Favorite Articles
The Way We Think
The Year of Conquering Negative Thinking by Lesley Alderman
“The more you dwell on the negative, the more accustomed your brain becomes to dwelling on the negative,” said Dr. Rick Hanson, a psychologist and senior fellow at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Check out this article to learn how to interrupt those negative thinking cycles!
Overcoming Your Negativity Bias by Tony Schwartz
“The more you’re able to move your attention to what makes you feel good, the more capacity you’ll have to manage whatever was making you feel bad in the first place. Emotions are contagious, for better or worse. It’s your choice”
Psychology has identified three mindsets shared by people who actually follow through on their goals by Amanda Crowell. Are you trying to achieve a goal? Mindset matters!
The Way We Feel
Boundaries! A Guide for Empaths and Sensitives
People with OCD tend to be REALLY emphatic. We can feel others’ pain acutely, and this may be one reason that OCD can be so successful taunting us about bad things happening….because we can FEEL what it would be like if that bad thing did happen! Overly emphatic people can also have a really hard time setting boundaries with others, leading to burnout, resentment, and strained relationships. This article discusses why it’s hard for us to set boundaries, why it’s so important and how to do it.
Why Discomfort Can Be So Good for You by Dr. Reid Wilson.
There’s a good reason so many people embrace cobblestones and free weights.
Dalai Lama: Behind Our Anxiety, the Fear of Being Unneeded By The Dalai Lama and Arthur C. Brooks
“What can I do today to appreciate the gifts that others offer me?”
Just made a bad decision? Perhaps anxiety is to blame
A new study is shedding light on exactly how #anxiety interferes with good decision making
How Uncertainty Fuels Anxiety by Julie Beck
An inability to live with life’s unknowns can lead to worry and distress.
Experiences of Depression: Irritability and Anger by Cynthia W. Lubow, MS, MFT
The irritable or angry experience of depression is often not recognized as depression, either by the person who experiences it or by those around them.
The Way We Work
Do You Keep a Failure Résumé? Here’s Why You Should Start by Tim Herrera
Failure isn’t a roadblock. It’s part of the process.
I love this idea SO much! In fact, I’ve already started putting together my failure resume. Because contrary to what OCD says, failure can be an essential part of learning and growing.
What Straight-A Students Get Wrong by Adam Grant: If you always succeed in school, you’re not setting yourself up for success in life.
I was one of these straight-A students that the author discusses. My ambition was largely driven by a severe case of untreated #OCD. Those of us with OCD and perfectionism are prone to this straight-A trap, and as someone who fell for it, I can tell you, it IS a trap. If you struggle with OCD and/or perfectionism and you’re in college or high school, this article just might offer some of the most life-enhancing advice you’ll ever receive.
To Stay on Schedule, Take a Break by Phyllis Korkki
Trying to be productive? Don’t undervalue the importance of taking breaks!
Rethinking Money, Not as Good or Bad but as a Tool by Carl Richards
Sometimes people with anxiety or OCD think of issues involving money in black or white, good or bad terms. Read this short article for a healthier perspective.
About OCD
4 Days of Intensive Therapy Can Reverse OCD for Years by Diana Kwon
Two Norwegian psychologists developed a method of treating the condition that is gaining international attention for its efficiency and effectiveness
Mistaken Beliefs about Uncertainty Acceptance and OCD: Learning to accept uncertainty about obsessions should not be viewed as a form of defeat, by Jonathan Hershfield, MFT
What I Learned Watching LeBron James During My OCD Treatment: Finding unexpected therapy in playoff basketball. Fabulous article about what one person with OCD learned about OCD treatment from LeBron James and how powerful the statement “It’s possible” can be.
I’m a Doctor. If I Drop Food on the Kitchen Floor, I Still Eat It. by Aaron E. Carroll
The facts he shares point out the utter ridiculousness of OCD’s vain attempts to keep us “uncontaminated.”
About Mindfulness
7 Things Mindful People Do Differently and How To Get Started by Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.
Elisha Goldstein on the ways we can increase the intention of being more present in our lives.
Mindfulness meditation training lowers biomarkers of stress response in anxiety disorder
If you have anxiety, this is another reason to meditate: “The researchers found that anxiety disorder patients had sharply reduced stress-hormone and inflammatory responses to a stressful situation after taking a mindfulness meditation course…”
About Uncertainty
A Question for Uncertain Times: What Do You Still Control? by Carl Richards
“All we have left in the face of uncertainty is how we choose to treat ourselves and each other.”
The Case for Teaching Ignorance by Jamie Holmes
“…in recent years scholars have made a convincing case that focusing on uncertainty can foster latent curiosity, while emphasizing clarity can convey a warped understanding of knowledge.”