A blog about emotions, relationships, and what shapes our lives

Someone does not get in touch when we need them to. Work we have put considerable effort into does not lead where we had hoped. We notice that, once again, we have agreed to something we wanted to say no to. Disappointment can arise in small everyday moments and in circumstances that shape an entire life. Something we hoped for, needed or counted on turned out differently. Sometimes we know immediately what we are disappointed about. At other times, it surfaces as irritation,

An argument can begin with something small: a question about who was going to do the shopping, a comment about someone being late, or a message that went unanswered. Before long, the conversation is no longer about what happened. One person feels accused; the other feels left alone with the responsibility. Both try to explain themselves, but come away feeling misunderstood. When this happens repeatedly, it is natural to wonder: How do we stop arguing? How can we live together

When we want something to change, we move between several points in time at once. In our minds, we can return to what has been, attend to what is happening now, and imagine a future that does not yet exist. This flexibility helps us understand our experiences, orient ourselves in life, and consider what we want to change. Yet moving between different points in time can also make change more complicated. The past may continue to influence how we interpret a current situation.

Fewer men than women seek psychotherapy. This does not necessarily mean that men are doing better or have less need for support. Many seek help only when their difficulties have become difficult to ignore: when a relationship is at risk of ending, sleep is persistently disrupted, panic attacks have become overwhelming, anger is affecting other people, or work has become difficult to manage. Men’s reluctance to seek help is sometimes explained by saying that they do not want t

Loneliness is part of life, but it can take many different forms. We can be alone without feeling lonely and experience profound loneliness even when we have people around us. Longing for connection and belonging is deeply human. When the connection we need is missing, loneliness can affect both our well-being and how we see ourselves and others. At the same time, loneliness is not necessarily about how many people we have around us. It may instead concern the quality of our

Grief is a natural part of being human. We grieve when we lose someone or something that has mattered to us—a person, a relationship, our health, a job, or a future we had imagined. Loss changes us, but it does not have to mean that life comes to a halt. Grief rarely follows a straight path. It changes over time and affects our emotions, bodies, thoughts, and relationships. In therapy, the aim is not to take grief away, but to understand it and gradually find one’s bearings i

Most people think a great deal at times. We try to understand what has happened, plan for the future, or consider important decisions. Sometimes, however, thinking becomes something else. The same questions return again and again without leading us forward. Our thoughts begin to revolve around what has already happened or what might happen, and it becomes difficult to let them go. Overthinking and rumination are common sources of psychological distress. At the same time, they

Perfectionism is often associated with high ambitions and a desire to do things well. Being conscientious, engaged, and eager to develop is not in itself a problem. On the contrary, these qualities can help us learn, create, and accomplish what matters to us. But perfectionism is not only about what we want to achieve. It may also concern what we fear will happen if we do not succeed. A mistake then becomes more than a mistake. It may feel like a sign that we are not competen