Intellectualization: Thinking About Your Feelings Instead of Feeling Them
Intellectualization: Thinking About Your Feelings Instead of Feeling Them
I used to think I was really emotionally aware. When something upset me, I could explain exactly why it upset me, how it fit into a pattern, why my nervous system was responding the way it was. It all made perfect sense. And I thought this made me in touch with my emotions. Turns out I was...
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The Slow Work of Feeling Suppressed Emotions
The Slow Work of Feeling Suppressed Emotions
Working with emotions—especially when they’ve been buried, shut down, or hard to name—reminds me a lot of orthodontics. It’s not fast. It’s not flashy. But it’s real. You can’t force a tooth into place without risking damage. And you can’t force suppressed emotions into awareness without overwhelming the system....
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Celebrating Black Owned Businesses in Pittsburgh: Juneteenth
Photo credit: “20220814_103323” by 7beachbum, CC BY 2.0 Changes made: Photo cropped and sky made blue.
Celebrating Black Owned Businesses in Pittsburgh This Juneteenth & Beyond
For Black History Month, we shared an Instagram Reel highlighting 11 Black owned businesses in Pittsburgh to celebrate some of the amazing Black entrepreneurs in our...
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An Unlikely Source of Military PTSD
An Unlikely Source of Military PTSD
As a Marine combat veteran who has personally navigated the challenges of PTSD, I want to share an important perspective during PTSD Awareness Month that often goes unrecognized, one that could change how we understand and address military PTSD and trauma.
What is PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress...
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Playing the Victim? A Deeper Look at Victim Mentality
Playing the Victim? A Deeper Look at Victim Mentality
If you’ve been accused of playing the victim, or if you’re trying to understand why someone you know seems stuck in a cycle of helplessness, you’re not alone. The term “victim mentality” often stirs up strong emotions and assumptions. It’s frequently associated with manipulation or avoidance of responsibility,...
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Functional Freeze vs. Anhedonia vs. Burnout
Functional Freeze vs. Anhedonia vs. Burnout
Life’s challenges often take a toll on our mental health, leading to emotional and physical exhaustion. However, not all forms of mental and emotional struggle are the same. Functional freeze, anhedonia, and burnout are three distinct states of distress, each with unique characteristics, causes, and effects....
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Autism Facts vs Autism Myths
Autism Facts vs Autism Myths
Despite increasing awareness, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) remains clouded by misconceptions, fueled by ongoing discussions and news reports. With ongoing debates about autism diagnoses and societal perceptions, autism myths persist and contribute to stigma and misinformation. These misunderstandings can obstruct progress toward...
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Is Therapy Covered by Insurance?
Is Therapy Covered by Insurance?
Mental health has steadily climbed the ladder of public health priorities, mirroring a growing acknowledgment of its critical role in our overall well-being. Amidst this positive shift, a practical question emerges for many seeking support, “Is Therapy Covered by Insurance?”
The answer, while hopeful, is nuanced, navigating...
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Limiting External Locus of Control for Personal Power
Limiting External Locus of Control for Personal Power
Do you ever feel like life is just happening to you, with external forces like luck, fate, or other people dictating the outcomes no matter how hard you try? When everything seems beyond your control, it’s easy to feel stuck and powerless. Psychologists explore these experiences through concepts like locus of...
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Why Am I So Defensive? Defensiveness as Self Advocacy?
Why Am I So Defensive? Exploring Defensiveness as Self Advocacy
You sit down to dinner with your partner and they make a comment about having pasta again this week. You feel a rush of heat, and before you know it, you’re becoming defensive, overexplaining yourself about how busy your week has been, how you didn’t have time, and so what if it’s pasta again....
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Therapy Speak: When Language Gets Misused and Weaponized
Therapy Speak: When Language Gets Misused and Weaponized
In recent years, therapy speak—the casual and often incorrect use of psychological jargon—has made its way into everyday conversations. Social media, podcasts, and influencers have played a significant role in popularizing terms like “narcissist,” “gaslighting,” “boundaries,” and “trauma dumping.”
While...
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Debunking RFK Jr. Myths About Antidepressants
Debunking RFK Jr. Myths About Antidepressants
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), has recently made headlines by raising concerns about the safety and efficacy of antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
During public appearances and interviews, he has suggested that these...
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Conversion Therapy Harm & Finding LGBTQIA Affirming Therapy
Conversion Therapy Harm & Finding LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy
Just like everyone else, LGBTQIA+ folks grow up in an environment full of subtle messages about “how we’re supposed to act.” As people born with marginalized identities, we often don’t see ourselves represented in the same spaces where others are socialized, and when we do, it’s rarely in...
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Why Is It Female Rage, Not Simply Anger in Women?
Why Is It Female Rage, Not Simply Anger in Women?
Anger is a universal emotion, yet for women, it’s often misinterpreted, stigmatized, and renamed. It’s rarely seen as just “anger.” Instead, society frames it as “female rage” or the dramatized “angry woman.” Even in our online search behaviors, this pattern emerges: while “anger in women” averages only 20 monthly...
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Psychiatrist vs Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatrist vs Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Navigating the world of mental health care can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re seeking medication to help with something like ADHD or depression. You know something needs to change, but when you start researching, you’re faced with a variety of options. Psychologist vs psychiatrist? Then, there’s a...
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Anti Inflammatory Diet: Key Foods for Fighting Inflammation
Anti Inflammatory Diet: Key Foods for Fighting Inflammation
Have you ever scrolled through your newsfeed and felt overwhelmed by all the talk about inflammation and the anti inflammatory diet? With endless posts, videos, and articles, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of conflicting information. Many of the tips shared today are rooted in diet culture, promoting...
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Toxic Masculinity and Its Role in Men’s Mental Health
Toxic Masculinity and Its Role in Men’s Mental Health
Why do so many men feel like they have to “man up” and keep their feelings locked inside? For generations, boys have been told to be tough, never cry, and always stay in control. But what happens when this pressure becomes too much? The answer lies in a concept called toxic masculinity — a set of...
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No Contact vs. The Silent Treatment
No Contact vs. The Silent Treatment
In relationships, communication is key. Two common strategies used to withdraw emotionally are the No Contact rule and the Silent Treatment. While they may appear similar, these two approaches differ significantly in their intent, duration, and emotional impact. Understanding the distinction between these strategies is essential...
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