In 1987, Dr. David Herzog at Massachusetts General Hospital started a research study called the “Longitudinal Study of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.” The 246 women participating in the study received treatment including psychotherapy, medical monitoring, and nutritional counseling. They were interviewed regularly about eating habits, health, school, work, and social activities. The majority improved, […]

Studies show allowing friendships to fade away in stressful times is harmful to mental, emotional, and physical health. During turbulent times, stress hormones spike. Being with a friend reduces the levels of these negative hormones. Friends can also help increase life span. Psychologists estimate the chance of dying over a ten year period increases for

We women expect perfection in everything we do, but work and family stressors are difficult to manage. Three common sayings can help relieve stress. First, don’t be so hard on yourself. We set incredibly high standards and feel stressed if we fall short. Objectively, you know no one is perfect, so be nice to yourself.

Miscommunication can be frustrating, but learning to recognize these four common mistakes can help. 1. Using “you” language is the verbal equivalent of pointing your finger. Phrases such as “you should…” and “you have to…” sound like blame or coercion. 2. Avoid “universal” words such as “always,” “never,” or “every time” which take the current

Parents want the best for their children. Years of nurturing, care, and life lessons can create responsible, self-sufficient, and independent adults. Once children are grown, they may move away, focus on a career and family of their own, and the strong ties between parent and child can loosen. However, interdependence in family relationships is also

It’s easy to focus on other people’s bad qualities. However, when we do, we find ourselves living in a realm of negativity in which it’s natural to feel insecure and unsupported. Taking time to see the good in others is vital for us to feeling happier, more loving, and confident. There are five pieces to

Women who equate pain with love often find themselves in relationships with men who treat them badly. The strange propensity on the part of otherwise intelligent, functioning women has caught the attention of a number of writers over the years. Some seem to have this predilection for abusive relationships themselves, including Dorothy Parker and Sylvia

From time to time, we can all be  too sensitive or get overly defensive. However, a new study out of Stony Brook University proves some people just feel things more strongly, and this hyper-sensitivity affects every aspect of their lives. Now there is a self test you can take to find out if you are

Studies show married couples have more sex than single people. While these studies are cited as evidence married people have great sex lives, the data fails to show that changes in sexual relationships over time can cause anxiety. After the novelty of new sex wears off, it’s difficult to keep passion alive. When people worry

One method of turning fights into intimate conversations is to turn “you-messages” into “I-messages”. You-messages take complaints and make accusations (i.e. “You’re always late.” Or, “You’re selfish.”). Blame and accusations can inflame an argument. I-messages communicate complaints in a more constructive way (“When you come home late, I feel hurt.” Or, “When you spend so