Attachment styles play a huge part in successful and enjoyable relationships. But most of us do not even know what our attachment style is.    https://www.verywellhealth.com/insecure-attachment-5220170

A current buzzword in psychology and also society at large is, entitled child. But before that psychology had a word for those who saw themselves as wonderful and that was narcissism. Are these separate concepts or just opposite sides of the same coin?    https://awarenessact.com/narcissistic-children-are-raised-by-parents-who-do-these-8-things/?fbclid=IwAR1wcd8eu0xHxiY3nW24f3mZ9Dr7zxmg2jo9jwcULvBPhqIt1lcKoDXwJts  

Happy New Year to you and your loved ones from us at Psych with Mike. This is a revisit of a conversation that Brett and I had on making resolutions that work. Enjoy and the best of luck in the new year!

All of us have past trauma that affects us in the present. It is cliche to hear someone say "you have to let it go". But how do you do this?   https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/letting-go.html   https://unfoldingtheuniversewithin.com/the-art-of-letting-go-of-the-past/  

Relationships are at the core of being a healthy human being.  We develop attachment styles as a result of our experiences early in our lives. One of these attachment styles is avoidant attachment. Today we discuss the characteristics of this attachment style and how it impacts our relationships.    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-clarity/202206/what-is-avoidant-self-attachment  

As better ways of exploring the way our brains are connected become available, we are mapping these connections with greater precision. Does a better, more comprehensive map of the way areas of the brain operate make psychology more of a "hard" science?    https://neurosciencenews.com/amygdala-emotion-20969/  

We all have heard someone accuse someone of being passive-aggressive. But how many of us really know what that means or how to identify the behavior?    https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/25/the-3-biggest-signs-of-passive-aggressive-and-childish-behavior-harvard-body-language-expert.html    

Therapy and mental health are recognized as being in epidemic-like short supply. With the pandemic and political division, people are finding their mental health has taken a big hit over the last couple of years. And yet there is growing dissatisfaction among therapy devotees and unequal availability of therapy services across socioeconomic domains.  https://www.wired.com/story/therapy-broken-mental-health-challenges/

As we move beyond the pandemic we are seeing a significant increase in the number of persons who express that they are feeling lonely. What are the factors that are contributing to this besides the isolation of the pandemic?  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-ptsd/202207/how-childhood-trauma-can-lead-adult-loneliness

We could all use a little boost to our self-esteem. You're welcome! https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/18/want-to-sound-and-feel-more-confident-ditch-these-11-phrases-from-your-vocabulary-say-psychologists.html 

Studies indicate that the human attention span has significantly shortened since the rise of social media. Why is it getting so hard for us to focus our attention?    https://www.ranieriandco.com/post/changing-attention-span-and-what-it-means-for-content-in-2021   https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/16/got-a-minute-global-attention-span-is-narrowing-study-reveals  

Enlightenment, self-actualization, and, mindfulness are ideal states of being that we are all striving for. But what is the neuroscience that supports the idea that enlightenment is a real phenomenon that has beneficial effects?    https://bigthink.com/the-well/neuroscience-of-enlightenment/  

Should you go or not go to Thanksgiving? Are you the one tearing the family apart when you identify familial dysfunction? Good questions. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brothers-sisters-strangers/202206/how-family-estrangement-echoes-across-generations  

Sure your therapist has framed pieces of paper on the wall, but how do you truly know if your therapist is any good?  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/get-out-your-mind/202209/how-tell-you-have-good-therapist    

Sometimes a child's parent goes beyond the stereotypical defaming of the other parent. When this happens we have to think of this process as similar to the type of programming associated with a cult.    https://www.familylawpleasanton.com/blog/2020/10/the-8-symptoms-of-parental-alienation/  

Have you ever wondered what is the most important question in psychotherapy? No spoilers here just check out the conversation!   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202209/the-most-important-question-in-therapy   Transcript: you're listening to psych with Mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:07 guest go to www.psychwithmike.com follow the show on 0:12 Twitter at psych with Mike or like the Facebook page at...

Sometimes it is important to try and re-focus our perspective. A great deal of anxiety is about the privilege we enjoy because of the place we live. Trying to understand that concept can help us consider how the perspective of the world at large. Refocusing is an essential tool for reducing anxiety.    https://forge.medium.com/panic-is-a-luxury-c4330107b80a   Transcript: you're listening to psych with Mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a ...

For most, the goal of therapy is to increase your self-understanding. The only way to truly do this is through honest self-reflection.    https://medium.com/perennial/the-discipline-of-clarity-according-to-jung-630e8434252f   Transcript: you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:06 guest go to www.cyclicmike.com follow the show on twitter at psych with 0:13 mike or like the facebook page at psych...

How our bodies experience and process stress and anxiety are important considerations when examining situations like police shootings. It is also important for therapists to understand when working with clients who have experienced trauma.    https://www.verywellmind.com/general-adaptation-syndrome-gad-definition-signs-causes-management-5213817   Transcript: you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:06 ...

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is recognized as a significant issue that can affect people in everyday life. The sum total of small traumas can have the same biological effect as those experienced in combat. It is important for therapists and clients to understand the biology of this process to best help those dealing with this potentially debilitating issue.    https://www.ptsduk.org/what-is-ptsd/the-science-and-biology-of-ptsd/ ...

Adolescence is a time of distance from the family of origin and identification with a peer group. So what are the perils and benefits of attachment during this developmental period? https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/teen-attachment-disorder/   Transcript you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:06 guest go to www.cyclicmike.com follow the show on twitter at psych with 0:13 mike...

The news seems to get crazier and people are getting more polarized. How is a person supposed to find solace and meaning in life? Perhaps the best way is to learn to appreciate the small things.  https://neurosciencenews.com/meaning-life-small-things-21063/   Transcript: you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:06 guest go to www.cyclicmike.com follow the show on twitter at psych with 0:13 mike...

Emotional regulation is a necessary skill for secure attachment. In other words, people who are a "hot mess" have difficulty feeling secure about themselves or having good relationships with others.  https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/head-games/202206/how-become-more-secure-person    Transcript: you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to be a 0:06 guest go to www.cyclicmike.com follow the show on twitter at...

Narcissism is both necessary and pathological. Every individual needs some narcissism for the Ego to develop, but too much can become a personality disorder. Understanding narcissism can help us recognize the difference and better understand ourselves.  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/peaceful-parenting/202205/how-narcissist-manipulates-the-love-language-concept Transcript: you're listening to psych with mike for more episodes or to connect with the show with comments ideas or to...

When I worked in a behavioral health hospital, all the nurses said it was because she was borderline (BPD) when there was a difficult female patient. Obviously, no one can be so easily diagnosed but it is a common belief that individuals with BPD have difficulty in relationships. How true is this and just exactly what is Borderline Personality Disorder?  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/toxic-relationships/201909/the-drama-loving-borderline Transcript: you're listening to psych...