Welcome to my Blog

Thank you for stopping by. This space is where I share research, reflections, and practical tools drawn from my experience as a marriage and family therapist.

Are you a couple looking for clarity? A professional curious about the science of relationships? Or simply someone interested in how love and resilience work? I’m glad you’ve found your way here. I can help with that.

Each post is written with one goal in mind: to help you better understand yourself, your partner, and the hidden dynamics that shape human connection.

Grab a coffee (or a notebook), explore what speaks to you, and take what’s useful back into your life and relationships. And if a post sparks a question, or makes you realize you could use more support, I’d love to hear from you.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
~Daniel

P.S.

Feel free to explore the categories below to find past blog posts on the topics that matter most to you. If you’re curious about attachment, navigating conflict, or strengthening intimacy, these archives are a great way to dive deeper into the research and insights that I’ve been sharing for years.

 

Signs of Trouble Daniel Dashnaw Signs of Trouble Daniel Dashnaw

New Research Challenges Stereotypes About Narcissists’ Self-Perception

Contrary to popular belief, new research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science suggests that narcissistic folks may not be as self-deceptive about their social reputation as previously thought.

The study found that those high in narcissistic admiration tend to have a relatively accurate understanding of how they are perceived by others, particularly in areas that enhance social standing, such as intelligence and attractiveness.

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Neurodiverse Couples Daniel Dashnaw Neurodiverse Couples Daniel Dashnaw

The Unique Intersection of Bisexual Men and Neurodiversity: Navigating Mental Health, Identity, and Relationships

In recent years, there's been growing interest in how sexual orientation and neurodiversity intersect, especially for bisexual men.

These men often walk a tricky path, facing discrimination from both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ communities, while also managing the challenges that come with being neurodiverse—whether it’s autism, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental conditions.

This intersection creates a unique set of experiences that affects their mental health, relationships, and sense of identity.

Understanding these overlaps helps paint a fuller picture of bisexual neurodiverse men’s lives and shows how we can better support them in a world that sometimes struggles to acknowledge both parts of their identity.

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

The Rise of the Wholesome Family Meme: Exploring Love, Connection, and Mental Health in Digital Culture

Ever found yourself scrolling through memes filled with sarcasm and cynicism, only to stop at one that warms your heart?

That’s the magic of the wholesome family meme—a digital reminder that love, family, and connection are still at the heart of our lives, even amidst the noise of today’s fast-paced world.

These memes have captivated online audiences by focusing on positive, funny, and heartwarming moments within family relationships, offering a much-needed breath of fresh air in our feeds.

But the wholesome family meme isn’t just a trend—it’s part of a broader cultural shift toward authenticity, positivity, and emotional connection.

In this post, we’ll dive deep into the psychological and sociological underpinnings of these memes and explore how they reflect evolving family dynamics and modern social values.

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

Therapy-Adjacent: When Your Partner Thinks They’re a Couples Therapist (Without Actually Going to Therapy)

Here’s the scene: You’re sitting down for dinner, and out of nowhere, your partner says, “I think we should revisit that unresolved emotional issue from last week after we’ve both processed it.”

Sound a little familiar?

If your partner has spent their weekend binging self-help podcasts, reading relationship books, and sprinkling therapy terms into everyday conversation, congratulations—you’re in a therapy-adjacent relationship.

In this post, we’ll explore what it means to be therapy-adjacent, why armchair therapy isn’t quite the same as actual therapy, and dive into the science behind why self-help can sometimes miss the mark.

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Neurodiverse Couples Daniel Dashnaw Neurodiverse Couples Daniel Dashnaw

Study Reveals Shared Genetic Factors Between ADHD and Risk-Taking Behavior

A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders uncovers significant genetic links between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and risk-taking behavior.

The findings reveal a genetic overlap between the two traits, suggesting that individuals with ADHD may be genetically predisposed to engage in impulsive or risky actions.

This research provides valuable insight into the biological foundations of ADHD and its connection to behaviors marked by poor impulse control.

What Is ADHD and Why Is It Linked to Risk-Taking Behavior?

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

Situationship Survivor: Competing in the World’s Longest Undefined Relationship

Welcome to Situationship Survivor, where every contestant battles for love, clarity, or at least a text back.

In this thrilling and seemingly endless reality show, there’s no immunity idol, no rose ceremony, and definitely no DTR (Define the Relationship).

Instead, you endure day after day of “So, what are we?” conversations that go absolutely nowhere. Imagine Survivor, but instead of tropical islands and tribal councils, it’s your love life stuck in limbo.

Sound familiar? You might already be a contestant.

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

The Preemptive Apology: Why We Say Sorry for Things We Haven’t Even Done Yet in Relationships

We’ve all been there—saying sorry for something that hasn’t even happened yet.

Whether it’s a playful apology for being late before you’ve even left the house, or apologizing in advance for the fight you think you’re bound to have, the Preemptive Apology is a classic relationship behavior.

This meme-worthy moment taps into our shared experience of relationship anxiety and the desire to keep the peace at all costs.

In this post, we’re going deep into the psychology behind the Preemptive Apology, how it’s driven by anticipatory anxiety, and why we often apologize for things that haven’t even occurred.

We’ll add a dash of humor and back it up with social science research, because like most funny relationship memes, there’s a lot more beneath the surface.

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

Emotional U-Haul: Why Some Relationships Move Faster Than a Moving Truck

We’ve all heard of the U-Haul lesbian stereotype: two women go on a date, sparks fly, and by the second date, they’re practically moving in together. It’s a long-running joke in the LGBTQ+ community, but like all good humor, it’s rooted in truth.

Welcome to the world of the Emotional U-Haul, where feelings get packed up and moved in way too soon. But don’t worry—this dynamic isn’t exclusive to lesbians; it can happen to anyone who’s ever fast-tracked a relationship.

Whether you're dating a man, woman, or non-binary partner, if you’ve found yourself emotionally “moving in” way too early, this blog is for you.

So, why does the Emotional U-Haul happen?

Let’s dive into the whirlwind of intense emotions, the science behind quick relationship attachment, and the sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking reality of moving in emotionally before your relationship is fully ready to handle it.

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

The Silent Divorce: How Emotional Disconnection is Quietly Ending Marriages

Marriages are evolving in ways that were once unimaginable. One concept that is quietly emerging in social media discussions and relationship blogs is the Silent Divorce.

While not a legal divorce, a Silent Divorce refers to a situation where married couples stay together legally but become emotionally disconnected, living parallel lives under the same roof.

This growing phenomenon is becoming increasingly common as couples face emotional distance while maintaining the outward appearance of a stable marriage.

This post-pandemic reality has created fertile ground for the Silent Divorce concept to spread across online platforms, mirroring the rise of "quiet quitting" in the workplace.

While couples may not experience outright conflict or fights, the absence of emotional intimacy signals a significant breakdown in the relationship. As many social scientists and marriage therapists note, emotional disengagement can be as damaging as open conflict in a marriage (Markman et al., 2010).

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

Lacan, Reich, and Trumpism: Unraveling the Unconscious Forces Behind Political Idolatry

When we think about Trumpism, it's easy to focus on political arguments, media coverage, or even social media debates.

But if we take a step back and look at Trumpism through the lens of psychoanalysis, things get even more interesting.

In this post, we’re going to dive into two fascinating thinkers, Jacques Lacan and Wilhelm Reich, and how their theories can help us better understand the powerful psychological forces that fuel movements like Trumpism.

Let’s explore how Lacan’s ideas of identification and desire and Reich’s thoughts on repression and authoritarianism help explain why Trumpism has such a hold on many of its followers—and why, for some, it feels more like a personal connection than a political preference.

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

Book Review and Discussion: A Generation of Sociopaths: How the Baby Boomers Betrayed America by Bruce Cannon Gibney

In A Generation of Sociopaths: How the Baby Boomers Betrayed America, Bruce Cannon Gibney argues that the Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964) is largely responsible for America’s current economic, political, and environmental crises.

Gibney's thesis rests on the assertion that this generation, blessed with unprecedented post-war prosperity, acted in ways that served their short-term interests while ignoring or outright harming the long-term well-being of society.

He labels their collective behavior as "sociopathic"—marked by a lack of empathy for future generations—and draws a compelling, data-driven case for how Boomer-driven policies have set the country on a dangerous path.

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

Hugh Hefner Meets Paige Young in Hell

Hugh Hefner stepped off the escalator into Hell like a man who thought he’d arrived at another one of his parties, half-expecting someone to hand him a drink and say, "Welcome, Hef."

But there was no red carpet, no silk-clad women, no velvet ropes. Just a thick, sticky heat and the sulfuric stench of rot that clung to him like a bad cologne. Hell had no use for luxury.

He lit his pipe—one of the few things they didn’t take from him—and made his way through the crowd of lost souls. His silk robe clung to him in the swelter, no longer a symbol of his control but a joke, a relic of his long-expired myth.

That’s when he saw her.

Paige Young. She was seated in the far corner, her face expressionless, but her eyes locked on him the moment he entered. No emotion, no drama—just the cold stare of someone who’s been waiting a very long time.

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