Is your self-image suffering? Do you struggle with body shame issues? If you’re like many people, you may see yourself through critical eyes that tell you you’re not fit enough, thin enough, or as attractive as you’d like to be. From decades of research, I’ve found that many people of all genders suffer from […]| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
We often experience or hear about eating disorders. We talk about them–often behind closed doors–as if they’re something to be ashamed of and ignored. Yet eating disorders–like all mental issues–are complex, highly challenging, and often resistant to change. They deserve our attention. And for anyone who’s been mired in an eating disorder or has had a friend or family member struggle with this issue you know how devastating they can be. And in every case I’ve seen, the road to r...| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
Sex tends to be an important, connective aspect of intimate relationships. But all too often, couples find that they have different sex drives or encounter other sexual issues that leave one or both partners feeling stressed or dissatisfied. This can be especially troublesome when a couple experiences great sex while dating – an indicator […]| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
81. 83. 49. 66. What do these figures have in common? They all relate to burnout–that sense of being utterly depleted, worn out, and chronically exhausted. Recent research shows that work burnout affects 81% of those between ages 18 – 24, 83% of those who are 25 – 34, and 49% of those over 55. When averaged, a whopping 66 percent of working adults report experiencing burnout. Even worse, these figures don’t account for groups such as full-time (stay-at-home) parents, family caregivers...| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
We often hear about the “fight – flight” response, that instinctive reaction to a fear-inducing situation. In fact, you’ve likely witnessed or responded to an actual or perceived threat with protective aggression or a fearful escape. Yet two other hardwired responses–freezing and fawning–are also part of our instinctual repertoire. And while such responses are […]| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
Are you trapped in negative relationship cycles that make you feel stuck and even a little crazy? Do you and your partner have toxic patterns–bouts of fighting, shutting down, or tuning out–that leave you feeling upset, unheard, and unloved? Although we often expect our intimate relationships to be naturally healthy and smooth, unhealthy dynamics […]| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
Feelings of jealousy and envy often bring up a sense of shame or insecurity. Yet both jealousy and envy arise even in early childhood as we vie for parents’ attention, desire a sibling’s toy, or jockey for a positions in friend groups. And, as feelings of romantic love come into our lives, it’s the big emotion of jealousy than can have a way of creeping deeper into our relationships. If left unchecked, jealousy can foster anxiety, tension, resentment, and worse. But I’ve found that if...| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
Do you struggle with co-dependency? Is there a narcissist in your life whose abusive tactics are eroding your joy, self-confidence, and energy? Unfortunately, issues like these are widespread in today’s world, and they affect people of all ages and genders. And given the prevalence of both narcissistic abuse and co-dependency, it’s likely that you […]| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
We often believe that we should naturally have healthy habits that help us be our best selves. We expect ourselves to automatically know how to care for ourselves in ways that will make us look and feel as close to “perfect” as possible. Yet, in real life, most of our habits are learned and formed unconsciously–often early in life as a response to family dynamics and other forces below our radar. And given the strength of these hardwired patterns, it’s all too easy to fall back into o...| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
Anxiety can creep into our minds, bodies, and lives in the sneakiest of ways. From chronic bouts of anxious thoughts to full blown panic attacks, anxiety can wreak on our internal and external worlds. And although we often think that we should be able to conquer anxiety just by pushing it away or taking […]| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
Women are often expected to play nice, serve others, and do as they are told with a big smile. And if a woman learns to stand up for herself, she’s often described as aggressive, controlling, or worse – simply for stating her opinions or tending to her needs. As a clinical psychologist and woman, I’ve found that an abundance of societal and cultural factors contributes to the limitation and erosion of women’s self-confidence and authenticity. If you feel like you’ve had to live smal...| Carla Marie Manly, PhD
