Shelby Murphy

Not everyone alive today will reach old age. However, it’s hard to see aging as the gift and privilege it is because society is geared toward youth and the young. The beauty and wellness industry, advertising, entertainment, and professional sectors have drilled it into our thinking that old age equates to mental decline, disease, and unhappiness. Not only is this insulting to those who are aging, but it’s incorrect. While there are new challenges to face as you age, [...]

Many people who had a difficult childhood grew up knowing that their parents were the problem, but only much later realized the specific issue was that their parents were narcissistic. Narcissistic parents are self-centered, controlling, or emotionally neglectful and tend to cause much emotional and psychological damage to their children. Sadly, narcissists do not change with age. The first step in dealing with narcissistic parents is to learn the particular tactics they use. If we can’t teach an old dog [...]

We all walk into marriage hoping and praying for the best. When we make our vows at the altar, we pledge our love and loyalty to the man we have chosen to spend the rest of our lives with. When we talk about standing with our partner in sickness and in health during our vows, most of us use physical sickness as a reference, but we rarely think of mental health issues like depression as being in that category. Depression, [...]

We’ve all been angry at one point or another. Perhaps your anger is a thing of legend among your loved ones, or maybe you feel that you don’t struggle with anger. One of the challenging things about anger is that you can’t always predict what will happen and how you’ll react. Anger is one of those big emotions that can overtake you if you aren’t careful or haven’t learned how to regulate your emotions effectively. Anger can show up in [...]

As the cost of living continues to rise, a majority of Americans are struggling to make ends meet and keep up with household expenses. More and more people are living in debt and cannot afford to have emergency savings to turn to on those inevitable rainy days. Amidst these financial struggles, having to care for one’s aging parents can present a significant challenge. Aging in America has become increasingly expensive. Care homes and paid caregivers are unfortunately out of [...]

Menopause is a natural transition for women, but its emotional and mental symptoms are rarely addressed. Society focuses heavily on a girl’s stages of puberty, pregnancy, and post-partum but seems to lessen its focus on menopause and its effects on mental health. Many women struggle with menopause and anxiety due to hormone fluctuations. Menopause: A Natural Transition Menopause is the transitional period between menstruation and post-menopause when a woman stops the menstrual cycle altogether. This transitional period begins in [...]

There’s always something new to learn when you watch nature documentaries, if you’re into that sort of thing. Some of the most fascinating clips are when you look at a setting – it could be in the jungle, a desert, or next to a river – and everything initially appears safe. On closer inspection, however, you find that there’s some creature right there; well camouflaged, but right there, ready to deal death. Often, when it comes to toxic relationships, [...]

There is no doubt that the world we live in feels like a curious mixture of good and bad. Our world has beauty in it, both natural and created by people, but it also has a lot in it that brings tears to one’s eyes. Families are generally a good thing; they are the first place we learn what belonging means, and that’s beautiful. However, families can also be hotbeds of dysfunction, and they can be places of deep [...]

There are many sources of generational family conflict; disagreements, misunderstandings, and tensions that can arise between family members of different generations. These conflicts can be influenced by a variety of factors, including differences in values, beliefs, lifestyles, and communication styles. Have you ever found yourself engaged in a conversation something like this: “Back in my day . . .” “Things aren’t the same for you as they are for me.” “You just don’t want to work.” “Well, you don’t [...]

Dealing with infidelity, separation, or divorce in a marriage is one of the most disruptive, emotionally tumultuous chapters in anyone’s life. It can take years to sort through your emotions and find some kind of closure, enough to move on and start again. Before you see some sort of resolution, however, there will be a period where you cycle through all different kinds of thoughts and feelings. Infidelity doesn’t only damage a marriage, but it causes all manner of harm [...]

Would you consider yourself a person with anger problems? Most of us probably have a mental image of what we think an angry person looks like, and it probably isn’t us. There are some well-known ways to express anger that are often understood to be what anger is all about. Incidents of road rage that go viral, instances of domestic abuse, or fights breaking out between sports fans often come to mind when the word “anger” is mentioned. Anger [...]

Anxiety can interfere with your work, relationships, and goals. For many, the symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heart rate, palpitations, panic attacks, trembling, dizziness, shortness of breath, and physical ailments, cause them to avoid situations that can make them anxious. Learning how to beat anxiety includes skills you can use for years to come. Practical Tips to Beat Anxiety Depending on your anxiety level, you may want to take your time adopting the following tips for how to [...]