MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'couples'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:03:28 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159205&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F22%2Fthe-myth-of-the-one-and-other-relationship-fantasies%2F Psychologist Jason Seidel, Psy.D, has heard partners lament all-too often: “This isn’t the person I married” or “I’m worried this person isn’t perfect for me.” And you know what? They’re probably right. But there’s more to relationships than a partner who remains the perfect fit your entire life. Seidel explains more about the myth of the perfect partner and other relationship fantasies. 1. Myth: Your partner will always be the one. Fact: There is no “once-and-for-all best match,” said Seidel, founder and director of The Colorado Center for Clinical Excellence in Denver. People and relationships rarely remain static. So that once great fit may “become broken, stale or wrong for [you].” In fact, according to Seidel, as you continue to grow in your life, you might ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159205 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:47:51 +0100 5159205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096339&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F05%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-august-5-2011%2F You could be doing everything right: seeking therapy, taking medication, living a healthy life. But then someone or something triggers you and your world is thrown upside down. For me, it’s surrounding myself with people and situations from the past. I can conveniently “forget” who I am is not who I was. On many levels, this could be destructive. It’s forgetting that I am an adult when I am with my family or that I am now allergic to seafood when I was not as a child. I know these seem like minor incidences, but put me in a situation like that for a continuous period of time and I begin to lose myself. For you, it could be believing that you are suddenly immune to outside negative influences-that you can spend the entire summer season with a negative relative or fri... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096339 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:41:43 +0100 5096339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086257&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F01%2Flove-suicide-and-well-being-international-positive-psychology-associations-second-congress%2F We live in a world that needs our help. – James Pawelski, Director of Education and Senior Scholar at the Positive Psychology Center, University of Pennsylvania, just before asking for a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorist act in Norway. From July 23rd through July 26th, the International Positive Psychology Association’s second congress took place in Philadelphia.  Two years ago, during a particularly miserable time in my life, my best friend, Professor Joel Morgovsky, suggested we go to the first congress together. I wasn’t in the mood. But I went, and I was sitting in talk after talk and workshop after workshop; mostly they were interesting, but please, when do we get to go home? Then I heard Barbara Fredrickson speak.  There are a few transformative lect... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086257 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:17:53 +0100 5086257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062295&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F24%2Fintegrative-behavioral-couple-therapy-where-acceptance-is-key%2F “There are two sides to every story.” This timeless saying couldn’t be truer when it comes to conflict in a relationship. In fact, it’s how couples therapists Andrew Christensen, Ph.D, and the late Neil Jacobson, Ph.D, start off their 2002 book Reconcilable Differences. Well, actually, they share a third side: their objective take on a couple, which usually includes some truth from both stories. In the late 1990s, Christensen and Jacobson developed a type of couples therapy called integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT), which combines techniques from behavioral couples therapy with new strategies to cultivate acceptance. Recently, Christensen, a professor of psychology at UCLA, and colleagues (2010) published their findings from a five-year study that compared the ef... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062295 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:37:14 +0100 5062295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050718&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F19%2Fdepression-and-empathy-in-couples%2F Discussions focused on eliciting support, with one partner playing the role of help seeker and the other playing the role of help giver. The couples were given an alarm that beeped after 6 min, at which point they switched roles and continued the conversation for an additional 6 min.” In the second part, each individual reviewed their recordings separately and after watching the discussion in 30-second segments, paused the recording and wrote down the thoughts and feelings they experienced at that time during the interaction. They were also asked to infer and write down their partners’ thoughts and feelings. In the third part of the study, five coders independently judged “the degree of similarity between perceivers’ and targets’ statements by examining the taped discussi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050718 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:15:54 +0100 5050718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968581&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F24%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-june-24-2011%2F To tell you the truth, memories of my early school days are a mixed range of slightly traumatic to idiotic. In some ways, I had more drama in my life at age 8 than I did at age 28. These are the tales I love to tell new friends and laugh with old ones about how crazy our public and private school experiences were. Besides batting away cockroaches in our filthy gum-filled desks, I was always crying from mean teachers who scolded us for putting hands in our pockets or not getting math. The teachers were so strict that one of my classmates peed in his pants because he took our teacher’s warning that, “no one can leave this room until you’re finished with your assignment” literally. Did I mention this was private school? Public school ended up being a lot better for me.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968581 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:38:15 +0100 4968581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952983&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F21%2F6-simple-ways-to-reignite-your-relationship%2F “How do we reignite our relationship?” is one of the most popular questions couples therapist Terri Orbuch, Ph.D, gets asked. And it makes sense since it actually concerns all couples. Yes, you read that right: All couples struggle with a stale relationship. “Passionate love is the love of arousal, excitement, newness and mystery, and [it] happens at the beginning of a relationship,” said Orbuch, author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great. On average, passionate love tends to decline after 18 months, she said. That doesn’t mean that “passionate love goes to zero,” but it does decline once we’ve gotten to know our partner, what they like to do, what their routines are and so on. The newness — which fuels passion — dies down, sh... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952983 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:06:05 +0100 4952983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872162&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F27%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-may-27-2011%2F I remember the first time I ever felt in control of my life. I was about 8 or 9 years old at the time and had a reoccurring nightmare about two kids chasing me down the street. When I told my dad about it he said, “You know you can control your dreams right?” He told me all I had to do was visualize what I wanted to happen in the dream before I went to sleep. Because I had the kind of faith in magic and pure wonder that only occurs in childhood, I wholeheartedly believed him. The next morning I woke up with a smile on my face. In my dream, the two kids that were chasing me finally caught up. But in their hands were melting ice-cream cones they had been trying to give me. That dream was years ago, but I will never forget it. More than teaching me how to control my dreams, it tau... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872162 Fri, 27 May 2011 10:40:45 +0100 4872162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829167&cid=t_138101_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fq4hEisRC7l0%2F I read an interesting post this morning on Betty Confidential about whether or not lap dances can be considered cheating, which got me thinking about all the other murky, gray areas surrounding infidelity. Of course, when you or your partner actually have sex with someone outside your relationship, that’s generally recognized as being unfaithful, but are there other things we do all the time (perhaps without even realizing it) that border on having an affair? To find out, I caught up with Dr. Julie Elledge, a psychotherapist, sexpert, and friend of Blisstree who loves giving us the goods on solutions to all kinds of relationship dramas from her professional point of view: Should we consider porn cheating? Explicit sexual images have been around for as long as we can record the presen... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829167 Thu, 05 May 2011 21:55:37 +0100 4829167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789491&cid=t_138101_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fq4hEisRC7l0%2F I read an interesting post this morning on Betty Confidential about whether or not lap dances can be considered cheating, which got me thinking about all the other murky, gray areas surrounding infidelity. Of course, when you or your partner actually have sex with someone outside your relationship, that’s generally recognized as being unfaithful, but are there other things we do all the time (perhaps without even realizing it) that border on having an affair? To find out, I caught up with Dr. Julie Elledge, a psychotherapist, sexpert, and friend of Blisstree who loves giving us the goods on solutions to all kinds of relationship dramas from her professional point of view: Should we consider porn cheating? Explicit sexual images have been around for as long as we can record the presen... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789491 Thu, 05 May 2011 21:55:37 +0100 4789491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4575098&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F11%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-march-11-2011%2F I have a confession to make. Last year, I did something crazy and unlike me. I participated in a comedy show called Penn & Teller’s Bullshit on Showtime. For someone as introverted as I am, it was one of the most scariest and embarrassing things I ever did. It’s not something I am especially excited to share. But I’m doing so for a reason. The subject of the show was affirmations. It questioned whether there was anything really beneficial to it or just another laughable practice best turned into a parody on Saturday Night Live. You know like Stuart Smalley’s, “Daily Affirmations?” Surprisingly, it’s not all, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it people like me.” There are actually real benefits to affirmatio... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4575098 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:37:29 +0100 4575098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4527771&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F28%2F2-simple-ways-to-enhance-joy-in-your-relationship%2F As a couple, when you’re dealing with the many demands of day-to-day life, it can feel like the fun has been zapped from your relationship. But contrary to popular opinion, you don’t necessarily have to do anything spectacular or pricey to bring the enjoyment back. Below, Susan Heitler, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist in Denver who specializes in couples and author of The Power of Two: Secrets of a Strong & Loving Marriage, offers a simple 2-step plan to perk up your relationship. 1. Do a joy audit. Ask yourself ”How much time are we devoting to doing things that we enjoy as a couple?” Consider a further question. “How enjoyable are we making time together when the activity we need to do isn’t essentially fun?” For instance, you can easily turn “have-to” activit... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4527771 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:00:57 +0100 4527771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495250&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F18%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-february-18-2011%2F This article looks at the big D (as in denial), when it can be good for us and when it can be hazardous to our health. (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495250 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:09:02 +0100 4495250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495440&cid=t_138101_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fenhance-your-romance%2F This study suggests that if your romantic relationship has a case of the doldrums, having fun with another couple may help make your own relationship more satisfying,” said Slatcher.To review the full study, visit When Harry and Sally met Dick and JaneRelated articlesHealthy & Unhealthy Friendships in Sobriety (recoveryissexy.com)Hazelden’s Jewellery & Gifts Page Healthy Friendships A Lifeline to Sobriety (recoveryissexy.com)Romance and To Thine Own Self be True (recoveryissexy.com) Share, print or e-mail this articleA Kiss Is A Kiss – Or Is It?It’s the Little ThingsSexual Recovery Anonymous (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495440 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:23:00 +0100 4495440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482824&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F15%2Fsurprising-findings-on-what-makes-a-happy-stable-marriage%2F Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing psychologist Terri Orbuch, Ph.D, about her book 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great. (Stay tuned for the article on Psych Central shortly!) Since 1986, Orbuch has followed the same 373 couples to investigate what leads to marriage happiness and stability long term. Among a slew of interesting findings, her study yielded two surprising results, which I had to share with readers. (The article includes details on the study.) 1. Focus on what is working, not on what isn’t. We often hear about the importance of working through negative issues in relationships. Like Orbuch writes in her book, it’s common for experts to ask couples to consider what’s going wrong in their relationship. While addressing problems in your relation... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482824 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:27:35 +0100 4482824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482917&cid=t_138101_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fa7R9Z_R-DJM%2F "The Boys From Brazil" (1978) It was simple: My husband and I were just supposed to go someplace warm for a long weekend in March. We had gone away over the Christmas holidays, but the trip was a total bust, thanks to a raging case of bronchitis I developed on the Eurostar from London to Paris. (I know, I know — luxury problems. But you try being 16 weeks pregnant and quarantined in a tiny rental apartment for four days with an incessant cough, a measly four TV channels (in French, obviously), zero medication allowed, and a dying laptop battery — no charger adapter, either). Merde. On the bright side? I had plenty of Vicks-VapoRub-scented tissues thanks to the well-stocked pharmacy on the corner. Our “babymoon” (a loathesome term, in my opinion) had morphe... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482917 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:09:48 +0100 4482917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433242&cid=t_138101_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FQd6J9PlIhk0%2F So it turns out love actually does mean having to say you’re sorry. But the good news is it doesn’t mean having to say: “I forgive you.” New research published from The Journal of Family Psychology says that absolute forgiveness may not always be the best route to a happy relationship. While forgiveness is often touted as the enlightened path to true happiness and peace, the study shows that “newlyweds who forgave their partner’s bad behavior were more likely to face additional bad behavior the next day compared with those who stayed mad.” Here’s the breakdown: Study author James McNulty, a psychologist at the University of Tennessee, asked 135 heterosexual newlywed couples to keep a diary for a week, including any instances of their partner upsetting them, and whether ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433242 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:14:52 +0100 4433242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309668&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F04%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-january-4-2011%2F Well here it is. Here we are. It’s 2011 and we made it through another holiday season and a whole other year. How do you feel? Was it everything you expected and hoped for? Did it exceed your expectations or underwhelm you? Oftentimes high hopes and unrealistic expectations set us up for disappointment. We place our bets on the new year, putting our dreams and wishes to be thinner, happier, more successful all on the chance that something will change just because we want it to. If we’re lucky, sometimes it does. But more often than not, a day is just another day whether it’s 2010 or 2011. With that being said, ordinary days provide extraordinary opportunities. We can choose to walk a different path, changing our usual responses and reactions to the same triggers. In the e... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309668 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:44:46 +0100 4309668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285255&cid=t_138101_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1006 We know Jay Z  stinks, but what is that other smell? It is Beyonce!  Her armpits smell like blooming onions!  I don’t know about you, but I get tears in my eyes when I look at her great pair of pitts. She is a superstar performer, but holy cow, you have got to wonder about her taste in men!   I am not a real fan of rappers or onions, but unlike most in Hollywood who become insanely spoiled – the onion will last and last without spoilage. Some woman’s pits may not  smell like a vegetable garden and could be rather fresh and nice.  Some women emit a smell more like citrus fruit fresh picked off the vine. Smell might be only half the problem though as some women’s pits look more like forest vines rather than grapefruit trees, and I hesitate to imagine what kind ... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285255 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:33:19 +0100 4285255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265856&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F17%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-december-17-2010%2F As I’m writing this, I’m in shock. I was busy checking things off of my things to do list when appointments and planning for the upcoming holidays completely threw me off my schedule. That’s why this is late. Yikes! I let the ball drop. And I’ve been doing that a lot lately. It is a great lesson for me. Recently, an illness has made it difficult for me to keep up. While I’m usually on top of things, once an A student, someone who despises procrastination and has a strong passion for getting everything done, I realized that I just can’t do it all anymore. But maybe that’s a good thing. It’s teaching me about the importance of making mistakes, being imperfect and accepting where I am now instead of comparing where I was in the past. I might not... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265856 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 23:10:29 +0100 4265856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183342&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F19%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-november-19-2010%2F Every moment, we have an opportunity for self-growth. In fact, I was having one of those just yesterday. It was about five in the evening and I was stuck in traffic. As cars attempted to race past me, getting just a mere two cars ahead, I started to think about the frustration and impatience we all seemed to be feeling in the moment. Would I choose to give into the overwhelming negativity all around me? Or would I drown out the sounds of car engines and frustration with the radio and the TV I could see in the van directly in front of me? I decided to use this unpleasant situation for my benefit by fully being in the moment. I saw the dark clouds looming overhead, the lights from cars shining through it and the feeling of impatience that was slowly taking over me. It was an hour of sitting ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183342 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:52:33 +0100 4183342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175799&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2010%2F11%2F17%2Fgratitude-among-married-couples%2F When did you lastly thank your spouse? Gratitude is an excellent booster for your relationship, it improves the other well being both psychologically as well as physically. It gives him or her more satisfaction, and activates pro-social behavior. So go and do it. An individual who expresses gratitude is not only providing a positive expression to a partner, but is also conveying an acknowledgement of, and appreciation for, the partner. Someone who is expressing gratitude to a spouse is essentially celebrating the benefits that their spouse has brought to their life, which has the potential to leave the spouse feeling understood, appreciated, and empowered to continue providing effective and appreciated support in the marriage. Meanwhile let me tell you about some recent findings of a study... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175799 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 06:21:25 +0100 4175799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159284&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F12%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-november-12-2010%2F There’s something so soothing about a pet. (You pet owners know what I mean.) Maybe it’s their soft, furry coat or their comfort with being themselves that can be so settling. But I think it’s the feeling that no matter who you are, how much money you have or what you look like, they’ll love you unconditionally. It’s something I felt with my first dog who passed away earlier this year. And how I feel about my current love, a 5 year old mini lop rabbit. The world can be as chaotic as it can be. I could have papers piling up on my desk and emails crowding my inbox. But when I see him cleaning his floppy ears, those things don’t seem to matter. For a moment, I’m at peace. Why am I bringing up my furry friends? Aside from the fact that I adore talking ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159284 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:16:42 +0100 4159284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4142807&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F07%2F7-things-ive-learned-in-7-years-of-marriage%2F A little while ago, my wife and I celebrated seven years of marriage. While ours is a good, healthy relationship, it’s also had its share of ups and downs like any other. With half of all marriages seemingly doomed to failure, here are seven things I’ve learned so far from being married. It may help to know that neither of us have been married previously, and we both entered into our marriage with an understanding about the commitment that a marriage — for it to last — takes. So all of the things I’ve learned are based upon the belief that marriage is a serious, long-lasting commitment — not a reason to throw a party, or to “try on” new relationships for awhile. Many of the tips below work not just for marriage, but any long-term, committed r... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4142807 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 14:55:58 +0100 4142807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139489&cid=t_138101_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F6D3ph0fRMyk%2F The "Good-Enough Sex" model for couple sexual satisfaction From AA; "Then we have the voices who cry for sex and more sex; who bewail the institution of marriage; who think that most of the troubles of the race are traceable to sex causes. They think we do not have enough of it, or that it isn’t the right kind. They see its significance everywhere. One school would allow man or woman no flavour for their fare and the other would have us all on a straight pepper diet. We want to stay out of this controversy. We do not want to be the arbiter of anyone’s sex conduct. We all have sex problems. We’d hardly be human if we didn’t. What can we do about them? Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we must be willing to grow toward it. Alcoholics Anonymous, p... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139489 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:37:15 +0100 4139489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074149&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F15%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-october-15-2010%2F Do you smell it? That’s change in the air. There may have been slight shifts and evidence lurking for some time now, but now here it is. If you resist change, life feels so much harder. Like walking uphill or swimming against the current, for example. But accepting something unfamiliar can be so anxiety provoking that we’d rather look the other way. Instead, you may forget about that looming bill and stuff it in a drawer. Or your dog’s illness may be so overwhelming that the thought of his death is too much to handle. A few months later the bills are piling up and your best pet pal dies. How do you deal with the change? These are difficult times. Yet, there is hope. The light at the end of the tunnel is nearby and there are resources that can get you through it. Here&#821... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074149 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:56:18 +0100 4074149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065416&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F13%2F3-danger-signs-your-partner-may-be-having-an-affair%2F Mira Kirshenbaum is one of my favorite relationship experts. She has written two books that I often recommend to my clients: Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay and Women and Love. They are easy reads, full of compassion and insight. As I contemplated writing a post about how couples become vulnerable to affairs I read this interview of Ms. Kirshenbaum where she really says it all: Is Your Partner Cheating on You? on Mira’s blog. Here she talks not only about real risk factors, she also rules out signs that could be misread. In other words, not all suspicious signs point to an affair. “…it’s not so much about warning signs. It’s about risk factors. And if you know what the risk factors are, you can do something about them and have a better relationship to boot…&#... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065416 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:02:28 +0100 4065416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045145&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F08%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-october-8-2010%2F When things are going good in our lives, we suddenly have amnesia. We forget the battles we won, the hardships we faced and the pain we endured. Yet, there are occasions like yesterday’s National Depression Screening Day or Mental Illness Awareness Week that help to remind us to not forget. More importantly, it reiterates the importance of helping those who are in their own struggles right now. The top posts this week deal with issues that you or someone you know may be dealing with right now. As we end the week, I hope you’ll read these posts, share it with those you care about, take the tips you’ve learned and pay it forward. As always, I wish you a happy and healthy weekend! Enjoy. Body Image & Self-Esteem: Barb Steinberg On Empowering Your Daughters, Part 2 (Wei... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045145 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:13:53 +0100 4045145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031193&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fme-oww-relationship-advice-from-victor-the-cat%2F Hello. My name is Victor the cat. I live in an apartment in New York City with two tall people who feed me. When Blisstree approached me about doing my own weekly relationship column, I must admit I was hesitant at first. See, I sleep 16 hours a day (minimum), and in my spare time I need to eat, preen myself, use the facilities, and bat a few toys under the refrigerator in a lackluster fashion. On less hectic days, I also try to squeeze in some time sitting in the windowsill looking at stuff outside. So, as you can imagine, it’s a real challenge for me to fit other work-related responsibilities into my demanding day-to-day schedule. I know what you’re thinking: What the hell does this cat know about being a relationship columnist? True, I don’t have the rabid following of... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031193 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:45:44 +0100 4031193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031195&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fdriving-each-other-crazy-most-couples-last-22-minutes-in-a-car-before-fights-begin%2F You might think most of your road rage is directed at other drivers, but if your significant other is in the car: Watch out. A recent study conducted by a SEAT, a Spanish automobile manufacturer, shows that it takes the average couple about 22 minutes in the car to start fighting. Researchers interviewed 3,000 participants about their driving habits, and they found that 71% have fought with their partners while driving. The leading cause of argument was getting lost, but drivers reported fighting over all sorts of topics, from air-conditioning to heating: The most common causes of driving arguments: 44% — directions/getting lost 37% — where to park 34% — driving too quickly 24% — driving too close to other cars 20% — backseat driving 20% — music/radio choices 17% — aggressiv... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031195 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:05:11 +0100 4031195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993837&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F201314%2F Relationship Trouble? The folks over at The Frisky recommend talking to each other less, not more. (via The Frisky) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993837 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:00:51 +0100 3993837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3983430&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F20%2F8-ways-to-ruin-your-relationship%2F While most of the time we try and stay positive here on World of Psychology, every now and again reality sucker-punches us back to our senses (although not personally affecting me). The fact remains that despite our wise advice over the years, we haven’t budged the divorce rate in the U.S. (not that we thought we could!). Most relationships fail — there’s simply no way to argue with it. So maybe it would help some of our readers to catch sign of their failing relationship before it’s too late. Sure, we all would like to think that we could see the end of our relationship coming from a mile away. But truth is, many of us need a little help. To that end, here are 8 ways you can bet you’re ruining your relationship and heading to splitsville. 1. Take your partn... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3983430 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:10:29 +0100 3983430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858392&cid=t_138101_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fgood-enough-sex-2%2F The "Good-Enough Sex" model for couple sexual satisfaction From AA; "Then we have the voices who cry for sex and more sex; who bewail the institution of marriage; who think that most of the troubles of the race are traceable to sex causes. They think we do not have enough of it, or that it isn’t the right kind. They see its significance everywhere. One school would allow man or woman no flavour for their fare and the other would have us all on a straight pepper diet. We want to stay out of this controversy. We do not want to be the arbiter of anyone’s sex conduct. We all have sex problems. We’d hardly be human if we didn’t. What can we do about them? Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we must be willing to grow toward it. Alcoholics Anonymous, p... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858392 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:38:00 +0100 3858392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3833571&cid=t_138101_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Ftheres-no-shame-in-sex-therapy%2F This article may be a guide to seeking help. When Stephen Braveman suggested to his wife that they needed sex therapy, he did so with trepidation. He worried he’d “be seen as a pig who only wants sex.” Even though he’s a practicing sex therapist himself, his marriage wasn’t immune from the intimacy challenges that face so many couples. In his case, says Braveman of Monterey, Calif., his upbringing during the “free love” 1960s in California put him at odds with his wife’s native German culture. “It’s just not in her personality to be verbally expressive in the bedroom,” he says. Still, she agreed to join him in therapy, and the couple has “made progress.” Sex, of course, isn’t purely physical. Intertwined be... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3833571 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:04:01 +0100 3833571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3786982&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Ftop-10-posts-from-the-gloss-last-week%2F You know our sister site, TheGloss, and how awesome and hilarious it is. So why not take some downtime to catch up on their top posts from last week? Check them out: 1. TheGloss Interviews Jackie Collins 2. Beauty Tips from Mormons 3. Would You Get Married In a Wedding Dress Made of Kleenex? 4. 10 Celebrities You Should Never Date Ever 5. I Still Can’t Wear High Heels, But I Can Wear Wedges 6. Video: How to Make Your Very Own Font 7. Personality Qualities Way More Important Than Anything on Your Resume (Part II) 8. Style Advice From… An Eight-Year-Old and a Five-Year-Old 9. How Early Is Too Early For Couples Counseling? 10. Disease of the Day: Trichotillomania (The One Where You Pull Out Your Hair) Post from: BlissTree Top 10 Posts on TheGloss Last Week (Source: Breastfeeding 1... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3786982 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:00:32 +0100 3786982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753877&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F14%2Frocky-relationship-ignore-the-common-wisdom%2F Say you or I were having problems with our relationship and we headed off, with our respective partners, to a relationship counselor. How would they advise us to improve our marital satisfaction? Research suggests that people who are satisfied with their relationships tend to behave more positively towards each other. They expect good things from their partner, avoid blaming each other for mistakes, approach problem-solving positively and forgive each other for those little slip-ups. Quite naturally, then, a counselor would encourage us to try and cultivate these same positive processes in our relationships. But what if, for some couples, these positive processes actually make the situation worse, not better, leading to lower marital satisfaction? That’s the suggestion made by James... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753877 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:30:24 +0100 3753877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3679796&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F06%2F20%2Fin-celebration-of-fathers-2010%2F Happy Father’s Day! Dads sometimes get a bum rap as simple bread winners who occasionally are called upon to wield a hammer to hang a picture. They play ball (or, more likely, video games) with the kids, and leave the heavy lifting of child rearing and such to the moms. But fathers are, of course, so much more. They teach us about the wisdom of consideration, courage and honor. They know it is better to command respect than fear, to cultivate friendships rather than enemies, and to find something you love to do, and then build your career around it. Perhaps they aren’t always as “involved” in things as moms seem to be, but they so often seem to provide the rock of stability in a family that is often under-appreciated. Dads are increasingly feeling just as stressed ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3679796 Sun, 20 Jun 2010 11:52:17 +0100 3679796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3617801&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fwomen-and-sex-hypoactive-sexual-desire-disorder%2F photo: Thinkstock According to a recent survey by the Society for Women’s Health Research, both men and women agree that sexual health is vital to a woman’s health and well being. But do all women know that a decrease in sexual desire could be a sign that their sexual health is suffering? Many people write off low libido as the result of stress at work or at home, but if it happens repeatedly, it could be because of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). A new initiative called “Sex Brain Body,” spearheaded by actress Lisa Rinna (Days of Our Lives, Dancing With the Stars) and sex and relationship expert Dr. Laura Berman, focuses on educating women about their sexual health, which includes HSDD. Though surveys show that women are concerned about low libido, very... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3617801 Mon, 24 May 2010 20:48:56 +0100 3617801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595543&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fwomen-and-sex-hypoactive-sexual-desire-disorder%2F photo: Thinkstock According to a recent survey by the Society for Women’s Health Research, both men and women agree that sexual health is vital for a woman’s health and well being. But do all women know that a decrease in sexual desire could be a sign that their sexual health is suffering? Many people write off low libido as the result of stress at work or at home, but if it happens repeatedly, it could be because of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). A new initiative called “Sex Brain Body,” spearheaded by actress Lisa Rinna and sex and relationship expert Dr. Laura Berman, focuses on educating women about their sexual health, which includes HSDD. Though surveys show that women are concerned about low libido, very few actually bring it up to either their p... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595543 Mon, 24 May 2010 20:48:56 +0100 3595543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511516&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fadoption-or-surrogacy-%25e2%2580%2593-how-to-choose%2F Couples who are infertile often choose surrogacy or adoption as a means to become parents. Why choose surrogacy? Couples who want to have a genetic relationship with the child often select surrogacy instead of adoption. Typically, they’re in regular contact with the surrogate mother throughout the entire pregnancy – even enjoying the birth experience in the delivery room. For couples who fear they won’t be able to bond with a child without the genetic connection, surrogacy makes sense. Surrogacy agencies can handle the matching, payments, and all other aspects of this type of agreement. Keep in mind that surrogacy is expensive, sometimes costing more than $100,000. Why choose adoption? Adoption is a fantastic alternative for infertile couples, gays and lesbians, single parent... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511516 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:15:28 +0100 3511516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499027&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fromantic-relationships-staying-together-by-letting-each-other-go%2F This is the fifth and final post by Valerie Reiss on following romantic relationship advice from a book. Read last week’s column here. “Allowing means that we grant to others and protect in ourselves the right to live freely and without outside control.” – David Richo This week, “A” is for “Allowing.” In the relationship self-help book I’m reading (and writing about) with the newish boyfriend, B., David Richo’s How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving, we’ve reached the fifth and final “A” – “Allowing” or “Allowing Freedom.” Well, B. and I  actually got our biggest lesson in “allowing” last weekend when we attended a relationship self-help extravaganza – a nine-hour couples workshop with about 50 other pairs in a ho... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499027 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:28:49 +0100 3499027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490879&cid=t_138101_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fcouples-therapy-best-for-women%2F Couples therapy can be the best choice for alcohol-dependent women with supportive husbands, spouses or partners. Barbara McCrady and Elizabeth Epstein wanted to know whether therapy worked better for alcoholic women when delivered as couples therapy than when delivered as individual therapy. They reported recently that both treatment methods worked well, but women treated in couples therapy maintained their gains better than those in individual therapy. Also, women suffering from depression in addition to alcohol-dependence did better in couples therapy. Alcohol use disorders hit women particularly hard, physically and psychologically. Epstein and McCrady cite earlier studies’ findings that between 4 and 8 percent of women under age 44 are alcohol-dependent, that as many as 65 pe... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490879 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:36:16 +0100 3490879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3476087&cid=t_138101_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Ftheres-no-shame-in-sex-therapy-2%2F This article may be a guide to seeking help. When Stephen Braveman suggested to his wife that they needed sex therapy, he did so with trepidation. He worried he’d "be seen as a pig who only wants sex." Even though he’s a practicing sex therapist himself, his marriage wasn’t immune from the intimacy challenges that face so many couples. In his case, says Braveman of Monterey, Calif., his upbringing during the "free love" 1960s in California put him at odds with his wife’s native German culture. "It’s just not in her personality to be verbally expressive in the bedroom," he says. Still, she agreed to join him in therapy, and the couple has "made progress." Sex, of course, isn’t purely physical. Intertwined between... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3476087 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:41:10 +0100 3476087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3435028&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Ffalling-in-love-with-help-from-divorce%2F Over the last week I’ve learned that four of my women friends are in various stages of divorce. Four – that’s about a third of my yogini friends, all in their 30s. One was horribly betrayed; another is trying to keep her two young kids psychologically intact even though she’s feeling liberated; a third is in the throes of triage-level couples’ therapy; and a fourth is spent from years of “eating glass” to make someone else happy. Yikes. As the irony gods would have it, in the midst of these conversations – listening, nodding, feeling their pain, wondering why anyone would be insane enough to link their happiness to another human being – I’m falling deeply in love for the first time in a zillion years. It’s like cruising by four fatal car crashes during your driver... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3435028 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:58:53 +0100 3435028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3280039&cid=t_138101_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Ffree-cartoon-for-infertile-couples-what.html You can download this free at http://drop.io/infertilitycartoon ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3280039 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:51:00 +0100 3280039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3254527&cid=t_138101_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fhow-relatives-add-stress-to-infertile.html (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3254527 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:53:00 +0100 3254527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3220559&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F29%2Fdo-you-refer-to-yourselves-as-we-in-a-couple%2F If you do, congratulations! You’re likely better at conflict resolution with your partner than couples who don’t refer to themselves as “we.” How do we know? Well, conversations can tell us a lot about how couples view themselves, both individually and as a couple. By analyzing conversations between couples, you can learn a lot about their interactions: UC Berkeley researchers analyzed conversations between 154 middle-aged and older couples about points of disagreement in their marriages and found that those who used pronouns such as “we,” “our” and “us” behaved more positively toward one another and showed less physiological stress. In contrast, couples who emphasized their “separateness” by using pronouns such as “I,” “me” and “you” we... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3220559 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:02:37 +0100 3220559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3136725&cid=t_138101_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FB-hnq6ziJDQ%2F Characteristics of Functional and Dysfunctional Couples Dysfunctional: Being together and unhappy is safer than being alone. Functional: Being together brings us joy and happiness. Dysfunctional: It is safer to be with other people than it is to be alone and intimate with our partner. Functional: Being alone and intimate with our partner is as safe as being with other [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3136725 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:45:16 +0100 3136725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089344&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F15%2Fwhat-makes-a-family-functional-vs-dysfunctional%2F The other day I was responding to someone who was dreading the holidays with her ‘dysfunctional family’ (her words). It got me thinking about that word, dysfunctional, and how it implies that there is an opposite, functional, family somewhere. What does that look like? Is it a Perfect Family? Some Stepford-like pod of people who never fight, are always neat and smiling? Yeesh! That sounds horrible. In fact it sounds downright dysfunctional! So what is a functional family? How do we know if we have one? How would you define a functional family? The study of family dynamics, family therapy and treatment are complex and a whole field of psychology in itself. While I don’t have all the answers, I do have some thoughts. These impressions come as much from my experience as from... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089344 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:30:58 +0100 3089344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3023105&cid=t_138101_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fqe-aFuDa-I4%2F Leaders of the Church of Christ, Scientist, are pushing to get a provision into the health care bill that would mandate equal treatment for “spiritual healing,” such as Christian Science prayer treatments. Sens. John Kerry and Orrin Hatch are trying to get it inserted into the Senate bill, according to the Washington Post. Kerry’s spokeswoman, Whitney Smith, told the Los Angeles Times that insurers would not be forced to cover prayer. Instead, she said, “the amendment would prevent insurers from discriminating against benefits that qualify as spiritual care if the care is recognized by the IRS as a legitimate medical expense. Plans are free to impose standards on spiritual and medical care as long as both are treated equally. It does not mandate that plans provide... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3023105 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:57:40 +0100 3023105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2904956&cid=t_138101_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fcartoon-film-to-help-infertile-couples.html (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2904956 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:17:00 +0100 2904956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2858667&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F03%2Fbabyman%25e2%2580%25a6-is-this-your-guy%2F Once upon a time there was a damsel in distress crying for help at the top of a tower. Down below was a fierce and fiery dragon. Away on a not-too-distant hill was a knight in shining armor on a white horse. As the damsel cried to the knight saying, “Please save me!” the knight looked at the dragon and then at the damsel. Then again he looked at the dragon and at the damsel. Abruptly the knight started to suck his thumb and cried out loud saying, “Mommy, Mommy, I’m scared!” The damsel could not believe her eyes. She quickly assessed her options and came to the conclusion that the knight was not going to save her. Immediately, like a bolt of lightning, she jumped out of the window dropping down below and almost breaking her legs. She then ran to the knight and pulled his sword out... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2858667 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:47:15 +0100 2858667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859064&cid=t_138101_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2Fc6Fj2nTbNR4%2Fcancer-divorce-marriage Grass is always greener on the married side of the cancer fence.  Or is it?  Here’s a quote from Katie Smith, who I interviewed while researching Everything Changes: “I learned about my diagnosis in the recovery room after waking up from an operation and learning they had done a hysterectomy.  The first thing I thought was ‘What is my husband going to think of me now?,’ because we had been trying to get pregnant. “I started seeing differences in how he acted with me.  We weren’t getting along.  We still wanted kids and he really wanted surrogacy.  It was hard for me to think about our kid being half him and half from another woman.  I wanted to adopt so it would feel equal. We talked a lot about it.  I signed up for an adoption class but he never showed up to class.... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859064 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:17:21 +0100 2859064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2789098&cid=t_138101_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-and-relationships%2F Sometimes multiple sclerosis puts you (at least me) into a position you might not expect… I have been asked to sit on an advisory committee which is putting together a retreat for couples where one partner has multiple sclerosis (I must admit the hilarity as I’ve had three remarkably unsuccessful relationships since my diagnosis)! Reading the pre-registration surveys that these folks filled out was a real eye-opener!!! The place where each side of these relationship equations “lives” is hardly balanced.  For example; when asked if they felt there was a “health balance” in their relationship, the partners with multiple sclerosis answered 75 percent Yes.  The partners without MS only answered 50 percent in the affirmative. When asked “why” they thought the relationship was ... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2789098 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:48:58 +0100 2789098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649061&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F28%2Fdivorce-hurts-not-only-emotionally-but-also-physically%2F This study suggests another reason to seek out marital or family counseling before getting a divorce, which should be seen for what it is — a choice of very last resort, after other honest attempts have been made to fix the relationship. Divorce hurts everyone, even your children. And this study shows that even after remarrying, for some reason people who had previously divorced still report more health concerns than those who never divorced. Of course divorce is a legitimate option for couples who’ve already tried everything else. Perhaps being aware of all the additional concerns you and your children may be at risk for can help you help ward them off — or at least better recognize them if they do happen. The study also demonstrates yet again the intimate connections b... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649061 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:44:40 +0100 2649061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610998&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F16%2Fthinking-of-moving-in-think-again-if-goal-is-marriage%2F Research published in February of this year confirms previous research that has found that if you have an interest in marrying a person, you’re better off not living with them before you get engaged. Rhoades et al. (2009) compiled their study by phoning 1,050 individual men and women from different relationships and asking them to complete a brief telephone survey. Participants were generally younger (18 to 34 years old) and had been married for 10 years or less. The majority of participants (91.8%) had never been divorced. Regarding cohabitation history, 40.5% reported that they did not live with their spouse before marriage, 16.4% cohabited only after engagement, and 43.1% cohabited before engagement. After administering their survey — which included demographic information... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610998 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:35:12 +0100 2610998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2314180&cid=t_138101_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Ffree-online-games-for-infertile-couples.html Being infertile can be stressful ! We have produced free online games to help couples reduce their stress ! Cupid Rescue Play Now! Fertilize Eggs Play Now! IVF Money Hunt Play Now! Shoot the Pests Play Now! Help the Sperm Play Now! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2314180 Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:22:00 +0100 2314180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2222493&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F28%2Fhow-indifference-can-kill-a-relationship%2F Sometimes the killer of relationships isn’t a lack of trust, a lack of communication or arguing with your significant other. It’s simple indifference. A relationship can survive most things if both people involved in it are committed to the other person and act with respect toward the other. It can survive the death of our parents or the birth of a child. It can sometimes even survive an indiscretion (although such a behavior shows a shocking lack of respect for one’s partner). It can survive layoffs and career changes, of going back to school, or buying your first home together. It usually can even survive the wedding, one of the most stressful things adults go through in their lives. A relationship can survive angry tirades and arguments that span endless lonely days an... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2222493 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 14:32:51 +0100 2222493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1970828&cid=t_138101_177_f&fid=38134&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbabybound.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F18%2Fwell-well-i-see-ive-hit-a-nerve%2F For the record, Mark and I are still in a fight.  But also for the record, I suspect it will end soon.  (Thankfully he does not read my blog and therefore is still miserably stewing at his desk at work.) Thank you all for the great advice.  I will definitely look into some adjustments to our current agreement.  Most notably, Mark’s new lack of plastic to wear down his pockets.  He cut his card in half in some sort of passive aggressive attempt at getting me to shut the fuck up not be mad at him.  Of course it didn’t work.  What a dum dum. I must say, it is oddly comforting to know that there are other people out there that struggle with this same issue.  It makes me feel better knowing that Mark isn’t the only fuckwit out there and that it is clearly a genetic dis... B a b y B o u n d blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1970828 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:42:27 +0100 1970828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1970829&cid=t_138101_177_f&fid=38134&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbabybound.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F17%2Fi-might-need-a-sedative-soon%2F Do all couples fight about money?  Cause Mark and I are fighting right now about this very topic. I don’t seem to be winning and well?  That never happens.  WTF? I am in charge of our money.  Why?  Because I actually put bills in a filing cabinet rather than the bottom of a gym bag.  End of story. Mark likes to pretend our bank account is like a water faucet:  always there, never empty, tastes great with crystal light white grape. I want him to think of it as a drinking fountain at the park:  always available, but should be approached with caution and never ever touched with his bare hands. I cannot seem to beat this concept into his pea size brain get him to understand and its driving me insane.  Every time I look at our account, I get angry.  There’s always withdra... B a b y B o u n d blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1970829 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:31:40 +0100 1970829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1536004&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F21%2Fsituation-of-romantic-preferences-abstract%2F Russell Robinson has posted his essay, “Structural Dimensions of Romantic Preferences” (forthcoming 76 Fordham Law Review 787-2819 (2008) on SSRN. Here’s the abstract. * * * In this essay, I make two main points: First, I call for a focus on the impact of structural conditions on preferences regarding intimacy. We tend to think our preferences are natural and fixed when, in fact, they may be more plastic and susceptible to structural influences than we imagine. To illustrate this theme, I examine a few structures that channel our preferences, namely, racial screening mechanisms on Internet dating web sites and sex segregation in queer social spaces. Second, I provide a warning against uncritical celebrations of increasing interracial intimacy as a sign of reduced prejudic... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1536004 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:01:07 +0100 1536004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1512136&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F11%2Fgay-relationship-research-holds-valuable-lessons-for-straight-couples-too%2F Debates about same-sex relationships and marriage have become an unavoidable hot-button issue in the political arena these past few years. Moral deliberation aside, however, new research suggests that gay couples “have a great deal to teach everyone else about marriage and relationships”, as author Tara Parker-Hope says in this interesting New York Times piece yesterday. She writes: “Most studies show surprisingly few differences between committed gay couples and committed straight couples, but the differences that do emerge have shed light on the kinds of conflicts that can endanger heterosexual relationships. The findings offer hope that some of the most vexing problems are not necessarily entrenched in deep-rooted biological differences between men and women. And that, in turn, o... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1512136 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:54:18 +0100 1512136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1307691&cid=t_138101_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F03%2F17%2Finnovative-ocd-couples-treatment%2F Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder characterized, not surpisingly, by recurrent, unstopping obsessive thoughts, impulses or images, and compulsions which are repetitive behaviors or mental acts (like praying). OCD typically has been challenging to treat. While medications and psychotherapy are often used, traditionally neither treatment has included one’s significant other. Why would you? Well, OCD is exacerbated by stress. Relationships can inadvertently reinforce some of the obsessions or compulsions, so it may be important for the significant other to better understand their partner’s OCD. A new study will look at cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy in the treatment of OCD, but as a part of couples therapy: “First we will find out about the OCD symp... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1307691 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:49:23 +0100 1307691