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Emotion regulation

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Illustration of a closed café with a person sitting alone, chairs stacked, abstract art on walls, dimly lit interior.

Emotion regulation

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Solitude can be profoundly restorative. Here’s how to savour it

Time alone offers unique psychological benefits, once you learn to embrace these quiet moments rather than escape them

by Thuy-vy Nguyen

Painting of a woman reclining on a red chair against a red background wearing a black dress and holding a white cloth.

Sadness and sorrow

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Avoiding sadness can backfire, here’s how to turn towards it

Everyone has stretches of sadness. Shifting how you think about and relate to sad feelings could help you through these times

by Beth Kurland

Photo of a black sign with yellow text reading ‘Way out’ and a left-pointing arrow, mounted on a white brick wall.

Emotion regulation

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If feelings for an ex are troubling you, try ‘opposite action’

Acting on misguided feelings of love only fuels the emotional fire. Learn to let the fire burn out with these DBT-based tips

by Kiki Fehling

A woman looking anxious on a subway train

Goals and motivation

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Eight ways to give yourself a pep talk when you feel stuck

All of us could do with more words of encouragement and perspective, and they don’t need to come from another person

by Rachel Goldsmith Turow

In a dark room a woman is asleep under a duvet and a guitar is leaning against the wall

Sleep problems

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What to do when racing thoughts keep you up at night

Any attempts to escape your mind or make yourself sleep are likely to backfire. Try these expert tips instead

by Matt Huston

A man gives another seated man a hug. They are both laughing

Emotion regulation

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Are emotionally resilient people also skilled at soothing others?

Research on the social side of emotion management is showing what’s distinctive about it – and its benefits for all involved

by Christian Jarrett

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

Person with curly hair eating a slice of pizza, with a background of blurred lights and greenery.

Emerging therapies

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The reason little noises drive you mad is about more than sounds

Fascinating research into ‘misophonia’ – an intolerance to specific sounds – is revealing an important role for context

by Nathaniel Scharping

A woman holding a white flower sits on a kerb amid a crowd of standing people at an outdoor event.

Forgiveness

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Must you forget to forgive? A scientist tests the relationship

Forgiveness is colloquially linked with fading memory – but research is probing what it really means to let go of wrongdoing

by Shayla Love

A smiling family hold hands and play on a sunny beach with their retriever dog

Happiness

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As a psychiatrist, I’ve seen how chasing happiness leads to misery

My clinical work has shown me that happiness is a ghost that’s not worth pursuing – there are far wiser goals in life

by Rafa Euba

A woman in a high-visibility jacket talks to two men on a street with cars and stacks of pallets in the background.

Emotions

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Some emotions seem to be more ‘elastic’ than others

New research findings suggest that guilt behaves like an on-off switch whereas anger is more elastic and dial-controlled

by Matt Huston

A rotating antique globe in brass and other materials seen from above

Freedom and choice

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Recognise free will is an illusion and reap the emotional benefits

The idea that all our choices are determined by past events may seem dispiriting – but it can be emotionally liberating

by Francis Merson