There are many contexts in which people experience anxiety. One that is very common relates to the threat of social exclusion. In this post I look at the ins and outs of what some folks call "social exclusion anxiety".
Read moreMisery Hates Company
We’ve all heard that old saying, “Misery loves company”, and we all know what it means: people who are suffering seek the company of others who are also suffering. But what happens after those people get together? In this post I explore the relationship between depression and social isolation, and how positive social relationships can help.
Read moreGrief: You're Not Going Crazy
It’s something most people can relate to: experiences of loss and change that turn your world upside down. These experiences are often related to grief or mourning. The social responses we receive around these experiences can have a lot to do with how we adjust, heal and recover. Negative social responses are common, and are emblematic of the fact that there are a lot of regressive and inaccurate ideas in mainstream culture about grief and loss.
Read moreThe Power of Words & Social Responses
We’ve likely all heard counter-arguments and annoyed protest from those who wish to believe that words are just words – often to excuse themselves for saying things with harmful implications. But words aren’t just words. Language provides the building blocks for meaning, and meaning informs action.
Read more