“The ceiling of social comparison is so high that virtually no one will ever hit.” ― Morgan Housel, The Psychology of Money The human tendency to assess oneself in relation to others has been a fundamental aspect of human behavior since time immemorial. This phenomenon, known as social comparison, was…

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. — Arthur Somers Roche Anticipatory anxiety, a subcategory of anxiety disorders, involves excessive worry, fear, or dread in anticipation of a future event or situation. Unlike…

I used to think it utterly normal that I suffered from “suicidal ideation” on an almost daily basis. In other words, for as long as I can remember, the thought of ending my life came to me frequently and obsessively. ― Stephen Fry Suicidal ideation and actions have been a…

Hope confronts. It does not ignore pain, agony, or injustice. It is not a saccharine optimism that refuses to see, face, or grapple with the wretchedness of reality. You can’t have hope without despair, because hope is a response. Hope is the active conviction that despair will never have the…

Beneath the surface of the protective parts of trauma survivors there exists an undamaged essence, a Self that is confident, curious, and calm, a Self that has been sheltered from destruction by the various protectors that have emerged in their efforts to ensure survival. — Bessel A. …

Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. — Christopher Robin Childhood and adolescence represent periods of immense growth, exploration, and development. Yet, these formative years are not without their challenges. In recent decades, one concern that has…

Listen here for my podcast interview with Utah Public Radio’s host Matthew LaPlante on the psychology of Barbie: UnDisciplined: The economic evolution of an icon The top-grossing movie of 2023 is a movie about a doll that is known for creating toxic expectations about girls'…www.upr.org

There’s always failure. And there’s always disappointment. And there’s always loss. But the secret is learning from the loss, and realizing that none of those holes are vacuums. — Michael J. Fox Disappointment is an emotional response that is both universal and complex. Arising when an individual’s hopes, expectations, or…

“We draw our strength from the very despair in which we have been forced to live. We shall endure.” — Cesar Chavez Despair is a complex emotional and psychological state characterized by feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and an overarching sense of doom. Despite being a ubiquitous experience to some extent…