An Amicable Discussion About Psychology and Neuroscience

People like conflict (the interpersonal kind, not BLUE).¹ Or at least, they like scientific debate at conferences. Panel discussions that are too harmonious seem to be divisive. Some people will say, “well, now THAT wasn't very controversial.” But as I mentioned last time, one highlight of the 2019 Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting was a Symposium organized by Dr. David Poeppel.²

Special Session - The Relation Between Psychology and Neuroscience, David Poeppel, Organizer, Grand Ballroom

Whether we study single cells, measure populations of neurons, characterize anatomical structure, or quantify BOLD, whether we collect reaction times or construct computational models, it is a presupposition of our field that we strive to bridge the neurosciences and the psychological/cognitive sciences. Our tools provide us with ever-greater spatial resolution and ideal temporal resolution. But do we have the right conceptual resolution? This conversation focuses on how we are doing with this challenge, whether we have examples of successful linking hypotheses between psychological and neurobiological accounts, whether we are missing important ideas or tools, and where we might go or should go, if all goes well. The conversation, in other words, examines the very core of cognitive neuroscience.

Conversation. Not debate. So first, let me summarize the conversation. Then I'll get back to the merits (demerits) of debate. In brief, many of the BIG IDEAS motifs of 2017 were revisited...

• David Marr and the importance of work at all levels of analysis 
• • computation – algorithm – implementation
• What are the “laws” that bridge these levels of analysis?
• “Emergent properties” – a unique higher-level entity (e.g., consciousness, a flock of birds) emerges from the activity of lower-level activity (e.g., patterns of neuronal firing, the flight of individual birds)... the sum is greater than its parts
• Generative Models – formal models that make computational predictions

...with interspersed meta-commentary on replication, publishing, and Advice to Young Neuroscientists. Without further adieu:

Dr. David Poeppel – Introductory Remarks that examined the very core of cognitive neuroscience (i.e., “we have to face the music”).

• the conceptual basis of cognitive neuroscience shouldn't be correlation 

For example, fronto-parietal network connectivity (as determined by resting state fMRI) is associated with some cognitive function, but that doesn't mean it causes or explains the behavior. We all know this, and we all know that “we must want more!” But we haven't the vaguest idea of how to relate complex psychological constructs such as attention, volition, and emotion to ongoing biological processes involving calcium channels, dendrites, and glutamatergic synapses.

• but what if the psychological and the biological are categorically dissimilar??

In their 2003 book, Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience, Bennett and Hacker warned that cognitive neuroscientists make the cardinal error of “...commit[ting] the mereological fallacy, the tendency to ascribe to the brain psychological concepts that only make sense when ascribed to whole animals.”

• cognitive neuroscientists (gasp) are actually Cartesian dualists! Bennett and Hacker:

“For the characteristic form of explanation in contemporary cognitive neuroscience consists in ascribing psychological attributes to the brain and its parts in order to explain the possession of psychological attributes and the exercise (and deficiencies in the exercise) of cognitive powers by human beings. (p. 3)”

On that optimistic note, the four panelists gave their introductory remarks.

(1) Dr. Lila Davachi asked, “what is the value of the work we do?” Uh, well, that's a difficult question. Are we improving society in some way? Adding to a collective body of knowledge that may (or may not) be the key to explaining behavior and curing disease? Although still difficult, Dr. Davachi posed an easier question, “what are your goals?” To describe behavior, predict behavior (correlation), explain behavior (causation), change behavior (manipulation)? But “what counts as an explanation?” I don't think anyone really answered that question. Instead she mentioned the recurring themes of levels of analysis (without invoking Marr by name), emergent properties (the flock of birds analogy), and bridging laws (that link levels of analysis). The correct level of analysis is/are the one(s) that advance your goals. But what to do about “level chauvinism” in contemporary neuroscience? This question was raised again and again.

(2) Dr. Jennifer Groh jumped right out of the gate with this motif. There are competing narratives in neuroscience we can call the electrode level (recording from neurons) vs. the neuroimaging level (recording large-scale brain activations or “network” interactions based on an indirect measure of neural activity). They make different assumptions about what is significant or worth studying. I found this interesting, since her lab is the only one that records from actual neurons. But there are ever more reductionist scientists who always throw stones at those above them. Neurobiologists (at the electrode level and below) are operating at ever more granular levels of detail, walking away from cognitive neuroscience entirely (who wants to be a dualist, anyway?). I knew exactly where she was going with this: the field is being driven by techniques, doing experiments merely because you can (cough — OPTOGENETICS — cough). Speaking for myself, however, the fact that neurobiologists can control mouse behavior by manipulating highly specific populations of cells raises the specter of insecurity... certain areas of research might not be considered “neuroscience” any more by a bulk of practitioners in the field (just attend the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting).

(3) Dr. Catherine Hartley continued with the recurring theme that we need both prediction and explanation to reach our ultimate goal of understanding behavior. Is a prediction system enough? No, we must know how the black box functions by studying “latent processes” such as representation and computation. But what if we're wrong about representations, I thought? The view of @PsychScientists immediately came to mind. Sorry to interrupt Dr. Hartley, but here's Golonka and Wilson in Ecological Representations:

Mainstream cognitive science and neuroscience both rely heavily on the notion of representation in order to explain the full range of our behavioral repertoire. The relevant feature of representation is its ability to designate (stand in for) spatially or temporally distant properties ... While representational theories are a potentially a powerful foundation for a good cognitive theory, problems such as grounding and system-detectable error remain unsolved. For these and other reasons, ecological explanations reject the need for representations and do not treat the nervous system as doing any mediating work. However, this has left us without a straight-forward vocabulary to engage with so-called 'representation-hungry' problems or the role of the nervous system in cognition.

They go on to invoke James J Gibson's ecological information functions. But I can already hear Dr. Poeppel's colleague @GregoryHickok and others on Twitter debating with @PsychScientists. Oh. Wait. Debate.

Returning to The Conversation that I so rudely interrupted, Dr. Hartley gave some excellent examples of theories that link psychology and neuroscience. The trichromatic theory of color vision — the finding that three independent channels convey color information — was based on psychophysics in the early-mid 1800s (Young–Helmholtz theory). This was over a century before the discovery of cones in the retina, which are sensitive to three different wavelengths. She also mentioned the more frequently used examples of Tolman's cognitive maps (which predated The Hippocampus as a Cognitive Map by 30 years) and error-driven reinforcement learning (Bush–Mosteller [23, 24] and Rescorla–Wagner, both of which predate knowledge of dopamine neurons). To generate good linking hypotheses in the present, we need to construct formal models that make quantitative predictions (generative models).

(4) Dr. Sharon Thompson-Schill gave a brief introduction with no slides, which is good because this post has gotten very long. For this reason, I won't cover the panel discussion and the Q&A period, which continued the same themes outlined above and expanded on “predictivism” (predictive chauvinism and data-driven neuroscience) and raised new points like the value (or not) of introspection in science. When the Cognitive Neuroscience Society updates their YouTube channel, I'll let you know. Another source is the excellent live tweeting of @VukovicNikola. But to wrap up, Dr. Thompson-Schill asked members of the audience whether they consider themselves psychologists or neuroscientists. Most identified as neuroscientists (which is a relative term, I think). Although more people will talk to you on a plane if you say you're a psychologist, “neuroscience is easy, psychology is hard,” a surprising take-home message.


Debating Debates

I've actually wanted to see more debating at the CNS meeting. For instance, the Society for the Neurobiology of Language (SNL) often features a lively debate at their conferences.³ Several examples are listed below.

2016:
Debate: The Consequences of Bilingualism for Cognitive and Neural Function
Ellen Bialystok & Manuel Carreiras

2014:
What counts as neurobiology of language – a debate
Steve Small, Angela Friederici

2013: Panel Discussions
The role of semantic information in reading aloud
Max Coltheart vs Mark Seidenberg

2012: Panel Discussions
What is the role of the insula in speech and language?
Nina F. Dronkers vs Julius Fridriksson


This one-on-one format has been very rare at CNS. Last year we saw a panel of four prominent neuroscientist address/debate...
Big Theory versus Big Data: What Will Solve the Big Problems in Cognitive Neuroscience?

.@gallantlab "This debate is silly" #CNS2018 pic.twitter.com/cpT7tKI0xa

— CNS News (@CogNeuroNews) March 24, 2018

Added-value entertainment was provided by Dr. Gary Marcus, which speaks to the issue of combative personalities dominating the scene.⁴

Gary Marcus talking over Jack Gallant. Eve Marder is out of the frame.

image by @CogNeuroNews

I'm old enough to remember the most volatile debate in CNS history, which was held (sadly) at the New York Marriott World Trade Center Hotel in 2001. Dr. Nancy Kanwisher and Dr. Isabel Gauthier debated whether face recognition (and activation of the fusiform face area) is a 'special' example of domain specificity (and perhaps an innate ability), or a manifestation of plasticity due to our exceptional expertise at recognizing faces:

A Face-Off on Brain Studies / How we recognize people and objects is a matter of debate
. . .

At the Cognitive Neuroscience Society meeting in Manhattan last week, a panel of scientists on both sides of the debate presented their arguments. On one side is Nancy Kanwisher of MIT, who first proposed that the fusiform gyrus was specifically designed to recognize faces–and faces alone–based on her findings using a magnetic resonance imaging device. Then, Isabel Gauthier, a neuroscientist at Vanderbilt, talked about her research, showing that the fusiform gyrus lights up when looking at many different kinds of objects people are skilled at recognizing.

Kudos to Newsday for keeping this article on their site after all these years.


Footnotes

¹ This is the color-word Stroop task: name the font color, rather than read the word. BLUE elicits conflict between the overlearned response ("read the word blue") and the task requirment (say "red").

² aka the the now-obligatory David Poeppel session on BIG STUFF. See these posts:

• The Big Ideas in Cognitive Neuroscience, Explained #CNS2017
• Big Theory, Big Data, and Big Worries in Cognitive Neuroscience #CNS2018

³ Let me now get on my soapbox to exhort the conference organizers to keep better online archives  — with stable urls — so I don't have to hunt through archive.org to find links to past meetings.

⁴ Although this is really tangential, I'm reminded of the Democratic Party presidential contenders in the US. Who deserves more coverage, Beto O'Rourke or Elizabeth Warren? Bernie Sanders or Kamala Harris?

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Punishment in ABA Parent Training

The field of ABA sometimes uses terminology that doesn’t necessarily fit with common language used by parents and professionals that aren’t so familiar with ABA. The concept of “punishment” is...

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An Early Indicator Of Poor Mental Health

A common childhood complaint that hints at depression and anxiety later on.

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• Accept Yourself: How to feel a profound sense of warmth and self-compassion
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• Activate: How To Find Joy Again By Changing What You Do

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Feelings of Jealousy

I had my third and last baby 9 months ago. I have 3 girls. I have longed for a boy and will never have one. My sister and brother in law had their first child and it’s a boy. I was/am heartbroken. It’s the first grandchild that’s a boy so it’s a hot topic. On top of it all, I just found out my sister in law went in to the hospital with zero pain and was fully dilated and had the baby. I went through 3 very hard medicated difficult deliveries. I am relieved it all went safely for them but I cannot overcome this feeling of sadness and jealousy. I don’t even want to go and see the baby cause I cannot bear hearing any of the “easy delivery” comments and first boy comments. I feel terrible but it is how I feel. And it hurts.

One way to overcome this line of thinking is to focus on your blessings. It was Abraham Maslow who said this about the failure to appreciate the good things in our lives: “I have also become convinced that getting used to our blessings is one of the most important nonevil generators of human evil, tragedy and suffering. What we take for granted we undervalue…” He goes on to say that “wives, husbands, children, friends are unfortunately more apt to be loved and appreciated after they have died than while they are still available.”

Don’t fail to appreciate your blessings. You have three healthy children of your own. There are many people in this world that be envious of what you have and what you might be taking for granted. Your life could be significantly improved if you were to focus on the blessings that you currently have. Always attempt to appreciate the goodness in your life. It can serve as protection against the jealousy you have described.

Think of the magnitude of the gifts that were given you by God. God has blessed you with three magnificent living beings. How could the gender of those beings be of any significance at all?

If I’ve helped, I consider it a pleasure to have been of assistance but if your strong feelings continue don’t hesitate to consult a therapist. Good luck and please take care.

Dr. Kristina Randle

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Medications That Can Cause Depression

There is nothing more frustrating than when the cure is part of the problem. Because depression is prevalent in patients with physical disorders like cancer, stroke, and heart disease, medications often interact with each other, complicating treatment. To appropriately manage depression, you and your physician need to evaluate all medications involved and make sure they aren’t cancelling each other out.

A review in the journal Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience a while back highlighted certain medications that can cause depression. The following are medications to watch out for.

Medications to Treat Seizures and Parkinson’s Disease

Many anticonvulsants have been linked with depression, but three medications — barbiturates, vigabatrin, and topiramate — are especially guilty. Because they work on the GABA neurotransmitter system, they tend to produce fatigue, sedation, and depressed moods. Other anticonvulsants, including tiagabine, zonisamide, levetiracetam, and felbamate have been associated in placebo-controlled trials with depressive symptoms in patients. Patients at high risk for depression should be monitored closely when prescribed barbiturates, vigabatrin, or topiramate. When treating Parkinson’s disease, caution should be taken when using levodopa or amantadine, as they may increase depressive symptoms.

Medications to Treat Migraines

In migraine patients at risk for depression, topiramate and flunarizine should be avoided when possible. A better option is acute treatment with serotonin agonists and prophylactic treatment with TCAs, as those medications could simultaneously address symptoms of both depression and migraine headaches.

Certain headache medications like Excedrin that list caffeine as an ingredient can also worsen anxiety.

Heart Medications

The link between blood pressure medications and depression has been well established. By affecting the central nervous system, methyldopa, clonidine, and reserpine may aggravate or even cause depression. Beta-blockers like atenolol and propranolol may also have depression side effects.

Although low cholesterol has been associated with depression and suicide, there is no clear link between depression and lipid-lowering agents.

Antibiotic and Cold Medications

Although most antibiotics used to treat infections are unlikely to cause depression, there have been some cases in which they induce symptoms. Anti-infective agents, such as cycloserine, ethionamide, metronidazole, and quinolones, have been linked to depression.

Over-the-counter cold medications like Sudafed that contain the decongestant pseudo-ephedrine can contribute to anxiety.

Antidepressants and Anti-Anxiety Medication

Sometimes medications to treat depression and anxiety can have a reverse effect, especially in the first few weeks of treatment. There have been reports of Lexapro, for example, worsening anxiety, however it usually subsides after the first few weeks. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Wellbutrin may also cause anxiety.

Cancer Medications

Approximately 10 to 25 percent of cancer patients develop significant depressive symptoms, however, given that so many medications are involved in treating cancer, it can been difficult to pinpoint the culprits. Vinca alkaloids (vincristine and vinblastine) inhibit the release of dopamine-ß-hyroxylase, and have been linked to irritability and depression. The cancer drugs procarbazine, cycloserine, and tamoxifen are also considered to induce depression.

One report cited depression in 16 percent of carmustine-treated patients, and 23 percent in those receiving busulfan when employed as part of the treatment for stem cell transplants. The antimetabolites pemetrexed and fludarabine have been reported to cause mood disturbances. Some hormonal agents to treat breast cancer have also been associated with depression, including tamoxifen and anastrozole. Finally, taxane drugs such as paclitaxel and docetaxel have been linked to depression.

Oral Contraceptives and Infertility Medications

Oral contraceptive medications have long been associated with depression. In a study published in the British Medical Journal, of the group of women taking oral contraceptives, 6.6 percent were more severely depressed than the control group. GnRH agonists (such as leuprolide and goserelin) can have depression side-effects in some people. In one study, 22 percent of leuprolide-treated patients and 54 percent of goserelin-treated patients suffered from significant depressive symptoms. Clomiphene citrate, a selective estrogen receptor modulator used to induce ovulation, has also been associated with depressed mood.

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I Think I’m a Compulsive Liar and I May Be Depressed

I’m 23 years old and I live with my parents. I keep lying to them about college. I want to major in dietetics but I keep having problems with chemistry and I need it to actually claim dietetics as my major and I’m taking the needed nutrition courses for it in the meantime. The problem though is that I need an internship for dietetics to gain experience and I can’t qualify for one until chemistry is passed. I keep lying to my parents about my graduation date. It happens without me even thinking about it! The lies just come out. Sometimes I just want to disappear and my self-esteem and confidence are at an all-time low. I feel pathetic because I’m also jealous of my 19-year-old cousin and 14-year-old brother. They know what they want to do with themselves and it took me this long to figure out what I want to do. My brother is seeing a therapist for his issues and I don’t want to add to the problems. I love my family too much to want to hurt them but every time my doubts pop into my head they sound like my entire family berating me and tearing me down even though I know they wouldn’t do that. I feel like I’m going to drive myself crazy! Disappointing them is my worst fear and I hate when I feel like I’ve done that. The year before that I had admitted to them I was lying about doing well in school and now I’ve lied to them again. I’m sorry I just needed to vent. I’d usually talk to my uncle about this but I thought I was already past all of this shit. My parents deserve a better daughter. One who doesn’t have all of these problems.

My guess is your parents are helping pay for college and they want the best for you — and that means for you to succeed. If you are really going to be a professional you’ll have to learn how to deal with people honestly and get feedback honestly. This is where you can learn more about doing that.

You’ve come this far and it sounds like you’ve done the right thing by taking the courses that come easier than chemistry. I’d recommend you talk to your parents about needing a tutor for chemistry — that it is harder than you thought. I’d also get some counseling from the college counseling center.

Each of us over time need help from others in getting to achieve what we want. Getting some therapy for emotional support and raising your self esteem while getting some help with your chemistry is the way you can move through this.

There is also a terrific book by Marie Hartwell-Walker on Self-Esteem that I think you’ll do well with. Dr. Marie is an Ask The Therapist here at PsychCentral with great insight into self esteem. I think the book will help.

Wishing you patience and peace,
Dr. Dan
Proof Positive Blog @ PsychCentral

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Book Review: The Inflamed Mind: A Radical New Approach to Depression

Through discoveries in immunology, we know that inflammation has an impact on physical illness. What remains unclear is how inflammation influences thoughts and behaviors — a question that intersects the fields of immunology, neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry. In The Inflamed Mind: A Radical New Approach to Depression, Edward Bullmore explores how inflammatory changes could impact the way the brain works, resulting in symptoms of depression as a result of the inflammation.

Bullmore is certainly knowledgeable about this area. A psychiatrist with expertise in neuroscience who is in the development stages of anti-inflammatory drugs for depression, he leaves the reader with a promise of more to come.

Bullmore provides a thorough analysis of the latest research on how inflammation might cause depression. Although much is still unknown, he confidently states, “we can move on from the old polarized view of depression as all in the mind or all in the brain to see it as rooted also in the body; to see depression instead as a response of the whole organism or human self to the challenges of survival in hostile world.” With more holistic treatments available for mental health than ten years ago, our culture is at least moving in the right direction to see more than one option for managing ailments like depression.

Bullmore explains, “Your body’s state of inflammation, your immune system’s level of threat arousal, can have a direct effect on how you feel, and what you think about.” Although this is not a direct statement of cause, it implies a relationship that cannot be ignored. Bullmore goes on to say, “Inflammation of the body can cause changes in how the brain works, which in turn causes the changes in mood, cognition and behavior that we recognize as depression.” In this scenario, traditional talk therapy is not enough to address symptoms if there is a clear physical component.

Although there is progress in mental health treatment, there are still silos in the medical field. Most medical doctors are trained to look at labs and scans, which offer a black and white picture of an illness. Their role is not about being attuned to behavioral symptoms or psychological complaints.

Also, our pharmaceutical approach is still one-size-fits-all, with SSRIs a common treatment offered by providers, even though serotonin biomarkers are not easy to measure, and without a biomarker, there is not a definitive guideline for patients about whether they should take an SSRI for their depression. Where there is evidence is for inflammation — “depression is associated with biomarker evidence of bodily inflammation.”  That said, Bullmore still recognizes that that is not a causal relationship. But additional research shows that inflammation can precede depression, further indicating potential causality.

With the stigma that remains, patients unfortunately may view their depression as personal failure. If depression is resolved with new thinking patterns, the thesis is that depressed people need to change the way they think to find healing. Further confusion and feelings of failure may occur for patients if a medicine does not work for them when clinical evidence says it should.

Bullmore says, “Maybe we’ll see new drugs that, unlike the old drugs, are not vaguely supposed to work equally as well for everyone with depression but are scientifically predicted to work particularly well for some people.” So, although The Inflamed Mind does not offer a clear treatment plan, it does offer hope. People who may not understand the origination of their symptoms or why they do not experience improvement through traditional mental health treatment will learn more about the potential physical component to their experience.

If depression is not all in the mind and can also come from inflammation in the body, it makes sense that traditional antidepressants will not always be effective. For those who do change their thinking patterns yet do not recover, Bullmore’s work is encouraging. Readers may find that depression is more than just in their heads.

The Inflamed Mind: A Radical New Approach to Depression
Picador, Macmillan Publishing Group, December 2018
Hardcover, 256 pages

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Courage as a Teacher: 3 Steps to Take

One of the most simple yet effective ways of living a responsible life is to approach each day from the perspective of an unknown, future death point. We can do this by asking ourselves daily, “How shall I live this day so that I am at peace with myself when I am looking back from the point of my death?”

The inescapable reality of life is that none of us escapes it alive. But I do not see this as a reason to fret or bemoan past mistakes or worry about a future that is not guaranteed to any of us. Instead, I see this reality as an invitation to be courageous — to develop the ability and practice of living life according to one’s own values, vision, and choices until life comes to an end.

True courage cannot be taught or merely theoretically conceptualized; it must be practiced in our every day lives. As with most things, the more we practice, the more adept be become at living courageously by behaving in courageous ways.

It is precisely because our future is uncertain that we must not procrastinate the development of our courage muscles. If we seek to possess courage at those times when we will require it the most, we must start practicing now — and we must practice even in those times when we feel that we cannot. As the popular phrase goes, “feel the fear and do it anyway” (when the “doing” serves your values and vision, of course!).

You might be wondering how to go about practicing courage, how to begin this practice. At the risk of sounding facetious, I would simply submit that practicing courage boils down to being our best self — one day and one moment at a time.

If you’re still feeling unsure of what I am talking about, here are some examples of everyday courage. Remember, however, that courage is very personal and your acts of courage should reflect your best self — not someone else’s reality.

Examples of courage:

1. A person who disagrees out loud when gossiping is taking place or a racist joke is told.
2. A businessperson who admits his mistakes and refuses to compromise his ethics even when he faces financial loss and other potential consequences.
3. A personal who decides to leave an abusive relationship even though she is afraid about how to make ends meet to support herself and her children.
4. A physically handicapped child who goes to school every day even though he faces other children’s lack of understanding.
5. An individual from a minority group who does not allow ignorance or prejudice get in the way of her pursuing her dream.

In short, to be courageous is to be your best self. Note that this does not mean being your perfect self. Indeed, striving for the latter aim is antithetical to the former and often zaps courage at its root. Remember that human perfection does not exist and believing that it does is simply a set up for perpetual self-criticism and suffering.

As wonderfully imperfect human beings, then, it is helpful to have a concrete plan for activating our best selves. Here is a 3-step straightforward, yet highly effective tool to use anytime you find yourself stuck and in need of a small (or large!) dose of courage. It is known as the Triple A Technique:

1. Acknowledge

First, take an inventory of your external circumstances and internal state (your external and internal conditions). It is critical that you are as objective as possible and honest with yourself about whatever challenges or problems your dealing with and any feelings of fear or shame that might be causing you to deny or avoid facing your impasse.

2. Accept

Second, recognize the reality that you are facing right now. This process is often misunderstood. Remember that to accept something is not necessarily to like it, to agree with it, or to approve of it. For example, refusing to accept the reality of your emotional state of fear will probably only create more emotional “stuckness” since you will likely add shame and judgement to the existing fear. Thus, if we are to have any chance at changing something, we must first accept its exactly as it is.

3. Act

Finally, take action. The first two steps of this process undoubtedly require courage, but that courage is futile if it is not followed up by this last and more crucial step. Taking action involves acting on your present circumstances in an attempt to bring about the changes you desire.

Though most of us struggle with a lack of action towards our goals and best selves, it is important to remember that true courage is just as much about being cautious and realistic as it is about taking chances. After all, blind leaps into the unknown often cause us to swing back into states of paralysis in the face of any discomfort or dissatisfaction. Ultimately, then, to be courageous is to take care of ourselves inside and out.

• What is one dissatisfaction in your life right now that you might be able to apply the Triple A Technique to?
• What does “being your best self” mean to you? What does it look like in practice?
• What tends to get in the way of your ability to acknowledge, accept, and/or act?
• Have you known somebody who has faced the inevitability of death? What did this person teach you about courage?
• What are your fears related to your mortality? What is your greatest fear in this regard?
• What pieces of your personal history can you use to remind yourself about the importance of courage? What are your simplest reminders?
• What are some of the ways in which you have practiced courage in the past?
• In what one way would you like to show up courageously in your life right now?

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What to Tell Yourself When You’re in Emotional Pain

You’re upset about losing a loved one. You’ve had a bad day. You lost out on a job opportunity. You had a falling out with a friend. You feel disconnected from your spouse. You got into an argument with your child. You’re going through something traumatic.

You’re going through some other challenging situation, and you’re in pain. You’re sad. You’re heartbroken. You’re weary or overwhelmed. You’re deeply disappointed.

When many of us are in emotional pain, we don’t exactly help the situation. Maybe we simply don’t know what to say because we’re used to ignoring and banishing our pain—and criticizing ourselves. 

As holistic mental health counselor Laura Torres, LPC, said, “So often with our words, thoughts, and actions, we are sending ourselves the message that this pain is not OK and needs to go away.” Maybe you turn to mindless scrolling to soothe the sadness. Maybe you drink a few glasses of wine to blunt the sharp pain. Maybe you tell yourself you shouldn’t feel this way, because you should be happy and grateful, and you should’ve been over it by now.

Maybe you tell yourself, I just can’t stop worrying about stupid things. Nothing ever works out for me. I don’t understand why I’m always in these situations. I’m too emotional and overreact to everything. I’m weak.

These are just some of the statements Renee Cage-Watson’s clients say to themselves. Cage-Watson, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Empowered by Courage Counseling in San Leandro, Calif., who works with children, adolescents, families, and adults.

“Paradoxically, what is most supportive is allowing our pain to be there and being with it—kind of like we might do for someone else,” said Torres, who has a private practice in Asheville, N.C. And paradoxically, once we acknowledge and accept the pain, it’s more likely to dissipate. Because it’s been acknowledged. Because it’s been heard.

But how do you actually support yourself when you’re in emotional pain? What does this look like?

The key resides in the way we talk to ourselves. Because the way we talk to ourselves can either prolong our suffering, or it can promote our healing.

Ingredients for Supportive Self-Talk

The first step is to actually be aware of how you’re talking to yourself, said Maegon Renee, a therapist and coach for empath entrepreneurs and founder of The Aligned Lifestyle Program. Because we tend to be on autopilot, many of us don’t even realize the number of negative things we say to ourselves on a regular basis, she said.

This is why Renee recommended keeping a log of events for about one or two weeks, along with your immediate response. Cage-Watson also has clients jot down two or three words about a situation, along with the self-critical words they said.

Both then suggest replacing these negative words with kind ones.

Torres believes that when we’re in pain, we need empathy, compassion, and reassurance that we’re OK even in the midst of our pain. She suggested using self-compassion researcher Kristin Neff’s 3-step framework:

• acknowledge that you’re going through a hard moment.
• recognize that your pain is part of being human, which reminds you that you’re not alone, and this is part of the journey.
• offer loving, kind, reassuring words.

In fact, Torres likes to imagine the words she would say to her son or her inner child, such as: “I’m right here with you, and I know it’s hard, but we’ll get through this together.”

Torres noted that when we’re in pain, a younger part of us is activated. (“According to internal family systems approach, we all have many different parts with different functions.”) Which is why it’s helpful to imagine what you’d say to a child, or to imagine what a nurturing figure in your life would say to you, she said.

Cage-Watson has her clients get curious about how they’re feeling, and explore questions such as: “Will this matter later on? What’s the worst thing that can happen? What’s likely to happen? Can I learn from this? What can I do to move me closer to solving the problem or achieving the goal? Is thinking this way helpful?”

Self-Compassionate Statements

Renee’s favorite self-compassionate statement is: “Emotions go in and out like the waves.” Because this reminds us that our uncomfortable feelings won’t last. Feelings are temporary, and their intensity shifts all the time.

Torres suggested telling ourselves these supportive words, noting, “I change pronouns from ‘I’ to ‘you,’ so people can play around with what type of self-talk they’re needing”:

This is really hard and I can get through this.

I’m stronger and more resilient than I know.

I am supported and even when I don’t feel this support from those around me, I am supported. (This is where connection with a higher power can be really beneficial.)

Everything is going to be OK, or things will get better.

I see you. Your feelings are valid and important.

I’m right here with you. and we’ll get through this together. (This would be more something you might say to a younger part or from a wiser/nurturing part to yourself.)

Cage-Watson noted that the below are her favorite statements:

I understand that every relationship starts within me. I have a wonderful, loving relationship with myself.

I deserve to be loved.

Today, I choose to focus on the things I can control.

I give myself permission to walk away from people and situations that no longer serve me.

I did not choose my trauma, but I am choosing how I recover from it.

I am capable of transforming negative experiences into something positive.

Even though I feel worthless, I am loved and worthy.

Jot down the statements that really resonate with you, and turn to them any time you’re feeling emotional pain and need support.

Cage-Watson believes that affirmations are the “cornerstone of well-being.” She and many of her clients use ThinkUp, an app that lets you record yourself saying different affirmations and listen to them.

When you’re in emotional pain, how you talk to yourself can make all the difference. It can either deepen and magnify your pain, or it can soothe it. Either option is up to us. 

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I Think I’m a Compulsive Liar and I May Be Depressed

I’m 23 years old and I live with my parents. I keep lying to them about college. I want to major in dietetics but I keep having problems with chemistry and I need it to actually claim dietetics as my major and I’m taking the needed nutrition courses for it in the meantime. The problem though is that I need an internship for dietetics to gain experience and I can’t qualify for one until chemistry is passed. I keep lying to my parents about my graduation date. It happens without me even thinking about it! The lies just come out. Sometimes I just want to disappear and my self-esteem and confidence are at an all-time low. I feel pathetic because I’m also jealous of my 19-year-old cousin and 14-year-old brother. They know what they want to do with themselves and it took me this long to figure out what I want to do. My brother is seeing a therapist for his issues and I don’t want to add to the problems. I love my family too much to want to hurt them but every time my doubts pop into my head they sound like my entire family berating me and tearing me down even though I know they wouldn’t do that. I feel like I’m going to drive myself crazy! Disappointing them is my worst fear and I hate when I feel like I’ve done that. The year before that I had admitted to them I was lying about doing well in school and now I’ve lied to them again. I’m sorry I just needed to vent. I’d usually talk to my uncle about this but I thought I was already past all of this shit. My parents deserve a better daughter. One who doesn’t have all of these problems.

My guess is your parents are helping pay for college and they want the best for you — and that means for you to succeed. If you are really going to be a professional you’ll have to learn how to deal with people honestly and get feedback honestly. This is where you can learn more about doing that.

You’ve come this far and it sounds like you’ve done the right thing by taking the courses that come easier than chemistry. I’d recommend you talk to your parents about needing a tutor for chemistry — that it is harder than you thought. I’d also get some counseling from the college counseling center.

Each of us over time need help from others in getting to achieve what we want. Getting some therapy for emotional support and raising your self esteem while getting some help with your chemistry is the way you can move through this.

There is also a terrific book by Marie Hartwell-Walker on Self-Esteem that I think you’ll do well with. Dr. Marie is an Ask The Therapist here at PsychCentral with great insight into self esteem. I think the book will help.

Wishing you patience and peace,
Dr. Dan
Proof Positive Blog @ PsychCentral

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Considering the Application of ABA Concepts to ABA Parent Training

Applied behavior analysis parent training incorporates the principles of ABA into teaching parents effective ways of improving their child’s skills and decreasing their child’s maladaptive behaviors. There are many different...

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The Simple Strategy That Will Make You Happier (M)

A 12-minute exercise that boosts happiness and empathy while reducing anxiety.

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• Accept Yourself: How to feel a profound sense of warmth and self-compassion
• The Anxiety Plan: 42 Strategies For Worry, Phobias, OCD and Panic
• Spark: 17 Steps That Will Boost Your Motivation For Anything
• Activate: How To Find Joy Again By Changing What You Do

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This Proven Weight Loss Approach Takes Minutes

This highly effective weight loss technique is done in under 15 minutes per day.

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• Accept Yourself: How to feel a profound sense of warmth and self-compassion
• The Anxiety Plan: 42 Strategies For Worry, Phobias, OCD and Panic
• Spark: 17 Steps That Will Boost Your Motivation For Anything
• Activate: How To Find Joy Again By Changing What You Do

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What is Parent Management Training? How does PMT Relate to ABA?

Parent Management Training is an intervention used specifically to treat children and adolescents with oppositional, aggressive, and antisocial behaviors. Parent Management Training, or PMT, is based upon operant conditioning. PMT...

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Three Types of Learning and Their Relevance to ABA Parent Training

From a behavioral perspective, there are three types of learning. These types of learning are important to consider in the context of ABA services, specifically when working with parents of...

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I’m Looking for a Therapist, But Not Sure What My Future Therapist Should Specialize In

I am a crossdresser. I’ve been cross dressing since a very young age. I am at a point where I need a therapist or someone that I can talk to about my cross dressing. Problem is when I try finding a therapist that specializes in cross dressing all I seem to find are therapist specializing in gender dysphoria and it really sounds like they are all catering to transgender people. I have yet to see one that says they deal with crossdressers. Is that the kind of therapist I have to settle for? Or is there a type of therapist that specializes in crossdressers?

You might try a sex therapist. They work with individuals with sexual problems and with couples. Sex therapy is a form of counseling that simply focuses on issues of sexuality and dysfunction. Cross dressing is not a sexual problem per se, but you would likely benefit from a therapists’ specialized knowledge in human sexuality. You might ask your primary care physician for a referral to a licensed sex therapist or you can search the Internet for resources. Hopefully you will find someone you like. Good luck with your efforts.

Dr. Kristina Randle

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Psychology Around the Net: March 30, 2019

Do you struggle breaking the ice during social or networking situations? Are you interested in spring cleaning your energy this weekend? Have you had some negative mental health experiences with fitness apps?

We’ve got the latest on each of these and more in this week’s Psychology Around the Net!

Psychologists Agree: ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ Is the Only Icebreaker You’ll Ever Need: Talking to new people at a social function or networking event can be tough, especially for people with social anxiety. How do you get their attention? How do you start talking to them? How do you break the ice? Psychologists say the best way to do all that is with four simple words: tell me about yourself. Personally, I kind of freeze up and experience more anxiety when people ask me to tell them about myself (OMG what do I say?!), but here are six tips to help us all navigate the “tell me about yourself” process from start to finish.

Air Pollution Tied to Mental Health Issues in Teenagers: A recent study involving more than 2,000 British teenagers whose health researchers followed from birth until they turned 18 years old has associated urban air pollution with an increased risk for psychotic experiences. According to the study, almost a third of the participants reported they had experienced at least one psychotic experience, ranging from mild paranoia to a more severe psychotic symptom, since the age of 12.

9 Ways to ‘Spring Clean’ Your Energy: Entertaining “blah” thoughts, cluttered and dusty personal space, losing motivation to keep up healthy routines — you have to admit, these and others are ways your energy can get junked up during the dark winter months. Now that spring is here, let’s look at some of the ways you can clean that energy up.

These ‘Wear Your Meds’ Buttons Tackle the Stigma of Taking Mental Illness Drugs: Have y’all heard of the #WearYourMeds movement started by Lauren Weiss? Essentially, you wear a button (or buttons, depending) that depicts the mental health medication you take (alternatively, you can purchase a button that reads “Wear Your Meds”) as a way to, ideally, act as a conversation starter to promote mental health awareness. Although it’s not affiliated with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), all proceeds do go to NAMI. Thoughts?

Sports Psychologists Say Running Apps May Be Damaging Your Health: My knee-jerk reaction to this title was, “What?! I love my C25K app!” After reading the article, I realized the professionals make some good points. Sports psychologists Dr. Andrew Wood and Dr. Martin Turner believe fitness apps (and running apps in particular), which generally are designed to help us meet certain fitness or training goals, could do us more harm than good by contributing to an unhealthy relationship with exercise (and our need for social media validation).

Pope Francis Wants Psychological Testing to Prevent Problem Priests. But Can It Really Do That? ICYMI: The Catholic Church is dealing with one sexual abuse scandal after another lately. Now, Pope Francis has announced a policy he wants to implement worldwide — one that would, ideally, prevent any man from becoming a priest if he can’t pass a psychological evaluation proving he’s suited to a life of chastity. However, scholars, researchers, and even others in the Church are questioning whether or not this is actually possible.

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Road to Recovery from Narcissistic Parenting

Ida realized her mother was a narcissist in her early 20’s. But what she didn’t expect was the developmental impact on her childhood. Normally, a child is given the freedom...

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Why Do I Leave School Assignments to the Last Minute?

From a teen in the U.S.: I sometimes only do my homework the day before it’s due, even if I am given enough time to do it. Other times I just don’t do them and am always on my phone instead. I am curious as to why I am behaving this way. It has affected my grades and I’m not sure what to do.

Thank you for writing, You are smart to catch this habit now. Actually, I think that it could be that you don’t think you are as smart as you really are. Often teens (and adults for that matter) who don’t have enough self-confidence leave things to the last minute. That way, if something isn’t as good as it should be, they can always tell themselves “Well, if I had given it more time, it would have been perfect.”  By never giving things enough time, they avoid having to face that just maybe, even if they tried their best and given it plenty of time, the project wouldn’t have been terrific. Of course, it also means that they never find out that they did fine.  Think about whether this applies to you.  If so, the only way to combat it is to take a deep breath and give yourself the time you need to do your work and see what happens. Chances are you’ll do a fine job most of the time. When you don’t, you’ll find out what you need to do to improve the next time.

As for being on your phone: This, I’m afraid, is a problem that is becoming more and more common — by teens and by adults. The “clickbait” on phones and people’s worry that they may be missing something keeps people on their phones too often and too much. The way to deal with it is to put yourself on a “phone diet”, at least when you have homework to do. Ask a parent to hold your phone until you can show them that you’ve done your work. Yes, you will probably suffer some “withdrawal” at first. It might help if you tell yourself that the quicker you get your homework done, the quicker you’ll get your phone back. Give it a try.

I wish you well.

Dr. Marie

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Book Review: Defining You

For people to reach their full potential, they need to first understand who they are. In Defining You, Fiona Murden offers her readers exercises that incorporate reflecting, collecting, and doing. Murden believes that when people spend time thinking about who they want to be and explore available opportunities and their place in world, they will know who they truly are.

Knowing one’s purpose helps people understand intrinsic motivations for the things that keep them going regardless of what else is happening in life. Readers identify areas where they feel they want to change or grow, the values that define them, and how it all aligns with their primary purpose. Each step in the book builds on what is learned in earlier exercises. Ultimately, readers will have identified short-term goals and a development plan, as well as the long-term goals for what they envision in the future.

Murden separates her book into three parts: Reflecting, Insights, and Doing, which represents the process people go through in self-discovery.

Reflecting, the first part, reveals insights and inspires action to build understanding of a person’s profile, and most people in this busy world don’t do it enough. Murden encourages readers to demonstrate curiosity by seeking out new experiences, by simply observing what is around them, and by observing reactions to things so they know what may need changing. Reflection includes understanding the meaning that people create, which is what keeps people going even when times are tough.

Collecting, part two, introduces the use of psychometrics. Murden focuses on five dimensions of personality: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, emotion, and agreeableness — traits that influence how people interact with each other. Gathering this insight about strengths and weaknesses points to areas for development. As people gain insight into themselves through psychometrics, they can start to take action.

Doing, part three, takes the insights from part two and allows a person to take behavioral steps towards meaningful change. Murden explains that Doing gives you a chance to “summarize the themes relating to your core personality, values, passions, and strength, and look at defining your purpose, all of which describe you.”  This knowledge inspires the appropriate action.

Since none of these changes are simply going to happen, it is up to the reader to take action and make the changes in small steps that will result in the outcome of defining who they are.

But the journey for readers does not end when this book is over. There is always work people can do on an ongoing basis to enhance their potential. The steps of defining the self and how people relate to oneself is a lifelong process for everyone. The author cautions readers to not do too many things in one go because the brain can’t take on that much change at one time. Change is an ongoing, complex process that looks different for everyone and can be dependent on external circumstances. This is why she walks readers through a detailed step-by-step process.

Defining You is not a textbook. It is written for motivated readers who are ready to take action but need guidance to make changes. Murden helps people profile who they are and understand what drives them so they know the best conditions for moving forward.  Defining You is a lengthy and time-intensive process, so readers should plan extended periods to work through each step in the book and build on what they have learned. It will not be as useful for people when read it out of order.

Although the book is well-researched and comprehensive with case studies throughout, it is not a complicated book requiring clinical knowledge to use it. It is written for everyday people that may not have particular struggles but know there is more they want to get from their lives.

Defining You: How to Profile Yourself and Unlock Your Full Potential
Nicholas Brealey Publishing, July 2018
Hardcover, 272 pages

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In the Age of Politics: 3 Big Communication Tips to Keep the Peace

In today’s controversial political climate, discussions can be a tad tricky to navigate. On the one hand, people want to bring awareness to various issues and vent about their frustrations. However, once the line is crossed, once a “friendly debate” turns into a downright spiral — insults and all — relationships can be strained, to say the least.

I’ve seen family members bicker to the point where voices are raised and feelings are hurt. I’ve seen awful rhetoric on Facebook that results in broken friendships and blocked users. And I know there’s passion behind beliefs and ideas, but I can’t help but think that this passion can be expressed in a more productive and effective way. (Especially online, where tone can’t be deciphered and facial expressions, along with other nonverbal cues, are absent.)

And here’s the thing: if the relationship truly can’t be the same after a political discussion, I suppose that’s for the two parties to decide on their own. That’s their prerogative. However, effective communication can actually help relay thoughts, feelings and perspectives without someone hurling zingers about someone’s character — without someone ending up in tears.

I conjured up three big communication tips that could help preserve the peace in tense political discussions.

Be Open-Minded

Alternate viewpoints will most likely be expressed in political conversations and other perspectives will be shared. Staying open-minded, even if you still stand by your point, can only be beneficial in this kind of conversation. Instead of completely shutting the other person down, listen to their thoughts and hear what they have to say.

Be Respectful

This suggestion may seem fairly obvious; we are taught at a young age to be respectful to our peers. However, I know it’s sometimes difficult to reign in intense emotions, especially if you’re adamant about a particular subject matter.

Once impulsivity ignites and strong emotions continue to unravel, further and further, ugly remarks and personal insults can certainly ensue. Now this is what can truly end friendships and push people away, depending on the closeness of the bond (it’s probably easier to work out issues with those we have a genuine close or deep connection with). And even if the harsh words said are said out of anger, with no sincere meaning behind it, the exchange will still become hostile and messy to endure.

When respect shines forth, the conversation can be upheld in a more positive light.

Be Vulnerable

I think vulnerability is key when it comes to conversations of a sensitive nature. If you convey your feelings openly and honestly and allow yourself to be vulnerable with the other person, they will most likely have a greater understanding of where you’re coming from — even if they don’t share the same opinion. Sharing personal experiences with one another can also help foster understanding as well.

Clarify, Clarify, Clarify

Whether, you’re in the midst of a tense conversation or not, misunderstandings are so commonplace. But when you find yourself in a difficult conversation and your emotional state is already heightened, misunderstandings may stray the conversation into unnecessary territory and incite additional frustrations.

By clarifying and reiterating your point, misinterpretations of what’s truly being said can be thwarted. This Oprah.com article, which features insight from CNN commentators Margaret Hoover and John Avlon, relays some advice regarding how to express certain sentiments to avoid misunderstandings:

Paraphrase what the other person has just said to make sure you understand and that she feels heard. Don’t go further by suggesting implications of her view: “So you’re saying you wish Trump wouldn’t tweet so much, but he’s there to shake things up in Washington.”
Not…”So you’re saying the character of the president doesn’t matter.”

Ask questions to clarify, not to provoke “How did you come to believe that moving toward single-payer healthcare is best?”
Not…”How can you defend something as messed up as Obamacare?”

In these controversial political times, conversations may spark between individuals online or in person; these conversations can be between loved ones, friends, or acquaintances, but regardless of the relation, feelings are always at stake. By communicating effectively and encompassing an open-minded mentality, respect, vulnerability, and an inquisitive nature (for clarification), such discussions don’t have to strain relationships and result in hurt feelings.

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Why We Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Change

Most human beings loathe change. In a 2010 study conducted at the University of Arkansas, researchers led five experiments that demonstrated that people overwhelmingly found older objects or behaviors to be preferable to new ones, that longevity is a key factor, often unconsciously, when we evaluate the value of something.

“The length of time something has been established seems to serve as a cue to its goodness. The longer a policy, medical practice, painting, tree or consumer good was said to exist, the more favorably it was evaluated,” the researchers wrote in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, where the study was published.

How We Attach Ourselves to Things

Remember the protest of the American public when the New Coke came out?

Gizmodo contributor Andrew Tarantola explains the psychology of brands in his blog Why We Hate Change:

Once we form emotional connections with a brand, even if it’s as benign as associating it with “quality,” that brand can take on a life of its own… By projecting human traits and cultural ideals onto the brand, people form deeper emotional associations with the product, making them more likely to purchase it again.

Keep in mind we’re talking about a beverage.

What about relocating across the country, trying out a new profession, going back to school, sending a child off to college, or breaking up with a partner we’ve been with for years?

No wonder why our brains crave what is familiar, even if it’s not good for us.

Who Moved My Cheese?

Twelve years ago I participated in an outpatient depression program at Laurel Regional Hospital.

One day we watched the video “Who Moved My Cheese” based on the bestselling book by Spencer Johnson, M.D.

The story is about two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two “Littlepeople,” Hem and Haw, who live in a maze of cheese stations, some filled with cheese and others empty. When Cheese Station C runs out of cheese, the two mice immediately search the maze for other cheese stations, while Hem and Haw overanalyze their situation, convinced that one day the old cheese will return to Station C if they keep on going there.

Haw eventually leaves Station C, realizing he’s going to starve if he doesn’t start looking for a new station. Along the way he writes messages on the wall like “Movement In A New Direction Helps You Find New Cheese” and “The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Find New Cheese,” which serve to motivate him in his search for new cheese and to remind him that going back isn’t the solution; they are also markings for his buddy, Hem, should he decide to follow.

After a little while in the maze, Haw stumbles on a station with a few chunks of new cheese. Even though the types of cheese are strange-looking, like nothing he has ever seen before, he immediately devours them. He puts a few pieces in his pocket to take back to his buddy, Hem, who is still stuck in Station C.

As stubborn as he is starving, Hem turns down Haw’s offer of cheese.

“I want my own cheese back,” he says.

“Suit yourself,” Haw says, as he begins to let go of the past (good times at Station C) and adapt to the present. He inscribes the maze wall with more bits of wisdom, like “Noticing Small Changes Early Helps You Adapt To The Bigger Changes That Are To Come.”

Finally Haw discovers Cheese Station N, the tallest mound of cheese he had ever seen, where his mouse friends Sniff and Scurry welcome him and invite him to eat from the abundant supply. Their full bellies tell Haw that they have been there awhile.

On the largest wall of Cheese Station N, Haw draws a large piece of cheese around all the insights he has gained. They are:

1. Change Happens. They Keep Moving The Cheese.
2. Anticipate Change. Get Ready For The Cheese To Move.
3. Monitor Change. Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old.
4. Adapt To Change Quickly. The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese.
5. Change. Move With The Cheese.
6. Enjoy Change! Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste of New Cheese!
7. Be Ready to Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again and Again. They Keep Moving the Cheese.

Don’t Be Hem

The story made a profound impact on me at the time since, like the mice and the little people, I felt lost in a maze, clinging to old patterns of thoughts and behaviors that were contributing to my depression. It felt scary to choose a different path because I had no way of knowing if it was going to lead to some good cheese, to moldy cheese, or to no cheese at all.

I decided to take the risk, though.

I left the doctor I was working with, even though he was familiar and comfortable. I tried new treatments and different approaches to cognitive behavioral therapy. I tried to keep an open mind to various tools of recovery, even though some of it was overwhelming and confusing.

Right then and there I decided I didn’t want to be like Hem, letting stagnation and cowardice lead me to my demise.

The cheese moves everyday. Most of us are forced to make some kind of adjustment during each 24 hours.

We can resist.

Or we can keep moving with the cheese.

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How To Feel Good About Major Life Changes (M)

How to move home, change job or start a new relationship with no regrets.

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Over half the people in the study had a vitamin B12 deficiency.

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Heroes of Psychiatry: Tackling Refugee Mental Health-Dr. Essam Daod

Psychiatry is a field of medicine that is not for the faint-hearted. Tackling mental health is a extremely difficult and emotionally-draining challenge, period. Doing so for those suffering from the...

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Deeper Meanings

I have a woman I love dearly and we operate on 100 percent honesty. We have an amazing relationship and the sex is amazing as well except for one little thing. Due to our open honesty I’d like to be able to tell her I enjoy anal stimulation but I’m not gay. My ex got me into it and I love it but I don’t know how to introduce it without her assuming I’m gay which I fear she already has her suspicions about. (From Canada)

If your relationship is an open and honest one — and your partner is as connected and committed to the relationship as you are — then letting each other know what you like sexually is important. Tell her what you’d like and give her feedback. Ask if there is anything she might want that she hasn’t requested. The give and take in a relationship is important and making it safe for each other is the key.

As you experiment with asking you may even want to talk about your vulnerability in making the request. Often with couples that have the kind of relationship you do this discussion draws them closer.

Wishing you patience and peace,
Dr. Dan
Proof Positive Blog @ PsychCentral

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Best of Our Blogs: March 29, 2019

Earlier this week I asked you to write down all the courageous things you’ve done in your life. To end the week, focus on your super power strength.

We often compare ourselves with celebrities and the uber talented with their incomparable gifts.

You have a plethora of brag worthy strengths too. It might go unnoticed because spotting a narcissist, juggling parenthood and chronic illness, and surviving a difficult childhood may not be Instagrammable. But it’s still pretty amazing things that not everyone can do.

Whether it’s tackling your emotional wounds, bringing light to depression, blogging about your experience or finding ways to understand your loved one, I’d love to read your super hero strength in the comments below.

How Childhood Trauma Results in Depression and Unhappiness in Adulthood
(Psychology of Self) – You never seen depression in this light. Here are the unexpected signs and reasons why you’re depressed.

8 Tips for Healing Emotional Wounds
(Happily Imperfect) – If you need hope right now, this post will remind you that emotional healing is possible.

The Little Things That Can Get You Through Depression
(Tales of Manic Depression) – These surprisingly small things can bring light if you’re suffering through depression.

Explanations Aren’t Excuses: Understanding Asperger’s Thinking
(Divergent Thinkers, Asperger’s, NLD & More) – When misunderstanding happens, there’s hurt on both sides. This will give you insight into the way your loved one thinks.

3 Compassion Secrets for For Relationships That Last
(Conflict Without Casualties) – You want a better relationship? Here’s how to be a master at it.

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55 Common Abusive Remarks

Ever wondered what abuse sounds like? What do abusers say to their victims to get them to acquiesce? Some of the statements listed below might even sound acceptable in certain...

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How to Use a Psychology Degree to Build Your Career

Psychology is a fascinating subject as it impacts virtually all facets of human life and behavior. However, some students may choose not to pursue psychology because they are not sure how to make a living with a psychology degree. Some jobs within the field (such as counseling) are very common but not everyone who is interested in psychology is interested in becoming a counselor. But as psychology is the study of human thinking and behavior, this type of knowledge can be helpful in many fields.

Common Careers in Psychology

Some of the most popular psychology-based careers include working as a school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or a psychiatrist. A school counselor may work at a junior high, high school, or university, and helps students deal with issues ranging from balancing class schedules and applying for colleges to talking through a parent’s divorce or controlling an eating disorder. One of the benefits of this field is that the counseling is very diverse, which provides the opportunity to work with a broad range of people and issues in a variety of contexts.

A counselor may also work at a rehabilitation where he or she helps people with drug and alcohol addictions, or other issues that require rehab. Once a counselor acquires the necessary licenses and experience, he or she may choose to open a private practice. Mental health experts who work from a private practice often focus on a helping people with a specific problem such as marital issues, parent-child issues, addiction, behavioral issues, or emotional issues. Some of the benefits of private practice include being able to specialize in one area, higher pay, and the opportunity to develop lasting relationships with clients over an extended period of time.

A psychology background also lends itself well to working as a caseworker, a correctional officer, a probation officer, or a social-services professional. A caseworker may work at a social services center or with government agencies. Caseworkers often serve as intermediaries between legal professionals and their clients. They use their balanced and objective knowledge of the field and a particular case to support their client on a personal level. As you may expect, professional jobs require a good resume and a psychology-based career is no exception. If you need great advice for your resume, resumeprofessionalwriters reviews can make the process a whole lot easier for you.

Further Uses for a Psychology Degree

There are a variety of other jobs that are less directly related to psychology. These include careers in business, marketing, public relations, education, management, health services, community service, law, and even sales. Essentially, any career where interpersonal skills are valued can be strengthened with a background in psychology.

Conclusion

Combining an undergraduate degree in psychology with additional education in another field, such as law or medicine can be extremely beneficial. A degree in psychology can also lead to postgraduate education in a more specialized psychology field. Whatever option you choose to pursue, it is clear that an undergraduate degree in psychology provides a strong platform to build for the future.

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