscious attempt to avoid facing their negative or unwanted feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.  We often...

We use an array of defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from pain, guilt, and anxiety. You may already know some of your own ways of dealing with intense negative emotions: You might suppress your emotions and hide them from your...

When you first find someone you love and who loves you back, it can be easy to overlook some of their behaviors and ways of thinking that you don’t particularly like or agree with. What if, as time passes, you...

Do you feel like you just can’t have enough affection? Do you feel like you’re starving for physical touch? If you do, know that it is entirely natural. In fact, it's a human need. Humans are wired to have a...

Love, care, support, respect, and joy are only some of the amazing ways healthy relationships enrich our lives. They give us that feeling of walking slightly above ground on a thin-but-firm layer of confidence that makes every step we take,...

Not being heard hurts, no matter your age or the relationship you’re struggling to get your voice and opinion across. It can all begin at a very early age. Trying to explain your actions to your parents, for example, only...

Adolescence is a tumultuous period, one where a teenager moves through the process of developing a stable personality and identity for themselves. This process is known as individuation. As one individuates, they get a clearer sense of self, distinct from...

The experiences we have in childhood can have a serious impact on our quality of life in adulthood. They can mold our personalities, affect romantic relationships, and influence how we parent our own children.   Most people can easily understand how...

Not all forms of abuse can be easily recognized. One of the most subtle is known as emotional or mental abuse. As a way to manipulate, control, and wound, emotional abuse can have a highly damaging effect on mental health...

Do you find that you struggle with managing your emotions? Are your reactions deemed too explosive, intense, or inappropriate?  If this is the case, you may find yourself relating to individuals with emotional dysregulation. This means that you may have...