Are You an Empath? Take the Quiz

How deeply do you feel the emotions of others? Do you often find yourself burdened by the weight of the feelings of those around you? If you are constantly taking on the emotional load of others and making it your own, you may be what is known as an empath. To find out if you fit … Read more

The Role of the Amygdala in Human Behavior and Emotion

The amygdala is a region of the brain that is involved in processing emotions, particularly fear. While emotions are not facts, they are one way that our brain keeps us safe and aware of our surroundings. For example, fear and anxiety exist to alert us of potential threats.1 Since our emotions inform us about our environment, … Read more

Understanding Dismissive Behavior and Why It Happens

Dismissive behavior involves brushing someone off, ignoring them, or being indifferent to them. It can be disrespectful, inconsiderate, or downright rude. Being dismissed can leave you feeling unwanted and unimportant, like you don‘t matter, says Aimee Daramus, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist. Dismissive behavior can take many forms. For example, you enter a party and greet someone, but … Read more

Estrogen plays a major role in women’s health, including mental health. Estrogen is a sex hormone and therefore is responsible for regulating things like breast development and menstrual cycles, but it’s also linked to women’s emotional well-being. The endocrine system is charged with regulating estrogen’s ebb and flow. Estrogen’s impact on mood is complex because there are … Read more

Psychological Flexibility

One definition of psychological flexibility is the capacity for being in contact with the present and acting on long-term goals rather than short-term urges. Being psychologically flexible allows people to adapt to changes in the environment and react in new, creative and healthy ways that align with an individual’s goals and values. This ability also plays … Read more

How to Control Your Emotions When They’re Running High

Common emotional experiences such as anger, frustration, sadness, or anxiety can impact well-being and decision-making. In fact, research suggests emotional experiences can both offer beneficial drives for decision making but can also undermine or harm decision-making.1 “When it comes to problem solving, emotions that run high or are intense may not enable us to be mindful,” says Deborah Serani, PsyD, professor … Read more

Alexithymia Might Be the Reason It’s Hard to Label Your Emotions

Alexithymia, also known as, “emotional blindness” refers to a difficulty or an inability to identify, experience, and describe your emotions. Alexithymia is not listed as a mental health condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). However, it’s a symptom frequently seen by mental health professionals and is linked to psychiatric conditions … Read more

Understanding and Managing Anguish: What You Need to Know

Anguish is an intense and complex emotional state caused by mental or physical suffering. When people experience anguish, they often feel extreme distress, sadness, torment, turmoil, and inner pain. While such feelings are often associated with losses or trauma, other overwhelming life challenges can also trigger this emotional state. tl;dr Anguish feels like deep sorrow … Read more

How to Navigate the Storm of Emotional Flooding

True to its name, emotional flooding is a surge of intense emotions that can quickly overwhelm you. In this overstimulated state, your body can shut down and it becomes difficult to manage your feelings or think clearly. This can cause you to mentally withdraw, experience emotional outbursts, or go into a flight, fight, or freeze … Read more