Blog posts, news articles, and other resources from The Center • A Place of HOPE
Crying when feeling sad and emotional is a usual human way to express ourselves. But when the tears come out of nowhere, they can be awkward, overwhelming, and embarrassing. So why do we cry for no reason? Is it a sign of depression, anxiety, or stress? Are there other possible...
How do you know if you’re psychologically addicted to something or physically addicted to something? In this article, the differences between psychological and physiological dependence on drugs and other addictive substances and behaviors are explored, including a list of the ten most addictive substances, alongside best practices around treatment for...
Understanding the impact of social media use on depression among young people has become increasingly crucial for both individuals and society as a whole. This article attempts to give you the details to get to grips with a fast-moving area of digital culture. As Gen Z lives and breathes social...
Denial is one of the five stages of grief. This model of grief was developed by the Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying[1]. Although the Kübler-Ross model (also known as the five stages of grief model) was developed as a way to support terminally...
What is a personality disorder? A personality disorder is a type of mental disorder characterized by a pattern of persistent behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that deviate from cultural and societal expectations, and cause significant problems in relationships, social and occupational functioning, and personal well-being. A person with a personality disorder...
The fear of missing out, or “FOMO,” is a phenomenon first identified nearly 30 years ago, but one that has taken on a new meaning in recent years with the rise in social media. This article describes what FOMO is, its relationship with social media, and how social media contributes...
We’ve all been there: you’ve just eaten dinner, and you’re getting ready to sit down to watch television. Although you just ate, you suddenly feel hungry again. You eat more, but it seems like no matter how much you eat, you aren’t satisfied. You keep eating, but you are never...
This article about personality traits provides an introduction to the Big Five model of personality. It includes an understanding of what area of psychology this model fits into, a brief history of the model, an explanation of the five different traits, the main critiques of the model, and a description...
This article looks at the role of social media and its relationship with body image. Can social platforms really promote unrealistic beauty standards? If so, how can we protect ourselves against this influence and what can be done to mitigate the risk? What is body image? Body image is...
Anger is one of the five stages of grief, according to a famous model of grief developed by the Swiss-American psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying[1]. Although the Kübler-Ross model (also known as the five stages of grief model) was developed as a way to...
When it comes to painful emotions, we typically think of feelings like grief, anger, loneliness, and shame. What we don’t talk about as often is how painful it can be to feel nothing at all – to feel completely empty. Emptiness is a feeling many people experience, whether it’s short-term...
What is autism? The term “autism” was first introduced in 1943 by the psychiatrist Leo Kanner who was studying the behavior of children. Today, autism is known to be a lifelong developmental disability affecting how people communicate and interact with the world. Current estimates range between 1-in-44 to 1-in-100 people...
Since the introduction and rapid rise of the internet, cyberbullying has become an increasingly prolific issue, with social media playing a significant role. This article explains what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, the prevalence of cyberbullying, and how it can impact mental health. Warning: this article contains references to...
Human beings come from all different walks of life. But one thing that most – if not all – of us have in common is, at some point, we will lose someone we love. This is a sad fact of life. People die. And the rest of us are left...
Have you ever thought about what type of people are the most successful in life? Initially, you might think it’s someone who’s intelligent. We tend to think of intelligence as being knowledgeable or educated; someone who’s able to think on their feet and solve problems with ease. Someone who is...
Cognitive dissonance is a term used in social psychology to understand how we make sense of situations in which our thoughts, values or beliefs do not align with our behaviors or actions. Cognitive dissonance has been said to be “one of the most influential and widely studied phenomena in the...
This article explains the concept of defense mechanisms. It defines the term, details a short history of the origins of defense mechanisms within psychology and psychotherapy, and gives descriptions of each of the main defense mechanisms. What should you do if you recognize aspects of these defense mechanisms in your...
When it comes to relationships, understanding how your partner gives and receives love is paramount for fostering deeper connections and nurturing emotional well-being. In his 1992 book, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate[1], Gary Chapman, renowned marriage counselor and author, introduced the concept of...
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The whole person approach to treatment integrates all aspects of a person’s life: