Mental Health and Behavioral Health Blog

Moving Beyond the Pressure of Expectations The start of a new year carries heavy expectations. We are told to celebrate loudly, surround ourselves with people, and declare bold resolutions that promise a better version of ourselves. When those expectations are not met—when New Year’s Eve is spent alone or resolutions quietly fall away, many people experience shame rather than acceptance. Reframing Solitude and Stillness Spending New Year’s Eve alone is often misunderstood. S

The holiday season is often painted as a time of togetherness—glowing couples in matching sweaters, families gathered around dinner tables, and social feeds filled with partners exchanging gifts. But for many people, holidays can highlight something very different: being single.

A Lesson in Authenticity and Identity Loss One of my film favorites is Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America . One memorable scene depicts Prince Akeem meeting the woman chosen for him. She has been trained to anticipate his every desire, mirror his preferences, and suppress her own thoughts. Though presented comically, this exaggerated obedience reflects a real psychological phenomenon: many women are conditioned to minimize themselves in relationships. The bride’s behavior illus

Building blocks of a marriage that lasts When looking to build a future with a partner, people tend to follow some combination of what they think they want (i.e. common interests, aligned goals for the future, similar beliefs and backgrounds) – and what they are feeling (physical attraction, emotional connection, “butterflies”, etc.). Our beliefs about the kind of relationship we want are likely influenced by various factors. These include what we saw and experienced growing