Marcia Pignelli, (not her real name) a vibrant 54-year-old woman with a knack for gardening and a passion for classic literature, recently faced a revelation that has reshaped her understanding of herself.

A retired elementary school teacher, Marcia has always been known for her meticulous attention to detail and her unwavering dedication to her students.

Living with her partner, Lisa, in a cozy rural home, Marcia had long attributed her quirks and sensitivities to just being "a bit different."

However, when she received an autism diagnosis, her world turned upside down.

Join us as we eavesdrop into Marcia’s journey, exploring the challenges and triumphs of navigating a late-life autism diagnosis with humor, grace, and newfound insight.

Childhood abuse leaves profound and lasting scars, affecting various aspects of one's life well into adulthood.

Here are nine behaviors commonly exhibited by folks who endured abuse as children. Understanding these patterns can offer insights into healing and finding a path toward a healthier emotional life.

Flying Monkeys are a concept deeply embedded in the dynamics of narcissistic abuse, as elucidated by thought leaders in the field.

These folks, unwittingly or willingly, become the enforcers of the narcissist's agenda, perpetuating the cycle of abuse.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a renowned clinical psychologist and expert in narcissism, describes flying monkeys as "the foot soldiers of the narcissist's army," highlighting their role in carrying out the narcissist's manipulative tactics.

That lusty, unstoppable, boundless feeling of falling in love has a lot to do with novelty.

It is no surprise that as we become familiar with one another novelty tapers off and perhaps some of that initial “effortless” love wanes as well.

How do we get our mojo back?

Husband and wife psychologists Arthur and Elaine Aron research how close relationships develop.

Previous research has shown that a history of reciprocally exchanging favors leads to the bestowing of additional favors to their exchange partner, no matter who provided the last favor.

In other words, receiving and bestowing favors builds trust, one of the fundamental building blocks of intimacy. Here’s what you need to know…

Navigating the emotional labyrinth of estrangement from a child is a heart-wrenching journey.

When reconciliation seems impossible and you reach the point of saying goodbye, it's crucial to approach the situation with compassion, understanding, and acceptance.

This post explores the steps in saying goodbye to an estranged child, drawing on expert insights and research to provide a thoughtful and compassionate approach.

Family estrangement, particularly from an adult child, can leave parents feeling helpless and heartbroken.

The question of whether to keep reaching out is complex and multifaceted, involving a deep understanding of the emotional dynamics at play and the long-term impact on both parties.

Let's respect the intricacies of this issue, exploring expert advice and research findings to guide parents through this challenging situation.

Men who don’t explicitly learn how to calm themselves down will typically respond to criticism with the other three horsemen; stonewalling, defensiveness, and contempt.

It takes a little psycho-education to understand that a man’s nervous system can work against him with intimate others.

Stonewalling is an often involuntary physiological defensive response to a sense of feeling overwhelmed. It is grounded in a fear of conflict and a desire to mitigate anger and escalation.

Because most stonewallers (85%) are men, it is challenging for their partners to accept that stonewalling is their body’s automatic go-to method of self-soothing.

It’s an evolutionary adaptation that simply doesn’t work in intimate relationships. In many cases, it’s a misbegotten attempt to “calm things down.”

Stonewalling typically starts out with a male partner becoming physiologically overwhelmed and failing to advise their spouse of that fact…

Navigating relationships can often feel like dancing through a minefield, especially when one partner exhibits symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

I've witnessed firsthand in therapy sessions the intense emotional rollercoaster that partners experience.

One of the most challenging aspects of BPD is the relationship between obsession and the disorder.

Every marriage has an inherent tension between the need for independence and the desire for intimacy.

Couples therapists call this delicate balance "differentiation."

Differentiation in marriage is all about personal growth while maintaining a close relationship.

As Ellyn Bader puts it, differentiation is "the active, ongoing process of defining self, expressing and activating self, revealing self, clarifying boundaries, and managing the anxiety that comes from risking either more intimacy or potential separation."

We tell women they should expect to feel grief and sadness when their children have fled the nest.

We even have a label for this cultural expectation, Empty Nest Syndrome.

But is it, like the unmitigated joy of childbirth, a cultural lie we insist on telling ourselves?