How to get over a breakup: Effective strategies and professional support by Christine Ridley, LCSW | Oct 13, 2023 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships Breakups are universally challenging experiences that stir up deep emotions and trigger a complex process of healing and self-discovery. In this article, we explore the profound impact of breakups, why they hurt so much, and how to navigate the emotional rollercoaster that follows. Expert insight from Thriveworks sheds light on…
Sleep divorce: Relationship doom or sleep hygiene? Why sleeping apart can be both good and bad by Theresa Lupcho, LPC | Feb 15, 2023 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Sleep Despite what it sounds like, sleep divorce doesn’t always spell the end of a relationship. It’s what happens when one or both partners decide to sleep in separate beds. As controversial as it sounds, it’s actually pretty common. But does sleep divorce truly spell the end of a relationship? And…
Third-wheeling: Being single when your friends are in a relationship by Jason Crosby | May 13, 2022 | Coping Skills, Mental Health Topics, Relationships The front door open for the last time that night, my friends standing on the front porch, arm in arm, waving goodbye, their silhouettes shimmering against the half-moon behind them. Just beyond, I see another set of friends (another couple) climb into their car, as the cabin light illuminates the…
The pros and cons of a starter marriage by Wistar Murray | May 12, 2022 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships What is a starter marriage? Well, obviously it’s the beautiful union between a starter wife or a starter husband and their starter spouse. Gorgeous wedding, all the gifts, no children, and they’re divorced within five years. These kinds of marriages have also been called entry-level marriages, icebreaker marriages, warm-up marriages,…
Parasocial relationships: The good, the bad, and the boy bands by Wistar Murray | Mar 25, 2022 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships My five-year-old daughter has a self-professed “crush” on Tae Young, who is a cartoon member of the early 2000s fictional boy band 4*Town, which is featured in the 2022 Disney Pixar movie “Turning Red.” (I know, my head is spinning too.) I can’t tell if my daughter thinks Tae is…
Do meat, sex, and money count as irreconcilable differences? Workarounds for 3 heated lifestyle clashes in couples by Wistar Murray | Oct 29, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships One thing that we’ve all learned from romantic comedies is that significant others can live in harmony even when their lifestyles are radically different. For example, one SO might prefer reading on the couch to running triathlons. One SO might spring out of bed at 5am to get a headstart…
Advice for dating a roommate: Cohabitant hookups and the proximity principle by Wistar Murray | Oct 1, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships Dear Unlicensed Psychoblogger, My roommate is extremely attractive and I’m starting to feel an emotional connection. Would it be a humongous mistake to hook up? Sincerely, Writer’s Imaginary Friend (WIF) Dear WIF, This is a tricky question. Fortunately, I’m abundantly qualified to answer it because I’m currently raising a kindergartner…
Solo life and singlism: How much does relationship status matter? by Wistar Murray | Sep 24, 2021 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships I’m a happily partnered mom, but no one has to explain to me the benefits of being single. I’m not talking about the joys of online dating and casual sex. I’m talking about keeping your own hours, eating what you want, and TRYING TO WRITE A SENTENCE WITHOUT SOMEONE ELSE’S…
Friendship therapy: A professional can help friends improve and maintain their bond by Wistar Murray | Sep 2, 2021 | Beginning Therapy, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are in their 60s now, but they first became friends in their 20s, when they were both single women in TV broadcasting. This means that for over 40 years they have stuck together through marriages, children, divorce, and career ups and downs. Their BFF status…
Reconciliation after divorce: Was divorce a mistake? Does your relationship deserve another shot? by Taylor Bennett | Mar 15, 2019 | Life Transition, Mental Health Topics, Relationships Marriage can be beautiful. It can also be incredibly problematic and end in divorce. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, just about 40 to 50% of couples divorce. And the divorce rate for second, third, and other subsequent marriages is even higher. The main causes for divorce? Here…
Divorce recovery: You can heal properly by surrendering to the pain, forgiving, and focusing on self-care by Taylor Bennett | Mar 11, 2019 | Mental Health Topics, Relationships, Self-Care Any breakup is hard, but divorce is especially difficult, as you have to say goodbye to the person you planned to spend forever with. Fortunately, you can take matters into your own hands and recover: the three keys are giving in to the pain, forgiving yourself, and practicing self-care. Additionally, it’s…
If you’re feeling lonely after a breakup, fill that empty void with healthy activities and learn to prioritize yourself by Jacob Kountz | Aug 24, 2018 | Loneliness, Mental Health Topics, Self-Care Loneliness is something most of us would like to avoid if we could. But there are times where life truly gives us sour lemons after having a rough experience: breakups. Some breakups are mutual, others might end in disagreement, but one commonality that is likely to occur is loneliness. Feeling…