Earth Day blew by recently so I started thinking about how spending time in Nature can help heal unhealthy compulsive tendencies. And it occurred to me, the activity we need the most is often the activity that we don’t bother doing. There’s an increasing amount of research which suggests that…

Let’s take a break from formal clinical studies and approach the subject of compulsive perfectionism through the lens of Disney’s animated film Encanto. Encanto demonstrates the transformation from unhealthy compulsive to healthy compulsive at least as effectively as any medical description. …

If you’re a Type A, driven, perfectionist, high-achieving, or obsessive-compulsive parent, you’re probably just as committed to great parenting as you are to achieving in other areas. What is Type A parenting like? Type A parenting, at the far end of a continuum, is characterized by urgency, assertiveness, and competitiveness. …

Living under the constant judgement of an overactive guilt complex can keep us from living a fulfilled life and even cause severe depression. But, first, what is a guilt complex? A healthy guilt complex (and yes, there is a such thing*) is a part of your psychology that helps you…

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) have some similarities that can make them difficult to distinguish. But they are fundamentally different and it’s important to recognize the differences in order to understand yourself or others. Typically, and greatly simplifying, while those with NPD typically need to feel…

According to a study published in 2017, if you have avoidant attachment, that is, if you have trouble trusting that you can depend on other people and don’t allow yourself to get close, you’re more likely to development obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). Avoidant attachment is usually the result of unavailable…

News Flash: After decades of getting people to trust their gut, build confidence in themselves, and stand up for what they think, the world of psychology has a new message: Don’t Be So Sure. In fact, the more certain you are, the less likely it is that you’re correct. And…

People with obsessive-compulsive personality tendencies and Type-A personality are driven to be “good” in some professional, personal, or moral way. They feel a fairly constant internal pressure to do things and do them perfectly. But what for? I believe that much of the effort that goes into being good is…

Being frugal can either enhance or undermine our well-being. Depending on why we do it and how we do it, being frugal may or may not help us to feel good. Let’s see how this plays out with an imaginary client, Franklin: Franklin: My wife tells me I’m being too…