In this episode we dive deeper into what resilience is, is it something we are born with, what makes us resilient and how we can become more resilient.

Social media has turned relationships into a checklist. We’re constantly told to “find someone secure.” That avoidant people are walking red flags and anxious partners are just “too much”.

Attachment styles are presented as something we are born with, instead of what they really are: dynamic patterns.

In this episode, we explore:

- origins of Attachment theory

- how to identify your attachment style

- whether we can change it

- how to use it in a healthy way for our relationships

... plus some more!

Sources & interesting reads:

• Attachment quiz: https://quiz.attachmentproject.com/

• https://www.attachmentproject.com/⁠

• https://www.verywellmind.com/john-bowlby-biography-1907-1990-2795514

• Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

• Fraley, R. C., Roisman, G. I., Booth-LaForce, C., Owen, M. T., & Holland, A. S. (2013). Interpersonal and Genetic Origins of Adult Attachment Styles: A Longitudinal Study From Infancy to Early Adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(5), 817–838. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031435
• Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2023). Sensitive responsiveness in expectant and new fathers. Current Opinion in Psychology, 50, Article 101580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101580

In this episode I talk about FOMO, a phenomenon that feels especially strong in the social media era. How can we recognize it and what can we do about it?

Sources & interesting reads:

• Przybylski, A. K., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C. R., & Gladwell, V. (2013). Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4), 1841–1848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.02.014

• Elhai, J. D., Yang, H., & Montag, C. (2021). Fear of missing out (FOMO): overview, theoretical underpinnings, and literature review on relations with severity of negative affectivity and problematic technology use. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 43(2), 203–209. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-4446-2020-0870

• https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/fear-of-missing-out-fomo

• https://www.thewellnesscorner.com/blog/transforming-fomo-to-jomo

• https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CentreforMentalHealth_Briefing_53_Social_Media.pdf

• https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/anxiety-loneliness-and-fear-missing-out-impact-social-media-young-peoples-mental-health/

• https://socialmediavictims.org/mental-health/fomo/#:~:text=Anxiety%20about%20missing%20out%20prompts,media%20and%20perpetuates%20the%20cycle

• “FoMO” is a key risk factor for mental health and burnout at work. (2024). In Mental Health Weekly Digest (p. 346). NewsRX LLC.

• Yuksel, P., & Zhang, W. (2025). A brief report on making meaning of FoMO: post-Covid mental health and wellbeing in Minority Serving Institute. Discover Mental Health, 5(1), Article 99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00240-3

• Kong, L., Sun, H., He, W., & Hu, W. (2024). Distraction or motivation? Unraveling the role of fear of missing out on college students’ learning engagement. BMC Psychology, 12(1), Article 687. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02164-z

We talk about identity like it’s fixed, but it’s not.

What is identity actually? In this episode, we explore how identity shows up in our work, on social media, and in everyday life, and how we can get to know ourselves a little better along the way.

Sources & interesting reads:

• Erikson, E.H. (1968). Identity: youth and crisis.

• van Doeselaar, L., Becht, A. I., Klimstra, T. A., & Meeus, W. H. J. (2018). A Review and Integration of Three Key Components of Identity Development: Distinctiveness, Coherence, and Continuity. European Psychologist, 23(4), 278–288. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000334

• • Bogaerts, A., Claes, L., Raymaekers, K., Buelens, T., Bastiaens, T., & Luyckx, K. (2023). Trajectories of adaptive and disturbed identity dimensions in adolescence: Developmental associations with self-esteem, resilience, symptoms of depression, and borderline personality disorder features.
  • https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-21802-020
  • https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html

In this mini Christmas bonus we explore 'what if Christmas didn’t have to be perfect?' 🎁 Join me as I reflect on clever ways to give, receive, and simply BE without chasing perfection.

Sources & interesting reads:

• https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/holiday-stress-brain

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-you-and-me/201612/why-expectations-can-ruin-the-holidays

• Kasser, T., & Sheldon, K. M. (2002). What Makes for a Merry Christmas? Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(4), 313–329. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021516410457

Rest is soo much more than sleep! In this episode we are diving deeper into 7 types of rest in psychology, signs you may need them and how to properly rest.

Take the rest quiz here: https://www.restquiz.com/home-page

Sources & interesting reads:

• Bernhofer, E. I. (2016). Investigating the concept of rest for research and practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 72(5), 1012–1022. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12910

• https://www.apa.org/topics/sleep

• Asp M. Rest: A Health-Related Phenomenon and Concept in Caring Science: A Health-Related Phenomenon and Concept in Caring Science. Global Qualitative Nursing Research. 2015;2. doi:10.1177/2333393615583663

• Fan, J., Li, W., Lin, M., Li, X., & Deng, X. (2023). Effects of mindfulness and fatigue on emotional processing: an event-related potentials study. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17, 1175067. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1175067

• Park, B.-J., Choi, Y., Lee, J.-S., Ahn, Y.-C., Lee, E.-J., & Son, C.-G. (2024). Effectiveness of meditation for fatigue management: Insight from a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry, 91, 33–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2024.08.001

• Juul, L., Bonde, E. H., & Fjorback, L. O. (2023). Altered self-reported resting state mediates the effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on mental health: a longitudinal path model analysis within a community-based randomized trial with 6-months follow-up. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1154277. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1154277

• https://www.apa.org/topics/mental-health/seven-rest-types

• https://www.verywellmind.com/types-of-rest-11794029#toc-the-7-types-of-rest-and-how-to-get-more-of-each

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/forest-bathing-nature-walk-health

• https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/hygge

• https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2023/06/13/hawaiian-word-of-the-week-hooponopono/

Shorter days and colder weather have an effect on our brains that not many people are aware of. I bet you find yourself feeling different in the colder seasons, perhaps a bit more tired, hangry, less social. This makes total psychological sense!

But why?

In this episode, I am exploring what our brains need in this cozy season and sharing some practical tips so we can get through the season feeling a bit more alive!

Sources & interesting reads:

• Lambert, G., Reid, C., Kaye, D., Jennings, G., & Esler, M. (2002). Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain. The Lancet (British Edition), 360(9348), 1840–1842. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11737-5

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/neuroscience-in-everyday-life/201911/winter-brain-why-do-we-feel-sad-and-tired-in-winter

• https://beyondhealingcounseling.com/how-seasonal-changes-affect-mental-health/#2-the-science-behind-seasonal-changes-and-mental-health

• Kamfar, W. W., Khraiwesh, H. M., Ibrahim, M. O., Qadhi, A. H., Azhar, W. F., Ghafouri, K. J., Alhussain, M. H., Aldairi, A. F., AlShahrani, A. M., Alghannam, A. F., Abdulal, R. H., Al-Slaihat, A. H., Qutob, M. S., Elrggal, M. E., Ghaith, M. M., & Azzeh, F. S. (2024). Comprehensive review of melatonin as a promising nutritional and nutraceutical supplement. Heliyon, 10(2), Article e24266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24266

• Kim, K., Kim, J., Jung, S., Kim, H.-W., Kim, H.-S., Son, E., Ko, D. S., Yoon, S., Kim, B. S., Kim, W. K., Lim, C., Kim, K., Lee, D., & Kim, Y. H. (2025). Global prevalence of seasonal affective disorder by latitude: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 390, Article 119807. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119807

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

• https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad-more-than-the-winter-blues

• Gasmi, A., Nasreen, A., Menzel, A., Gasmi Benahmed, A., Pivina, L., Noor, S., Peana, M., Chirumbolo, S., & Bjørklund, G. (2022). Neurotransmitters Regulation and Food Intake: The Role of Dietary Sources in Neurotransmission. Molecules, 28(1), 210. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010210

• Akula, R., Giridhar, P., & Ravishankar, G. A. (2011). Phytoserotonin: A review. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 6(6), 800–809. https://doi.org/10.4161/psb.6.6.15242

• Kurauchi, Y., Devkota, H. P., Hori, K., Nishihara, Y., Hisatsune, A., Seki, T., & Katsuki, H. (2019). Anxiolytic activities of Matcha tea powder, extracts, and fractions in mice: Contribution of dopamine D1 receptor- and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor-mediated mechanisms. Journal of Functional Foods, 59, 301–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2019.05.046

• Fujihira, K., Takahashi, M., Wang, C., & Hayashi, N. (2023). Factors explaining seasonal variation in energy intake: a review. Frontiers in Nutrition (Lausanne), 10, 1192223. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1192223

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15050-vitamin-d-vitamin-d-deficiency

• 
  https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/Surprising-Ways-Shorter-Days-Affect-Your-Brain-infographic

In this post-Halloween episode, we dive into the question of 'Why some of us love being scared?' From horror movies to thrill activities, we break down what happens in the brain when fear turns into fun. Plus, we explore personality traits that make certain people crave chills while others would rather run the other way.