One of the ongoing issues I worked on with my former psychiatrist, Dr. Lev, was my constant need for external validation. Whether the feedback came from weighing myself 10 times a day in the case of my anorexia, or seeking positive reinforcement from my supervisor at work, I lived for praise from others. When I didn’t get it regularly, my anxiety would skyrocket and I felt as though I had done something wrong, even when I knew I hadn’t.

Part of the reason was that I never got what I needed from my father in terms of validation and praise. When I was in sixth grade I recall telling him I wanted to be a veterinarian and without saying it directly, he told me I wasn’t smart enough.

One study led by Univeristy of Houston researchers found that “the relationship between need for approval from others and anxiety is also well-rooted in past literature. For those with high need for approval, their self-esteem is correlated with how positively they believe others perceive them.”

Dr. Lev and I worked hard on peeling back the layers of my need for external validation. We spent hours eradicating my father’s voice from my mind, cementing the concept that I am good enough. It was really only after he died and I realized I was now chasing approval from a ghost that I was able to start believing I was good enough.

What also helped was that around the same time that my father passed away, I’d been able to leave…

When I terminated therapy with my former psychiatrist, Dr. Lev, I gave myself a year. At that point, at the end of 2015, we’d been working together for 10 years, with two sessions a week. I believe when I told her I wanted to spend 2016 terminating, we reduced our sessions to once a week, so I could gradually become less dependent on her. Our last session, right before Christmas Day, went too fast. Any gifts I could buy her seemed an inadequate way to thank her, but I tried with some books I thought she might like, since we both enjoyed reading. And, since I was a writer, I wrote her an eight-page letter. When the time came, we shed a few tears, hugged, and I walked out the door. After the fuss of the holidays passed, it seemed very strange not to have therapy to attend every week as that’s precisely what I had been doing for over 30 years, but in a way, it felt absolutely empowering. I got used to this new sense of freedom quickly and I reveled in it.

In some of my recent posts, I have written about how my depression has returned. I’m facing some overwhelming medical issues and they seem to be dragging on. When I saw Dr. Lev, she generously adjusted her fee so we could work together but if I saw her now for therapy, I’d have to pay her regular rate, which I cannot afford.

I sought out Cathy, a provider who was covered by insurance, and saw her for about two months. The therapy was not helpful. I…

I think many women live with this fear in the back of our minds: Will I develop Alzheimer’s? As we age, we are especially cognizant of times when we misplace our keys only to have them turn up in unexpected places or when we can’t find the word we want to use for the umpteenth time. We are especially wary if there is a family history of the disease. My maternal grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), only back then they referred to it as hardening of the arteries.

More women are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s than men, in part because we live longer. One study found that “incidence rates of any dementia and AD were greater in women than men, with any dementia rates diverging after age 85 and AD rates diverging around 80. This pattern is consistent with women’s survival to older ages compared to men.”

The fear of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s can be especially concerning if we live alone, are unmarried, and have no children. (For more, see Apprehension About Aging Alone.) What will happen to us? Will we end up in some nursing home alone and forgotten? This is the stuff that nightmares are made of.

A new concern is emerging, though, as research examines the complex link between mental health and neurological disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. The evidence suggests that having a mental illness is a risk factor for developing different forms of dementia,…

If you often find yourself in stressful situations, perhaps due to work pressures or problems in your personal life, you can handle the stress better and remain calm by incorporating different methods into your life that can help you stay mentally sharp.

Here are some of the best methods you should consider trying.

Embrace Stress Management Techniques

Stress management techniques can be pivotal in maintaining mental sharpness under duress.

For instance, you may consider engaging in anti-stress activities such as yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques.

These practices will not only relax your mind.

They could also enhance your cognitive abilities.

Furthermore,

The world is watching a profound crisis of human suffering.  The Israel-Hamas war is unleashing a deep, collective emotional response.  Many are now living in legitimate physical threat, loss of life, loss of family and home.  The rest of us are cycling through horror, rage, fear,  sadness and disbelief.  The stories and images are outside of what many can process, not to mention the additional existential crises of the meaning and end result from all of this.

The war is taking a psychological toll on all of us.

The American Psychological Association has put out a warning to monitor consumption of violent news and media to protect mental health.   Part of their statement reads:

Psychological science tells us that fear, anxiety and traumatic stress have long-term effects on health and well-being. These impacts are also being felt by people around the world who have families and friends in the region, as well as those concerned about the effects of war everywhere.

The psychology community stands in solidarity with all who are working to protect and safeguard human life during this conflict. Psychologists are experts in the science of human behavior. Problems cannot be solved without understanding their root cause. Prevention of violent conflict is imperative for a world in which mental health and well-being are the norm, and to achieve peaceful, sustainable societies. We call for peace, dialogue and conflict resolution as a pathway…