Self Development

The New Eating Disorder We’re Failing to See by Angela Wurtzel

Not long ago two high-profile 30-something women, Brittany Murphy and Casey Johnson, died suddenly of “natural causes.” This news hit me, as I’m sure it hit most people, as both alarming and deeply disturbing. Although the circumstances that led to their deaths were both unclear and confusing, as an eating disorder specialist, I believe that… Read more »

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Fear of Failure

The fear of failure can become a very powerful force in each choice we make and endeavor we undertake. While sometimes this fear can motivate us to succeed, other times it can defeat us, preventing us from pursuing our goals. Often, it is at those times when we are faced with the greatest opportunities that… Read more »

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I recently discovered death

Story from a PsychAlive Member. I recently discovered death.  Of course I have known about it for most of my life, but never really felt what it means.  When I first knew it as a child, I thought it would be a relief to be dead. A relief to stop the turmoil I felt. As… Read more »

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Quiz: How Stressed Are you?

Allowing stress to become a routine part of our lives can take its toll on us mentally and physically. Not only is stress linked to many health concerns, but it presents each of us with a great distraction from the things in our lives that mean the most. Like depression or any addiction, stress should… Read more »

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What Are Defenses?

When he was 3-years-old, Kevin watched his dad drive away. For the few months following his parents’ split, Kevin and his brother had moved in with their father. The three of them lived together contentedly until the day Kevin’s mom showed up out of the blue and announced that she was taking the kids back…. Read more »

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Quiz: Are You a Good Listener?

How many times have you been in conversations with friends, family members and loved ones and completely tuned out to what they are saying? Though this happens to everyone from time to time, it’s important for each of us to think about how often this occurs in our daily lives. How much attention do we give… Read more »

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What is Mindsight? by Daniel Siegel, M.D.

An Excerpt from Dr. Daniel Siegel’s New Book Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation. Diving into the Sea Inside Within each of us there is an internal mental world—what I have come to think of as the sea inside—that is a wonderfully rich place, filled with thoughts and feelings, memories and dreams, hopes and… Read more »

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Quiz: What is Your Emotional IQ?

We have all met people who, for some reason, are successful at almost everything they do: the straight-A student of normal intelligence, the adequate co-worker who lands all promotions and the average-looking guy or girl who captures the most attention at a party. Have you ever wondered why some people are so successful in their… Read more »

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What To Do When a Loved One is Depressed

It’s tough when a friend or family member is going through a depression. No matter how much you love the people in your life who are struggling, appreciate their company or value their friendship, it can feel impossible to get through to them at times when they are depressed. While you may feel like telling… Read more »

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Review: A Psychological Look at Crime and Punishment

A PsychAlive Reader’s Personal Journey Through a Literary Classic: My mother was a temperamental personality. One day she would smother me with kisses and hugs, and the next day she would assail me with utter condemnation. As I slowly grew conscious of her bipolar and explosive persona, I started feeling the need to conceal it… Read more »

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