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Two people sit at a table with coffee cups, near a window overlooking a rainy scene with parked cars and trees in the background.

Worry and rumination

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Rehashing your problems with friends can turn into a bad habit

Although ‘co-rumination’ bolsters relationships in some ways, it also distracts from other, better coping methods

by Shayla Love

Painting of a heron perched on a branch against a gold background. The bird is depicted in fine detail with white feathers and a green beak, while the branch is rendered in dark, bold strokes. Traditional Asian calligraphy with red seals is present in the lower right corner.

Difficult emotions

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What to do when you’re feeling upset about being disliked

It’s an unavoidable part of life. Here are some tried and tested ways to get more comfortable with someone not liking you

by Ahona Guha

A woman with long blonde hair and a striped blue and yellow jumper takes a selfie, smiling broadly. Behind her, a living room is visible with a large potted plant, a grey couch, and wall shelves with small plants and decor items. A clock is fixed on the wall in the background.

Emotions

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What makes ‘toxic positivity’ different from a healthy attitude

Influencers and self-help gurus are preaching a form of positive psychology that risks doing more harm than good

by Lucas Dixon

A person in a red costume with wings stands in front of a row of portable toilets on grass.

Emotion regulation

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The psychology of impatience could make waiting more tolerable

New studies on the experience of impatience suggest there’s more to it than simply how long you’ve been left hanging

by Matt Huston

Kim Kardashian in a sparkling dress walks down an aisle, waving, as people on either side clap and cheer.

Trauma and PTSD

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Maladaptive daydreaming made me feel trapped in my own mind

Extended daydreams were a much-needed escape, but turned into a compulsion that crowded out my waking activities

by Zainab Al-Hassani

Edge of an asteroid against the blackness of space, with scattered stars and debris visible in the distance.

Memoir

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What I learned about coping and resilience from asteroid Bennu

After hitting an emotional low, I found myself identifying with an asteroid that looks deceptively solid on the outside

by Elizabeth Landau

Child in a polka-dotted top enthusiastically holding and about to eat a slice of rainbow cake with multiple colourful layers.

Memory and nostalgia

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You can feel nostalgia for things that you haven’t yet lost

Nostalgia is a longing for the past, but psychologists are coming to realise it can focus on the future too

by Shayla Love

A black-and-white photo showing a man smiling with three children, all dressed warmly in jackets and hats.

Trauma and PTSD

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Many refugees carry a distinct type of trauma: ‘moral injury’

Trauma is usually fear-based, but refugees are also burdened by witnessing moral violations and their own ethical dilemmas

by Angela Nickerson & Philippa Specker

Abstract image with textured orange and purple hues, featuring a dark silhouette of a person in the centre on an ageing, rough paper background.

Personality disorders

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People with BPD need compassion yet even clinicians stigmatise them

Both clinicians and laypeople misunderstand and stigmatise borderline personality disorder. Those who have it deserve better

by Sara Rose Masland & Hannah E A Peeples

Close-up of a person with glasses looking out of a window with sunlight illuminating their face and hair from the side.

Worry and rumination

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Stuck in a loop of worrying thoughts? Here’s how to stop it

Dwelling on your difficulties might feel like problem-solving, but it can be pernicious. There are tools to stop the habit

by Megan L Rogers

Black and white photo of a woman with braided hair embracing a man who has his eyes closed, both looking pensive and emotional.

Emotion regulation

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Heartbreak is more than a metaphor. Are you at risk?

Heartbreak is more than a metaphor, but not everyone is at risk. Why does it kill some and spare others?

by Sian Harding

Set of Ukrainian stamps depicting a soldier facing a ship with a “Moscow” stamp labelled “DONE” and the date 14.04.2022. Text in Ukrainian.

Laughter and comedy

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A sense of humour – even a dark one – is a moral virtue

A sense of humour is a moral virtue that can help people flourish, even in dire conditions that are conducive to unhappiness

by Mark Alfano & Mandi Astola