Category
Relationships & Dating
Dating, breakup, friendship, love languages, and limerence.
Autistic Limerence: When Limerence Is an Intense, Involuntary State for Neurodivergent Brains
Autistic limerence is not a crush that got out of hand. It is an intense involuntary state of romantic fixation where one person becomes the center of your thoughts, your mood, and your nervous system. For...
Couples Therapy for Resentment: Turning Lingering Hurt into Clear Requests and Real Decisions
Couples therapy for resentment turns lingering hurt into clear requests and real decisions. Learn the two paths, schema patterns, and when staying or leaving is the honest next step.
Limerence and ADHD: Why Infatuation Feels So Intense (and How to Get Unstuck)
If you have ADHD and you've ever spent three hours analyzing a two-word text from someone who barely knows your last name, this article is for you. ADHD limerence describes intense feelings for another person that...
Sapiosexual: What It Means to Be Attracted to Intelligence
A sapiosexual experiences attraction primarily through intellectual connection rather than physical appearance. Here is what sapiosexuality actually means, the signs it is driving your attraction, how it shapes dating and long-term relationships, and when therapy helps.
Masochist Meaning in Psychology and Relationships: A Therapy-Based Guide
A masochist is not someone who likes pain. In psychology it is a relational position where suffering becomes the price of love-and it only exists with a complementary other.
Healthy Relationship Tips: Debunking Popular Advice and Replacing It With What Works
The most important thing in a good relationship is not chemistry, shared hobbies, or perfect communication-it is having a partner who is a willing participant. This article debunks eight popular relationship myths and replaces them with evidence-based tools.
The Penny Method in Dating: How a Disturbing Dating Technique Messes With Your Mind
The penny method is one of the most insidious patterns in modern dating, and chances are you've experienced it without having a name for it. Here's what you need to know to recognize it, understand why it hurts, and protect yourself.
Limerence: Meaning, Symptoms, Causes, and How to Overcome It
Can't stop thinking about one person? Checking your phone for their name, replaying every conversation, feeling on top of the world when they smile at you and crushed when they don't? You might be experiencing...
Platonic Limerence: Signs, Causes, and How to Cope With Limerence in Friendships
Platonic limerence is an intense, non romantic limerence toward a friend: a fixation where you can't stop thinking about someone, crave their attention, and feel your whole mood rise and fall with how they treat you....
Understanding the Love Language Physical Touch
When physical touch is your love language, feeling loved means experiencing hugs, hand-holding, and other forms of affectionate contact. This article explains what the love language physical touch entails, how to recognize if it’s your primary way of expressing love, and offers practical tips on incorporating it into your relationships for deeper intimacy. Key Takeaways
Exploring the Acts of Service Love Language
Acts of service love language means expressing love by doing things your partner finds helpful. This article will guide you in understanding this love language, helping you identify if it’s yours, and offering practical tips to show it effectively, enhancing your relationship. Key Takeaways Acts of Service as a love language emphasizes practical actions that
Is Limerence a Mental Illness? Limerence, Anxious Attachment, OCD, and Trauma
If you can't stop thinking about someone and it's taking over your days, you may wonder whether something is wrong with you. This article answers that question directly, then explains how it connects to attachment...
How to Stop Limerence: The 4 Stages of Limerence and How to Get Over It
If you're stuck thinking about one person day and night and you want it to end, this article is for you. It walks through the four stages of limerence, how long limerence lasts, the signs limerence is ending, and the...
Exploring the Words of Affirmation Love Language
Words of affirmation are key to making someone feel valued and loved. In this article, you’ll learn what words of affirmation are, how to use them effectively, and their impact on relationships. Whether for a partner, family, or friends, discover how these simple phrases can transform your connections. Key Takeaways Words of affirmation are essential
Breaking Free: How to Stop Self-Sabotaging Relationships
Do you often feel like you’re pushing your partner away, even when you don’t mean to? Self-sabotaging relationships is when your actions, whether conscious or unconscious, lead to the deterioration of your romantic connections. This article will help you understand these behaviors, uncover their root causes like fear or past trauma, and offer strategies to
Top Signs of Toxic Relationships and How to Handle Them
Toxic relationships drain your energy and harm your well-being. Are you in one? In this article, we will help you recognize the warning signs of toxic relationships and provide steps to deal with them, whether they involve family, romantic partners, or co-workers. Key Takeaways Toxic relationships are characterized by emotional harm, manipulation, and a lack
Envy vs Jealousy: Key Differences and How to Manage Them
When discussing emotions, envy and jealousy are often confused. Envy is the feeling you get when you desire something someone else has. Jealousy is the fear of losing something you value to someone else. Understanding envy vs jealousy is crucial because it helps us manage relationships and personal feelings more effectively. This article will explore
EMDR for Limerence: Effective Treatment and Strategies
Is your mind consumed with obsessive thoughts about someone, leaving you emotionally distressed? If so, you might be dealing with limerence. This article discusses how EMDR for limerence can be an effective way to manage and overcome these intense feelings. Key Takeaways Limerence is characterized by obsessive thoughts, intense longing, and emotional dependency, often lacking
75 Best Conversation Starters to Break the Ice
Struggling to start a conversation? Check out these 75 conversation starters to make your interactions easy and engaging, whether with strangers or friends. Key Takeaways Effective conversation starters can enhance interactions in various settings, from casual gatherings to professional environments. Specific topics like favorite food, past events, and life lessons help to deepen connections among
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Limerence: Effective Limerence Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy for limerence is one of the most effective ways to break free from the obsessive thoughts, checking, and longing that keep you stuck on one person.
Effective Strategies to Overcome Retroactive Jealousy
Struggling with uncomfortable feelings about your partner’s past relationships? Retroactive jealousy is likely the culprit, casting a shadow over your present relationship. You’re not alone, and there are ways to move past these intrusive thoughts. This no-nonsense guide will walk you through understanding the causes of retroactive jealousy and provide you with practical tools to
Discover Altruistic Love Languages in Couple Counseling
Seeking ways to build a stronger, more fulfilling relationship? Altruistic love languages in couple counseling offer practical strategies to enhance emotional intimacy through selfless actions tailored to your partner’s needs. This article provides insights on incorporating these techniques to foster mutual respect and deeper connections in your relationship. Key Takeaways Understanding and practicing altruistic love
Building “I-Thou” Relationships Through Genuine Engagement
In a world where superficial contacts are commonplace, building “I-Thou” relationships through deep genuine engagement stands out as a beacon for authentic human connections. By swapping surface-level exchanges for meaningful interactions, we tap into empathy and recognition—the real cornerstones of strong relationships. This guide equips you with the knowledge to foster these profound connections, cutting
Establishing Healthy Relationship Boundaries
Relationship boundaries are key to healthy interactions. They define how we want to be treated and protect our well-being. This article covers why boundaries are important, how to set them, and tips for maintaining them. Key Takeaways Healthy relationship boundaries protect your mental, emotional, and physical well-being while promoting autonomy and preventing codependent behaviors. Different
Effective Therapy for Trust Issues: Techniques and Benefits
Struggling to trust others can severely impact your relationships and emotional health. Therapy for trust issues helps you understand the root causes, provides tools to rebuild trust, and teaches you strategies for healthier connections. In this article, you’ll learn about different types of therapy and the benefits they offer. Key Takeaways Trust issues, often rooted
Exploring the Power of Agape Love
Agape love is often misunderstood as just another form of affection, yet it’s the epitome of selfless, unconditional love with transformative power in relationships and spiritual growth. This article uncovers the depth of agape love, distinguishing its self-sacrificial nature from other loves and showcasing its significance in shaping human connections and behavior in everyday life.
Phubbing: The Relationship Intruder
What is phubbing, and how is it changing the way we interact? This article tackles the uncomfortable truth of smartphone distraction during social moments, its ripple effect on our relationships, and practical strategies to combat this digital-age challenge. Key Takeaways Phubbing, the act of ignoring someone in favor of a smartphone, is a widespread behavior
Understanding the Stages of a Breakup
Searching for the ‘stages of a breakup’ usually means you’re in the thick of it, seeking guidance on the emotional path ahead. This article demystifies each stage, without sugarcoating, providing you with the insights to navigate through the pain towards recovery. As you read on, expect to find a clear, empathetic outline of the breakup
How to Cope with Relationship Stress
Feeling overwhelmed by relationship stress and searching for a lifeline? You’re not alone. This guide on how to cope with relationship stress will arm you with effective strategies to cope with relationship stress, unpack the communication tools needed to address conflict, and identify the support both you and your partner need to thrive even in
Take Steps Toward Improving Your Relationship
Are you seeking practical ways to strengthen your bonds and take steps towards improving your relationships? Establishing deeper connections requires more than mere good intentions; it entails a series of focused, deliberate actions. A Guide to Deeper Connections This guide provides you with concrete strategies to cultivate healthier relationships through shared values, enhanced communication, quality
How to Develop Interdependence in Relationships
Creating an interdependent relationship is the key to creating a strong, lasting bond. This type of healthy and balanced partnership can help foster personal growth while encouraging deep emotional connection. To get started on this journey towards a happy union, it’s essential to understand what constitutes such relationships and how they function in order to
CBT Tips: How to Recognize and Avoid Situationships
Have you ever found yourself hooking up with someone who seems really into you, but you weren’t sure if you were that into them? Then as the relationship progresses, suddenly you realize you’ve become somewhat attached to them. At first, you weren’t certain whether you were genuinely attracted or even liked them, but now you
Dating Beyond Your Type: Overcoming Schema and Attachment Chemistry
When it comes to dating, we often find ourselves drawn to a specific “type” that aligns with our preconceived preferences. Sometimes, this type is something we’re consciously aware of, and it works for us. Sometimes, we consciously know it’s not working for us, but it’s still kind of exciting, so we keep doing it. And
The 5 Love Languages: Understanding and Expressing Love in Relationships
Have you ever felt misunderstood in a relationship, as if you and your partner were speaking different languages? Enter the world of love languages, a concept developed by Dr. Gary Chapman that offers insight into how we express and receive love. The five love languages were developed by Dr. Gary Chapman PhD in 1992 when
Healing From Heartbreak: CBT Tips to Cope With A Breakup
Experiencing a breakup can be an incredibly challenging and painful time in our lives. The emotions that arise during this period can feel overwhelming, leaving us feeling lost and unsure of how to move forward. However, by integrating tools and techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Somatic
Practical Dating and Relationship Tips
It can be difficult to find and sustain a satisfying romantic partnership in the current speedy and technological era. With the rise of online dating platforms and evolving social norms, it’s crucial to equip ourselves with practical strategies to navigate the dating landscape successfully. Effective Tips for Dating and Relationships Whether you’re single and looking
Bedtalks Podcast Interview: Practical Dating
Listen to Dr. Abby Lev share 5 Dating Trends with Stay At Home Orders with Bedtalks Podcast Host and Relationship Expert Elizabeth Overstreet and her partner “K”. Let’s face it, dating can be a struggle. And this struggle can persist even for those of you in committed relationships. The pandemic hasn’t made it easier. But,
Community Matters Podcast Interview
Dr. Lev describes how to create positive relationships Dr. Lev shares insight about interpersonal schemas and how they impact relationships. Click below to listen to full episode KZUM · Community Matters 4/24/17 – Abby Lev on positive relationships
Is Social Media Damaging our Relationships?
The excitement you feel when your social media post is “liked,” or otherwise validated, is due to the release of dopamine in your brain, which is also released during sex or a delicious meal. Increasingly, our brains are becoming conditioned and rewired to associate this boost of happiness with our online behaviors like social media,