Topic directory

Browse Relationship Advice

Explore articles, websites, videos, experts, and events for Relationship Advice.

Topic overview

Official Guide for Relationship Advice

Dave Shields

Dave Shields is the Official SelfGrowth Guide for Relationship Advice.

Search all public Relationship Advice content. Filters and sorting do not require an account.

Relationship Advice

9,233 content items in Relationship Advice

Search or sort the general results below.

SortRecommendedRecentPopularRated
Article
Official Guide
How Well Do You Know Your Partner?

For my birthday last year my wife made up a beautifully framed picture of my name, and then unde eath it she listed 32 positive qualities I possess. Needless to say, it was one of the finest gifts I have ever received. Some of the qualities even taught me about me. After that wonderful ...For my birthday last ...

11,789 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
PLAYING TETRIS WITH TIME MANAGEMENT

There I was, running around trying to juggle umpteen items nand doing only a fair job of it at best. There was my ntherapy business, and I have been putting big pieces into nplace to add coaching to my business along with having to nprepare a presentation for an annual convention. Then ...

5,606 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
Trouble Sleeping? Insomnia Cures Are Here!

I yawn, stretch my arms behind my head and stare at the ceiling. I've been in bed for a few minutes. Ahhh, the peaceful quiet all around. The room is dark. The kids are asleep. It's an expansive moment for my mind. My mind seems to fill the entire room. Okay, it's been 20 minutes now. The ...

4,464 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
Do You Love Someone Who Suffers From Depression?

Relationships in which one individual is depressed are ninetimes more likely to divorce. Wow, the normal divorce rateis already over 60% nationally! But, it's not always aspouse who is depressed, sometimes it is a child or anextended family member. In this article, however, we'll be focusing ...

4,461 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
Faith and Depression

Don't worry, I'm not going to get in the pulpit but I willchallenge you to take an objective look at what faith maybe able to do for your depression. In doing so, we'll belooking at many people who use faith in different ways. Did you know that someone who practices healing touch, suchas ...

4,384 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
Light Up Your Life: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Ah yes, the you can just now begin to feel the cold bite in the air during the mornings and evenings. Soon the leaves will turn all sorts of brilliant colors. The autumn season is on it's way. I love the fall. It's my favorite season of the year. Unfortunately, for many who suffer from a ...

3,948 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
DEPRESSION OR A MEDICAL CONDITION?

Are you suffering from depression or a medical condition? Depression can be a symptom of an undiagnosed medical condition. Decision trees are used in psychotherapy much like they are in other professions. At the top of the decision tree are always two items to rule out FIRST, before making a ...

3,475 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
Grief And The Holidays

The holidays bring grief to an all new height for those who are nsuffering from losses or struggle with depression, anxiety, nchronic illness or other such disorders. This newsletter is for nthose who suffer and for those who love them. If it's a merry Christmas for you, please take a moment ...

3,299 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
HOW TO CHOOSE A COMPETENT THERAPIST

I received a disturbing email this week. It's one of many on the same theme which I have received over time, so I knew it was time to address this issue. Here's the story. A young lady's boyfriend went to see a doctor for depression. She shared with me that the doctor apparently said he has ...

3,245 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
Does Social Anxiety Hold You Back?

In the "Anxiety Disorders" section of the manual entitled "Diagnostic Criteria from DSM IV," which is used for the ndiagnosis of mental health conditions, there are 12 anxiety ndiagnoses covered. The fifth, and what may appear to be a soft diagnosis, is Social Phobia (Social Anxiety ...

3,232 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
How To Tell Sadness From Depression

You have and will experience sadness. It might be the loss of a job, pet or a loved one. Yes, even a loved one. The trouble is, particularly here in the United States, we have a quick-fix for everything... why not sadness too? Our quick-fix for sadness is that it's simply not allowed. Healthy ...

3,212 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
Success, Elbow Grease And A Little Luck

I like to think that as a professional psychotherapist & coach, the space in which I work in my office is a smaller reflection of our much larger culture here in the USA. Let me explain. Our culture is constantly on the move towards faster, more convenient ways of doing things. I'm caught ...

2,877 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION: YES or NO?

I've heard it said that by the end of January, over 90% of individuals who make New Years resolutions don't remember what they were. Why is this so? People are often sincere, however, they are not yet in the right place for big changes in their lives. Many others want to continue same ...

2,875 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
DEPRESSION BECOMES YOU

Have you ever overheard people talking about couples that have been married for a very long time? One of things often said is how a couple will begin to look alike over time. How and why do you think this occurs? This phenomenon parallels a tea bag being steeped in clear water. After a while ...

2,756 views
Read article →
Article
Official Guide
Can You Control It?

A tremendous amount of stress occurs when you don't understand and accept your limitations. When you attempt to control something in life that is not within your sphere of influence how do you feel and react? What is it like for you to experience powerlessness? Can you control another's ...

2,745 views
Read article →
Article
How to Express Yourself to Others

One of the hardest things to do when you're communicating with someone is expressing yourself. How many times have you said something that just didn't come out the way you wanted it to? How many times have we said something that we really didn't mean, but we were too frustrated to stop it from being said? What's more, some people have a fear of expressing themselves at all. They're afraid to say something that might cost them a friendship. Or they bottle everything up tight and seize up at the mere thought of sharing their true emotions. This can be a constant struggle for people.

31,436 views★ 4.3 (14)
Read article →
Article
***How Will I Know I Am In Love?

How will I know I am in Love? By America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts. In our many interviews with people “in love” we ask them, perhaps, the most revealing question of the interview – “How will I know I am in love?” We have heard very consistent answers. And conversely, many people involved in a new loving relationship, particularly young people, often ask us, “How do I know if I am in love?” We think we know the answer.

10,594 views★ 4.4 (37)
Read article →
Article
7 Ways To Improve Your Relationship

Good relationships don’t just happen. I’ve heard many of my clients state that, “If I have to work at it, then it’s not the right relationship.” This is not a true statement, any more than it’s true that you don’t have to work at good physical health ...

25,145 views★ 4.5 (6)
Read article →
Article
***Loving Yourself First

"I have an everyday religion that works for me. Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line." --Lucile Ball, 1911-1989, Comedienne and Actress Lucile Ball was a very smart woman! Do you believe that if you put others first, they will love and value you and you will feel loved? Has this worked for you?

10,775 views★ 4.1 (18)
Read article →
Article
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: 25 Ways To Show It

Permissions: You may publish this article free of charge in your ezine, web site, ebook or print publication so long as the copyright notice and the resource paragraph (at the end ofrnthe article) are included. Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. Email: media@laurieweiss.com ------------ Article Begins Below This Line ------------ R-E-S-P-E-C-T: 25 Ways To Show It Copyright 2004 Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. Convicted criminals report that their violent behavior was caused by perceived disrespect.* Everyone wants to be treated with respect, but respect means different things to different people.

31,803 views★ 2.0 (7)
Read article →
Article
One Myth about Affairs that Only Makes Your Broken Heart Pain Worse

If your partner had an affair, you might be trying to figure out how this happened. Whether you are still in this relationship or not, your heart might feel broken into a million pieces. Unfortunately, some of the beliefs that you may hold about infidelity could be making your broken heart pain worse than it already is. There are many misconceptions about why people cheat.

17,848 views★ 4.0 (8)
Read article →
Article
***How to Play Hard To Get The Correct Way

There is an excellent discussion going on in my private group: "For years we read from women that we should play hard to get. There are countless books written by women on this topic. What are your thoughts on why women believe we should play hard to get and men believe we should not? Do you believe women who hold the idea of playing hard to get contribute to their own demise?"

23,189 views★ 3.4 (5)
Read article →
Article
How To Build Good Character

Building good character is all about addition, not subtraction. What I mean is this: when it comes to change, our focus is usually on the aspects of our lives that are bad. We try to cut out or cut off these negative or bad qualities. We try to improve by subtraction. That is not how you build good character. It is the process of addition in your life that brings the character. In so doing, you automatically take care of the other negative aspects. As both a father and a pastor of a Church, I look for ways to continually add to the character of those I am responsible for.

12,251 views★ 3.7 (12)
Read article →
Article
After the Breakup: The Do’s and Don'ts of Dealing with Your Ex

Everyone knows breaking up is hard to do. But staying in contact with your ex following a breakup? That's where things get really tricky. By remaining in each other's lives, you run the risk of a post-breakup rendezvous, holding onto feelings for your ex, and in general delaying your ability to heal and move on quickly (and without additional heartache). The following are some tips to help you avoid a post-breakup backslide into your ex’s arms, and instead ease you into your happily ever after future: Tip #1: Create new boundariesr Your best defense after a breakup?

12,448 views★ 3.6 (12)
Read article →
Article
How To Become A Goddess That Men Adore By Not Pining For Any Man

Some women get really hurt from just a few month fling? Why? Because they invest too much, too soon in the relationship and have soaring expectations of it. They buy into the fairy tale they concoct themselves that this is it: he's the One and they're "in love" not realizing that the dizzying feeling of being in love is actually a function of chemical cocktails in the brain and can easily be induced upon oneself because it feels great to be in love. Everyone wants it. However, it's not necessarily so.

18,480 views★ 3.2 (5)
Read article →
Article
The Ultimate Guide To Texting A Man Without Killing His Attraction To You

Text messaging is one of the most powerful ways to flirt and build attraction and to lay a great foundation for a lasting relationship with a man. Unfortunately, many women are at a loss for how to properly leverage this technology to make a man feel intense level of attraction toward her with the use of a cell phone and an unlimited text messaging plan. Today all of that changes!

18,850 views★ 2.4 (5)
Read article →
Article
Am I Attractive Enough?

How many times a day do we wonder: am i attractive enough? The answer is not simple, yet it is. You are and you are not. It depends on to whom you are talking and what you mean by attractive. Why do we play this “attractive” game when we don’t know what we want to achieve by trying so hard to be ...

11,742 views★ 3.3 (8)
Read article →
Article
***"I Feel Empty"

If you feel empty, you are not alone in feeling this way. Many people feel empty inside, and most people who feel empty have some deep false beliefs regarding why they feel empty. Below are some of these false beliefs. I feel empty because: • My partner is not giving me enough love and attention. • I don't have a partner. • I'm bored because my partner doesn't provide me with enough stimulation.

10,289 views★ 4.3 (6)
Read article →
Article
What Men Are Attracted To

There’s a bit of a misconception amongst women that men are attracted to them primarily by how they look. Granted, men certainly are visually orientated but there’s actually something deeper going on that turns a man’s attention towards a woman. If you think that when you slip ...

16,494 views★ 2.6 (5)
Read article →
Article
Healing Emotional Dependency

You are emotionally dependent when your happiness, sense of safety, and sense of worth are dependent upon others' love, attention, and approval. When you were growing up, perhaps you heard statements like: "What will the neighbors think?" "What will__(so and so)__think if you do that?"

10,384 views★ 4.2 (6)
Read article →
Article
A Successful Life Starts with You - the Top 10 Questions to Ask

Don't we all want to grow into the fullest and most authentic expression of ourselves? Shakespeare wrote, "To thine own self be true." When it comes to creating a successful life the place to start is with ourselves. Read on and discover a daily practice to help you really get to know yourself! Success in life can mean different things for different people. But one thing that's common to most people's definition is the ability to be true to ourselves no matter what is going on around us.

6,844 views★ 4.0 (12)
Read article →
Article
My Boyfriend Left Me - Do I Want Him Back?

Wow, what a punch in the stomach. You were just dumped. It can be a shock, even if all the signs were there. Now comes the hard part, what to do next? If you've just said 'my boyfriend left me, what should I do now?" the answer might not be what you expected! As humans it is our nature, unfortunately, to want what we can't have. If your boyfriend just left you then your natural inclination is to want to get him back. Many times women in this situation will fight tooth and nail to get their guy back.

15,926 views★ 2.6 (5)
Read article →
Article
By Whole Person, Balanced Life
Toxin-free relationships: How to prioritize the people in your life.

One of my favorite quotes of all time is "Don't make people a priority who only make you an option". I often repeat this quote to myself and have it posted in several areas of my house, as well as my daily planner. It's something I try to remember on a daily basis. We talk a lot about the toxins in our environment, our personal care products and our food. But there is another place where we can get exposed to emotional and mental toxins, and that is in our day to day relatio

12,212 views★ 3.8 (5)
Read article →
Article
Common Problems with Online Dating

Finding that special someone is something that most people dream about. Unfortunately doing that is not as easy as it sounds. Everyone has advice for you as to how you should go about finding that potential soul mate. However, no method is fool proof. In fact, due to dating desperation many people have turned to online dating as a relationship resource. The truth is that when online dating first came about there was quite a bit of stigma surrounding it.

13,143 views★ 3.4 (5)
Read article →
Article
What Is Emotional Dependency?

Are you emotionally dependent? You might want to go through this checklist. __I cannot feel lovable and worthy without another's approval. __I need a lot of attention from certain people to feel that I am okay. __I don't trust my own feelings. I need others' to validate my feelings. __I am afraid of rejection. I isolate, or try to be perfect, or agree with others, or give myself up, or shut down, and/or do many other things to avoid rejection. __I am afraid to be alone. __I often feel empty inside. __I am often anxious around others.

9,438 views★ 3.9 (7)
Read article →
Article
***The Silent Treatment

Research indicates that children would rather be yelled at than ignored. When prisoners are being punished, they are put in isolation, because being isolated is one of the harshest punishments there is - other than physical abuse. The silent treatment is a form of punishment, a way to attempt to control children and partners into doing what you want them to do. It is a withdrawal of approval, and can cause much fear in people who are vulnerable to this.

10,155 views★ 4.2 (5)
Read article →
Article
By Steve Steiner
3 Make Ex Girlfriend Jealous Tips To Make Her Regret Leaving

So, you've been dumped and now you want to make your girlfriend jealous so she'll go on bended knee to get you back. Of course, I don't know how your breakup came about, but maybe it was a little too hurtful and she needs to really understand that. Maybe you want her back in a way that she realizes that you're something special and not to be taken for granted. Whatever, but you need to bend the power of jealousy in a way that annoys her like a persistent itch. Make Ex Girlfri

17,444 views★ 1.6 (5)
Read article →
Article
Dealing With Unrealistic Expectations In Marriage

One of the great relationship destroyers is that of unrealistic expectations. Expecting something out of the relationship that the other is either ignorant of, unwilling to provide, or simply unable to provide. Frustration and anger is the result. This article deals with differing expectations and how to deal with them. Everyone has expectations. I met a guy once who argued that point. He told me that he had no expectations in life. I challenged him with, "You go to school right?

11,300 views★ 2.7 (7)
Read article →
Article
***Do You Wake Up Happy or Anxious?

"I can have a really great day, but when I wake up the next morning I feel anxious. Sometimes the better day I've had, the more anxious I am the next morning. I can't figure it out." I hear this over and over from my clients. What is happening here? The Tyranny of the Ego Wounded Self

7,212 views★ 5.0 (6)
Read article →
Article
The Ultimate Solution To The Puzzle: Why He Disappears/Dump You And How To Get Him Back

I've received so many requests for advice from women who are desperate because their men either broke up with them or became more and more distant and less willing to keep in touch or show affection. I can relate to that. I have had my share of similar experience in my 20's when a man whom I was so attracted to and who was so hot in pursuing me became cold when I showed too much eage ess. And the more I tried to prove myself to him, the more distant he was. Finally, I never heard from him again. And it took me 2 years to get over him for a few weeks of intense fling we had.

12,490 views★ 2.8 (5)
Read article →
Article
Dealing With The Pressures And Stresses Of Life

There is a difference between pressure and stress. One causes the other, and one we can reduce and shunt off. Learn the difference between these two in your life and what you can do about them. Stress is the product of pressure. Set an empty plastic water bottle upright and place the palm of your hand on the cap. Apply pressure by pressing down. The pressure is applied to the top of the bottle, but the stress will reveal itself at the weakest point in the bottle. Usually, this is halfway down the bottle at the narrow part.

8,697 views★ 3.6 (7)
Read article →

Guide opening

Legacy Guide · applications welcome

Each topic supports one lead guide. SelfGrowth reviews requests, reserves the slot, and publishes the guide when it is ready. Contributor account required to apply; saved lists, personalization, and guide applications require sign-in, but public browsing stays open.

The existing Guide remains published while SelfGrowth reviews applications and the legacy assignment. Applying does not reserve this position or replace the current Guide.
See what Official Guide sponsorship includes

1. Request

Explain why you should lead this guide.

2. Approval

If approved, SelfGrowth reserves the slot and opens the guide workspace.

3. Publish

Once the guide is ready, SelfGrowth publishes it on the topic page.

Your next step

Legacy Guide · applications welcome

This topic has a Guide carried over from the previous site. You may apply for the paid Official Guide program. SelfGrowth will review the existing assignment and applications before selecting a Guide. The current Guide remains published during review; applying does not reserve the position.

Set up Professional access first

Professional access required

Sign in or create a Professional account, complete contributor review, and publish your expert profile. This prerequisite does not submit an Official Guide application.