3 Factors That Will Keep You Stuck

Plus why small talk causes anxiety. [View this email in your browser]( Welcome to your weekly mental health break. Keeping you updated on all things psychology, relationship & mental-health related. [3 Factors That Will Keep You Stuck - If You Let Them]( Countless good people who try to to change for the better have been derailed by three very predictable experiences that they encounter along the way. [Why Small Talk Causes Anxiety]( Small talk is something that has the appearance of being easy, yet it's actually a thorn in most people's sides. [Addicted to Your Smartphone? It Might Not Be What You Think It Is]( It might be time to put down the smartphone - and the negative social comparisons that come with it. [How to Get Rid of Negative Energy]( Although not quantifiable, negative energy is real. Here's how to clear the air! [20 Nourishing Rituals to Try]( Rituals can calm or energize us, as they root us to ourselves, to others, and to our world. News & Views [Are Human Brains Hardwired for Laziness?]( Our brains may be hardwired to prefer relaxing on the couch over something active. Find out why! [Bosses Who Procrastinate May Breed Contempt in Their Staffs]( Repercussions can escalate beyond taking unnecessary sick days to becoming abusive to colleagues and stealing office supplies. [Performing Acts of Kindness Can Reduce Depression in Disagreeable People]( Implementing new behaviors may leave them feeling affirmed and liked in their close social circle. [Seeing Yourself as Busy Can Bolster Self-Control]( When we perceive ourselves to be busy, it boosts our self-esteem, tipping the balance in favor of more virtuous choices. [Big Data Study Challenges Thinking on Personality Types]( Established psychological paradigms on personality types may need to be revised. World of Psychology [How Do You Know If You Are a Good Person?]( Some have blind spots when it comes to attitude that leads to faux pas and missteps. It is what we do with our oops moments that places it on one side of the line or the other. [Want to Be #RelationshipGoals? Avoid These Roadblocks]( We all want to be that “perfect” couple, but there are a few ways we keep it from happening. [Let Go of Perfectionism with These 3 Shifts]( The trap of perfectionism will leave you feeling perpetually frustrated, stressed, unacknowledged, or like you never measure up. [How to Relieve Depression Naturally]( By improving these three areas of our lives, people struggling with depression will certainly feel better. [Trial, Meet Error: The Story of a Pharmacy Regular]( While medication can lower the volume on the depressive radio, it can come with its own set of challenges. Best of Our Blogs [14 Ways to Improve Your Connections With Other People]( (Cultivating Contentment & Happiness) - By honing your empathy skills, you can be a soothing presence in a world that desperately needs more demonstrations of compassion. [Crafting to Interrupt Rumination in Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD]( (Crafting to Heal) - There are times when you need to just find relief from the ever-present thoughts that are circulating in your head. Crafting can provide that relief. [When a Man Overdoses, Why Do We Blame the Spouse?]( (Sex & Intimacy in the Digital Age) - When a famous man fails and dies, somehow our cultural grief shifts to the wives and girlfriends who “couldn’t save them.” [Mothers and their Adult Daughters: Should They Be Friends?]( (Full Heart, Empty Arms) - Our blogger has an angle on this question that may put a new complexion on it. [Perfect Parents: Why Your Adult Children are SO Ticked Off At YOU]( (Narcissism Meets Normalcy) - By engaging in such extreme, abnormal parenting, they ensured our unhappiness. Your Weekly Mental Health Break Feel free to forward to a friend or share on social media! Need to update your newsletter preferences? [Update your profile here]( We love to hear from you! Please send any feedback you may have to us at: talkback@psychcentral.com [The Psych Central Show Podcast]( [Mental Health in the Workplace]( Most of us spend a large portion of our days exposed to stressors at work, and many of us are already dealing with some sort of mental health issue unrelated to our jobs. [Ask the Therapist]( [Am I on the Spectrum?]( I have battled with my idiosyncrasies since I was a little girl. I always thought I was merely particular, maybe slightly obsessive. However, after having a child my “sensitivities” if... [What’s Wrong with Me?]( I grew up a straight A student but a few things happened 5 years ago and I’m not the same. Anger is the only emotion I can... [Can Workplace Stress Cause PTSD?]( So I worked in an industry which is well known for boasting a “toxic” work environment for some 5 years. Throughout this time, I loved my job and... [Am I Being Paranoid?]( So recently there has been a feeling of uneasiness regarding my family. I don’t... Check Out What's New on Psych Central [Introducing Conflict without Casualties]( You’ve probably experienced first-hand how pervasive and difficult conflict is, and wondered if there is a better way. Well, there is! Follow along with our new blog, Conflict without Casualties to learn strategies. [What's Your Personality Type?]( Our personalities determine how we interact with the world around us, from co-workers to loved ones. The more you know about your own personality, the better able you are to understand and benefit from those interactions. Our 16-Type Jungian Personality Test will give you your four-letter personality type (like the Myers-Briggs). It takes just a few minutes to complete, and you'll get an instant, free result. [Discover your personality type today!]( [Join Our Community]( Psych Central's 250+ support groups are available 24/7 and filled with compassionate, caring people -- just like you! [Join and share with over 500,000 fellow members today](. Join our daily conversation on [Facebook]( Follow us on [Twitter]( Copyright © 2018 Psych Central, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to a Psych Central Newsletter at our website, PsychCentral.com, or you attended one of our free webinars. Our mailing address is: Psych Central PO Box 5464Bradford, MA 01835 [Add us to your address book](//psychcentral.us1.list-manage.com/vcard?u=4067d0c4623bc1525f5851621&id=c648d0eafd) Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.