5 Greetings for When the Holidays Don’t Feel Happy

Although “Happy holidays!” is usually intended as a kind, warm wish to another human being, it doesn’t always feel that way to receive or give. For someone in emotional pain, “Happy holidays!” can: Seem like a command they’ve failed to fulfill: “Be happy, it’s the holidays!” Be experienced as emotionally negating (similar to someone saying to you,…Read more »

10 Essential Points About Online vs. In-Person Therapy

COVID has given us a solid run with online therapy. I’ve heard many therapists say they prefer virtual work and are “never going back” to offices. I’ve seen many articles that declare that online therapy is as effective as (or even superior to) in-person. And, that might be true. Supporting the claims, 2020 research revealed that thus far,…Read more »

“Out of Control” Holiday Eating Could Be a Subjective Binge

Just in time for the 2021 holiday season, a new study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders on November 11, 2021, provides in-depth, data-driven feedback on subjective binge episodes. “Lived experiences of subjective binge eating: An inductive thematic analysis” expands our understanding of this binge type. There are two main types of eating binges: objective…Read more »

Anorexia, Bulimia, Bingeing, and OSFED: More Alike Than Different

The media has portrayed the looks of the three most well-recognized eating disorders—anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder (BED)—as distinct, and judgments are often made about the severity and social stigma of each. OSFED, which stands for “other specified feeding and eating disorder,” is the catchall term for behaviors and attitudes almost fit one of the other three. It, too,…Read more »

Get the Most From Your Mental Health Social Media

Finding people on social media who also struggle with or know about a particular mental health symptom or diagnosis (e.g., ADHD, eating disorder, OCD, etc.) has loads of upsides. Connecting with these accounts can deliver: effective self-help an increased support system reduced isolation while expanding a sense of community helpful advice for improving symptoms decreased stigma Since those are all desirable, positive…Read more »

This Blog has moved to Psychology Today

I have the honor to blog now for Psychology Today. Please visit MeaningFULL: Candid Perspectives on Self-Image and Mental Health. If you’d like to comment on or ask questions about the blogs there, please visit my socials on Facebook and Instagram. Each blog posts there. And there is also a feedback button on my Psychology…Read more »

Relief Can Come From Failure

This blog appeared originally as a social media post. It’s rare that I share so candidly anywhere online. But maybe someone out there needs to read this about perfectionism and failing… “FAILURE CAN BE THE MOST RELIEVING ANTIDOTE TO PERFECTIONISM.” I had spent much of my life trying to avoid failure. I remember that in…Read more »