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Mom Guilt and Parental Overstimulation: Why Parenting Feels So Overwhelming—and How Therapy Can Help
The term “mom guilt” is widely used, but the experience it describes is not limited to mothers. Parents of all genders, including fathers, single parents, and non-birthing caregivers, can experience guilt, overwhelm, and emotional overload. In this article, we use the familiar term mom guilt for clarity and searchability, while recognizing that these challenges affect many parents.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by noise, constant demands, or the feeling that you can never fu

Abigail Cruey
1 day ago3 min read


High-Functioning Anxiety: When Anxiety Fuels Productivity but Undermines Well-Being
High-functioning anxiety doesn’t always look like distress. For many people, it exists beneath productivity and responsibility, quietly shaping thoughts, behaviors, and emotional well-being. This article explores common signs and how psychotherapy can help.

Abigail Cruey
3 days ago3 min read


Why You Feel Responsible for Other People’s Emotions: The Psychology of People-Pleasing
Have you ever felt your stomach drop when someone around you seems upset—even if it has nothing to do with you? Or caught yourself apologizing for things you didn’t do, smoothing tension before it even forms, or feeling guilty simply because someone else is uncomfortable? If so, you’re not “too sensitive” or “overreacting.” You’re responding to emotional patterns your brain learned long ago—patterns that are well-supported by decades of psychological and neurological research

Abigail Cruey
Dec 143 min read


Setting Boundaries in Relationships: How to Stop Feeling Guilty and Start Feeling Empowered
When your needs go unspoken for too long, even the strongest relationship can feel heavy. Learn how to set healthy boundaries without guilt and reconnect with your sense of self.

Abigail Cruey
Dec 113 min read


Trauma Bonding: How to Tell What It Is—and What It Isn’t
A trauma bond develops when someone becomes attached to a person who creates emotional distress but also provides brief moments of comfort afterward.

Abigail Cruey
Dec 93 min read


What Sex Therapy Really Is — And Why It’s Not What Most People Think
Sex is one of the most intimate parts of being human, yet it’s also one of the least openly discussed. When challenges arise—whether emotional, relational, or physical—people often feel isolated or unsure where to turn. Many hesitate to seek help because they imagine sex therapy as something awkward, intrusive, or outside their comfort zone. In truth, sex therapy is simply a specialized form of talk therapy. It offers a safe, structured space for individuals and couples to ex

Abigail Cruey
Dec 22 min read


Mastering Emotions with DBT
Understanding Emotional Control Emotions can feel intense, sudden, and overwhelming, and while we can’t always choose what we feel, we can learn to choose how we respond. That idea sits at the heart of DBT — Dialectical Behavior Therapy — a skills-based approach that helps people understand their emotional patterns, manage stress, and respond in ways that support their well-being instead of working against it. DBT blends mindfulness with behavior strategies and is grounded i

Abigail Cruey
Dec 23 min read


When Love Meets Limits: The Psychology of Attachment, Boundaries, and Value Conflicts in Relationships
Relationships may feel uniquely personal, yet decades of psychological research show that many of the patterns we experience—how we bond, how we argue, how we withdraw, and how we set limits—are built on universal human processes. Three forces in particular shape the quality of our connections: attachment styles, boundaries, and core values. When these elements align, relationships often feel secure and fulfilling. When they clash, even loving couples can find themselves stuc

Abigail Cruey
Nov 293 min read


Bipolar Disorder: Understanding the Condition and Letting Go of the Stigma
Bipolar disorder is often mentioned in everyday conversation, but the way it’s portrayed rarely matches the lived reality. Many people picture dramatic mood swings or extreme behavior, yet bipolar disorder is far more nuanced. It affects individuals differently, and each person’s experience can shift over time. Understanding what bipolar disorder actually is — and what it isn’t — helps reduce stigma and opens the door to better support and empathy. What Bipolar Disorder Reall

Abigail Cruey
Nov 263 min read


Finding Calm in a Busy Season
For many people, the holiday season brings lights, traditions, and connection. But for others, this time of year can feel overwhelming, pressured, or emotionally heavy. While some stress is normal during a busy season, holiday anxiety often goes deeper. If you’ve ever felt tense or on edge while everyone else seems cheerful, you’re not alone. Surveys from organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) show that finances, family conflict, time pressure, and so

Abigail Cruey
Nov 163 min read


Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD): Education and Effective Coping Strategies
When we hear the term “antisocial,” we often imagine someone who doesn’t like being around others. In reality, Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is much more complex. It involves long-standing patterns of impulsivity, disregard for rules or boundaries, and difficulty connecting with others emotionally. For many, these patterns can create strain in relationships, work, or daily life — but understanding them is the first step toward change. Gaining Self-Awareness People wi

Abigail Cruey
Oct 252 min read


Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) and Building Healthy Coping Skills
What Is OCPD? Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) is a mental health condition characterized by a chronic preoccupation with rules, order, and control. Unlike Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which involves intrusive, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors, OCPD is defined by a rigid pattern of perfectionism and control that affects many areas of life. People with OCPD often strive for perfection, fear making mistakes, and may have difficulty delegating t

Abigail Cruey
Oct 232 min read


Beyond the Label: Understanding and Living Well with Borderline Personality Disorder
When you hear the term personality disorder , what comes to mind? For many, it’s an intimidating phrase that carries heavy stigma and misunderstanding. But behind every diagnosis is a person—someone with emotions, dreams, and struggles just like anyone else. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions, yet with awareness and the right support, people with BPD can and do build fulfilling, meaningful lives. What Borderline Per

Abigail Cruey
Oct 163 min read


Holistic Mental Health: How Nature and Nutrition Support Emotional Wellbeing
When most people think about mental health care, they picture therapy sessions, medication, or self-help books. While these tools are valuable, they often focus on just one part of wellbeing: the mind. True healing happens when we recognize that our mental health is deeply connected to the body, the environment, and our daily choices. Holistic care means looking at the whole person, not just the symptoms. It acknowledges how physical health, nutrition, surroundings, and lifes

Abigail Cruey
Oct 133 min read


Turning Toward Instead of Away: Small Moments That Strengthen Relationships
The Power of Everyday Moments Healthy relationships are not built solely on major milestones or grand gestures. They are shaped in the smaller, quieter moments of daily life—when partners choose to respond to each other with attention and care. Research by Drs. John and Julie Gottman has shown that these seemingly minor interactions, known as bids for connection, are some of the strongest predictors of relationship satisfaction and stability. When partners learn to notice and

Abigail Cruey
Oct 113 min read


Understanding Attachment Styles: How They Impact Your Relationships
Relationships are at the heart of our emotional well-being. When they feel safe and supportive, they bring joy and comfort. When they feel uncertain or strained, they can leave us feeling anxious, distant, or misunderstood. Attachment theory offers an important lens for understanding these patterns. Developed by psychologists John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, it explains how the bonds we form in childhood shape the way we connect with others as adults. While no one fits neatly

Abigail Cruey
Oct 93 min read


PTSD vs. C-PTSD: What’s the Difference and Why Does It Matter?
When most people hear the word “trauma,” they often think of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Images of soldiers returning from war, survivors of car accidents, or people who’ve lived through natural disasters may come to mind. But trauma doesn’t always come from a single event. For some, it’s the result of years of repeated pain, abuse, or neglect. That’s where Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) comes in. So, what’s the difference between PTSD and C-PTSD—and why should we care? Let

Abigail Cruey
Oct 32 min read


How to “Tune In” to Your Environment
When was the last time you really noticed your surroundings? Most of us move through our days on autopilot — walking the same routes, sitting at the same desk, scrolling through the same screens — barely aware of the environment shaping us. Psychologist James J. Gibson believed we miss something vital when we live this way. He argued that the world is filled with invitations for action, which he called affordances . A chair invites sitting. A trail invites walking. A window i

Abigail Cruey
Oct 12 min read


How CBT Helps Break the Cycle of Negative Thinking
It often starts with a single thought: “I’m not good enough.” That idea sparks a heavy feeling—maybe sadness, shame, or even hopelessness. From there, the emotion drives behavior: withdrawing from friends, putting off responsibilities, or giving up before even trying. The action then reinforces the thought: “See, I can’t do it.” This loop is what keeps negative thinking so powerful. Thoughts, feelings, and actions feed one another until the cycle feels unbreakable. Cognitive

Abigail Cruey
Sep 303 min read


Coping with Change: Finding Balance in Uncertain Times
Change is one of the most universal human experiences. Some transitions arrive with anticipation—like a career shift, starting a family, or moving to a new place. Others come without warning, such as the loss of a relationship, a health diagnosis, or sudden upheaval in daily life. What they all share is their capacity to unsettle us. Adapting to change isn’t simply a matter of “staying positive.” It involves rewiring habits, recalibrating expectations, and, at times, reimagin

Abigail Cruey
Sep 232 min read
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