What happens when being dogged isn’t enough? For years, living in a chaotic city neighborhood, I experienced repetitive negative events while walking my dog, Beau. The whizz of scooter riders terrified Beau,... Read more »
Yes, gaslighting is real—a really manipulative tactic that’s a buffet of lying, denial, and misdirection to essentially warp reality. It’s also a real problem dealing with gaslighters. If you are not really... Read more »
At their best, friendships provide a range of positive benefits, such as companionship, stress reduction, and emotional support. But they can also have a dark side—marked by manipulativeness, exclusion, and intense duress.... Read more »
“My mind becomes blank, I feel a surge of warmth overtaking my body, my heart races, my breathing almost stops, and my muscles become weak.” This is a description offered by a... Read more »
In any new relationship, there’s a period of time in which both individuals have the chance to decide how serious this relationship will become. Casey and Morgan were both single when a... Read more »
College sports betting has become a silent epidemic, disproportionately impacting male students. Unlike substance abuse, sports betting is easily hidden on a phone, often surfacing only when students face severe financial debt,... Read more »
Are we still friends? Knowing the status of a relationship depends on tracking changes. What have we done together recently? Was it fun or were we fighting? Admittedly, keeping track of the... Read more »
The professional landscape is filled with challenges. Employers cite absenteeism and turnover as issues, while employees face all-time-high rates of burnout. This phenomenon arises all around the world. Recent news suggests that... Read more »
A few years ago, I started doing things that made some of my physician colleagues uncomfortable. I launched a candle company. I started posting on social media. I talked about one day... Read more »
This is my 20th year teaching memoir writing at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. I’m always in awe of the stories people yearn to tell. It’s this yearning, or burning need to... Read more »