IFLScience

Caught In A "Dopamine Trap" – What Does That Mean?

Parade

This tip can keep even boundary-adverse narcissists in check.

'I've Studied Psychology for 20 Years—Here's the #1 Way to Hold Boundaries With a Narcissist'

A set of three studies showed that lonely individuals tend to trust others more, but expect those others to be less trustworthy. The situation was reversed in extraverted individuals, who also tended to be less lonely. The research was published in the British Journal of Psychology. Loneliness is a distressing...

Loneliness has as strange relationship with trust, new research shows

New York Post

Do you ever feel like you’ve been put on pause?

A therapist’s explanation of stress resonated with TikTok users after a patient shared their wise words in a recent post on the app.

“My therapist told me,” the user wrote in a recent text-based video with 2.7 million views. “The reason you are in bed rotting each day, won’t text people back and won’t leave the house is because you are stuck in ‘functional freeze’ after living with such extreme stress that your brain feels disassociated from your body, so even the simplest of tasks now feel overwhelming.”



While not a bona fide...

What is ‘functional freeze’? Therapist explains why you’re overwhelmed by everyday tasks

People-pleasers often endure ongoing invalidation based on how others treat them. Pleasing others doesn't win their love and respect. It's essential to re-evaluate perceptions and decisions about what it means to be a good person. Many people believe that being kind, gentle, and agreeable will guarantee love and acceptance from...

Breaking the Pattern of the Need to Please

Relationships are a two-way street in all aspects. While partners do cover for each other every now and then, there still needs to be a certain level of balance. Over the past few decades, the institution of marriage in the United States has seen a significant decline of about 60% since the 1970s, reports CNBC. While there are various factors contributing to this trend, content creator Katie Hanlon—who goes by @thekatiehanlon on TikTok—has mentioned some less-discussed yet crucial factors that can often lead to relationship breakdowns.

Woman explains how marriages are ending because of the inability of men to talk about emotions

Colorado State

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David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Kentucky State

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to Anne Milgram, administrator for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Wednesday, expressing his support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation that the DEA ease restrictions on marijuana.

Gov. Andy Beshear pens letter to DEA in support of easing federal restrictions on marijuana

Experts agree that social media use may be compromising young people’s mental health. Several factors drive adolescents to over-use social media — from peer pressure to boredom. Virtual reality and social media cannot substitute for real-world play and social interactions. To promote good mental health, consider limiting social...

Developing Teen Brains and Social Media

Denver, CO

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

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Shin

We all experience moments of social awkwardness, and that's perfectly normal. Being socially awkward doesn’t necessarily mean you lack social intelligence. In fact, many highly socially intelligent individuals, like Salma Hayek, Jessica Simpson, and Oprah Winfrey, have been labeled as awkward at times.

The 5 Mistakes a Socially Intelligent Person Will Never Make

The Denver City Council will vote Monday whether pump about $580,000 into its jail-based RISE, or Recovery in a Secure Environment program. The council will consider contracts for $389,434 and $193,475 through Sept. 30, 2025, with the Mile High Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and The Empowerment Program. Inmates enrolled in the RISE program spend much of their time out of their cells during the day engaging in therapeutic activities. There are group sessions and one on one treatment.

Jail-based drug, mental health recovery program costs Denver $580,000 for a year

You've likely heard the adage, “A leopard can’t change its spots,” suggesting that personality is set in stone early on. But the notion that personality is fixed is a common misconception. Recall your younger self—perhaps you were more carefree, or maybe you've become more adventurous as you aged. And, indeed, recent research is beginning to uncover how personality traits are malleable and can evolve over time.

Why Certain Life Events Could Change Your Personality Traits

Difficult interactions with other people can activate our nervous system's fight/flight/freeze mode. When we're defensive and reactive, we often feel empowered and in control; in reality, we've lost control. Our greatest power and strength comes when we can access our full selves, and that requires taking a pause. As a...

Your Peace Is Your Power

More dangerous substances are entering the Denver drug supply, Harm Reduction Action Center warned in a newsletter this week. “The Iron Law of Prohibition posits that as law enforcement becomes more intense, the potency of prohibited substances increases,” HRAC Executive Director Lisa Raville wrote in the newsletter. That is exactly what is happening, she said.

Dangerous substances entering Denver drug supply

Sometimes, a relationship can be harmful even without obvious conflicts. Subtle behaviors can erode the foundation of mutual respect and care, often unnoticed until the damage is substantial.

How a Simple Test Can Uncover Subtle Toxicity in Relationships

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Declutterbuzz

Have you ever wondered if your home mirrors your true self? Just like people present their best selves on social media, our homes can showcase our personalities and lifestyles. Does your home reflect who you are? I hope so because this will make you the most comfortable.

Decluttering | Does Your Home Reflect Who You Are

Researchers from the Netherlands have uncovered new insights into the emotional processing deficits in psychopathic individuals. The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, reveals that psychopathic patients exhibit significantly weaker short-latency facial muscle responses to happy expressions compared to non-psychopathic individuals. This impairment in mimicking emotional facial expressions may contribute to the well-documented empathy deficits observed in psychopathy, suggesting a potential biomarker for this personality disorder.

Pulling off the ‘mask of sanity’: Psychopathic patients exhibit reduced mimicry of happy facial expressions

Deciding whether to end a relationship is a complex and challenging process. Should one put in more effort to make things work, or is it time to accept that too much energy has already been expended?

Should You End a Relationship? Research Reveals Key Factors to Consider

Washington, DC

If Americans gave up fireworks, paper towels and lipstick, the nation would save enough money to end homelessness, according to Tiffany Manuel. Manuel gave the keynote address Monday at the National Alliance to End Homelessness’s annual convention in Washington, D.C. Stinging from a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized the criminalization of homelessness, non-profit workers, homeless advocates, policymakers, and more plan to get fired up about serving the unhoused.

The cost of ending homelessness: Lipstick, fireworks and paper towels

NewsBreak

LLMs: A Shift From Dopamine Hits to Cognitive Conversations

LLMs offer a form of digital engagement, shifting from quick dopamine hits to sustained cognitive interaction. This AI-driven dialogue may activate a broader range of neurotransmitters...

LLMs: A Shift From Dopamine Hits to Cognitive Conversations

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