Ive done it alone, in groups, and as family therapy with my dad after my mom died. (Whatperfectionism?!) My hunch was that this wasnt the only place this theme was showing up in her life. Verywell / Dennis Madamba Unpackingthatwas just as helpfulif not more so!than whatever activity Id asked her to try. Intellectualizing Doesn’t Mean You’re Just Really Smart (Sorry!) Ive been writing about mental health and reading studies for fun since long before I became a therapist....

Before anyone asks, I was officiallydiagnosed as autisticin 2021. Note By the way, kindly remember that I am just one autistic person. Listen to a variety of autistic people, not just me. Verywell Mind / Getty Images If you are not autistic, never use my stance to silence another autistic person who disagrees with me. Autistic people are not a monolith. With that disclaimer in mind, here are the reasons why I am in favor of self-diagnosis/self-identification....

What’s in yours? Fortunately, sensory items andstim toyshave become more mainstream in recent years. Many autistic people use these items toself-regulate, cope with sensory issues, and attend to their sensory needs. Verywell / Getty Images Here are six sensory items that can be handy to keep with you. Some are my personal favorites, and some come recommended by my social media followers. As always, remember that everyones preferences and needs will vary....

However, as interest and clinical evidence grows, so does legality. Drag your mouse over the map below to see specifics on legality by state. There’s currently no state or city in which all forms of psychedelics are blanketly legal. Verywell / Laura Porter Other states have started by decriminalizing certain psychedelicsmainly in select cities. Certain approvals and FDA legality loopholes exist for the purpose of both continued research and qualified circumstances....

Our Reader Asks I have struggled with low self-esteem for a really long time. Sometimes, I dont think I have what it takes to succeed in life. But I know that attitude isnt helpful. Verywell / Catherine Song What can I do to start feeling better about myself? Amy’s Answer Youre smart to want to address self-esteem issues. When we believe something, we constantly look for evidence that our belief is true....

These four tips can help get you back on track in no time! Verywell / Catherine Song A therapist answers a reader’s question about feeling restless and unproductive. Here a four therapist-approved tips that you might try ASAP! Verywell / Catherine Song Our Reader Asks “I feel really restless sometimes. I get mad at myself for wasting so much time but I dont really know what else to do. What can I do to feel better and be more productive?...

A Reader Asks My wife cheated on me last year. I can forgive her, but Im not sure I can trust her. I am always suspicious that she is cheating again. Verywell / Catherine Song Sometimes, I look through her stuff to check that I dont find evidence she is cheating again. I feel bad about it but if she cheated once, isn’t she likely to cheat again? Amy Answers No, shes not necessarily going to cheat again just because she cheated before....

I cringe every time I remember what happened. How can I make it so these things dont just pop up in my head anymore? Amy Answers Bad memories can be quite disturbing. Verywell / Catherine Song Fortunately, there are some things you could do to deal with the bad memories that keep popping up. Emotional Memories Leave an Imprint Emotional memories leave imprints on our brains. But you likely remember the times you got rejected, felt terrified, or experienced extreme embarrassment....

How do I deal with negative people in my life? Simply pointing out an observation like that might raise someonesawareness. After all, they may be negative so much that they dont even realize that theyre doing it. Verywell / Catherine Song They also might think theyre doing you a favor. Even though their heart might be in the right place, theirnegative attitudeisnt likely to be helpful. Ask a question like, What was the best part of your day today?...

What should I do? But clearly, doing too much for your mother is causing hard feelings. Take a step back for a minute to think about why your mom might be insisting on your help. Verywell / Catherine Song You might discover that her insistence on getting help is really just a symptom of another problem. For example, is she asking for help because shes lonely and wants you to visit?...

How do I tell my husband that I need more space without hurting his feelings? Amy’s Answer Its understandable that you want some time for yourself. It sounds like you require more solitude than your husband. Verywell / Catherine Song So its important to ask for what you need. Getting thesolitude you needcan charge your batteries and help you feel your best. Create a Plan Telling your husband that you need more space isnt likely to be effective....

What should we do? Marion, 64 Amys Answer Youre in a tough spot. Clearly, you want to be helpful to your daughter and your grandkids. Verywell / Catherine Song But, it sounds like you dont feel as though your help is being well-received. Shes a single mother, and you certainly dont want to see her or your grandkids struggle. But youre not obligated to help. Shes an adult, and its up to her to take care of herself and her children....

And if you think its best for you to not live with your sister, that is your choice. Just because she is angry at you doesnt mean you have done anything wrong. Make the Right Decision for You You get to decide what rules you set in your home. Verywell / Catherine Song And in your case, you decided you didnt want too many adults living under one roof. Its healthy for you and your partner to want some privacy after you get married....