Codependency is an imbalanced relationship dynamic that can cause you to become emotionally and physically reliant on another person. Over time, this pattern can interfere with relationships and contribute to depression or low self-esteem.  Many people struggle with codependency, making it difficult to build healthy and mutually satisfying relationships. It can be tough to change these habits, but with therapy, self-care, and the right coping strategies, codependent individuals can learn how to overcome codependency and establish healthy, rewarding relationships.  Read talk

Defense mechanisms are an unconscious strategy used to avoid difficult emotions. The displacement defense mechanism is a way for people to “displace,” or redirect, negative emotions from one source to another. While defense mechanisms can be helpful in the short-term, displacement can cause damage to relationships over time.   Read on to learn more about displacement defense mechanisms, including real-life examples and how you can learn to cope if you use this type of defense mechanism in your life and relationships.  talk

Guilt and shame often go hand in hand, but that doesn’t mean they’re the same thing. While guilt is a response to a specific event or behavior, shame affects how you feel about yourself. Learning the difference between guilt and shame by yourself or in online therapy can help you to understand and cope with your feelings.  Defining Shame and Guilt What is the difference between shame and guilt? Even though these words are sometimes used interchangeably, the emotions they talk

Guilt is a self-conscious emotion that causes us to feel responsible for negative experiences or outcomes. While everyone feels guilty at times, excessive feelings of regret can interfere with your everyday life. These feelings can be overwhelming, but thankfully, with the right support and tools like online therapy, you can learn how to deal with guilt in a healthy way.  If you’re dealing with guilt, keep reading to discover coping strategies that can help you move past that negative feeling. talk

Racism comes in several forms and is an unfortunate everyday reality for many people. Whether you have first-hand experience or witnessed discrimination toward someone else, racism can be deeply damaging to mental and physical health. While it’s not always avoidable, there are ways of dealing with racism that can help you minimize the harmful effects of race-related stress.  Read on to learn how to deal and cope with racism that you or a loved one has experienced. Having the tools talk

In psychology, there are several common defense mechanisms, one of which is the projection defense mechanism, an unconscious response that helps people deal with challenging thoughts or feelings. Projection is a type of defense mechanism that causes people to associate their negative thoughts, emotions, or behaviors with another person.  While it’s possible for projection to be a one-time occurrence, it frequently surfaces as a pattern of behavior. Though it’s an attempt to protect oneself from unpleasant feelings such as stress, talk

Defense mechanisms are coping skills we unconsciously use to avoid the feeling of anxiety that comes from distressing or unacceptable thoughts. While more mature defenses have the potential to be beneficial, immature defense mechanisms can be harmful and negatively impact your life and relationships.  The rationalization defense mechanism causes people to develop explanations for bad behavior or negative emotions. These “rationalizations” are intended to justify their actions and feelings.  Keep reading to learn more about this type of defense mechanism. talk

Every relationship involves concessions and compromises, but codependency can throw a partnership drastically off balance. In a codependent relationship, one partner has extreme needs (the taker), and the other devotes their time and energy to meeting those needs (the giver). These dynamics can be toxic to both people, making it incredibly difficult to build healthy relationships.  Where does codependency come from? In most cases, it can be traced back to relationships and experiences in early childhood. Learning as much as talk