Irina Zhuravleva

Chances are you’ve heard that the single most widespread phobia is public speaking — roughly three out of four people feel nervous at the thought...

Many people insist that they should never have to change for their partner. To be clear: change is often necessary. As Tim Keller observes in...

Avoidant partners can wound the psyche in deep and lasting ways — and often they do so without even realizing the harm they cause. It’s...

Have you ever loved someone who withdraws each time closeness grows? Someone who appears composed on the outside, yet you can sense the quiet tempests...

Almost everyone I encounter claims to love and care for their partner, yet most have no clear sense of what that actually looks like or...

Few things shape the quality of life more than the condition of our closest relationships. Keep in mind that a year from now your relational...

Your body tells the truth about relationships in ways your mind often won’t. While you rationalize their inconsistent behavior, try to explain away their emotional...

Have you ever known you were being mistreated and reacted by trying to become exactly who you thought the other person wanted? Changing yourself completely...

One thing needs to be understood right away: someone who avoids intimacy rarely returns with bouquets and apologies. They won’t show up soaked in rain...

What Kelly is trying to convey, as I understand it, is that she needs more affection from you that isn’t sexual. I’m sorry — did...

Tell me if this sounds like you. You grew up in a dysfunctional home. To survive, you built your whole identity around the qualities others...

I’ve been flooded with messages from people who feel deceived by their partners — in the beginning their significant other was charismatic, affectionate and seemingly...

If you take a look at the people you keep inviting into your life — friends, partners, coworkers, landlords — and notice an unusually large...

There’s no chance of winning if every morning you wake up and face a constant stream of food choices all day long—your willpower will be...

Okay — I hope you’ll agree that I’m effective at calling men out on this channel and encouraging them to learn about intimacy, validation, and...

Men — a fair warning: at some point in a healthy relationship your partner will approach you from a place of vulnerability, asking or hinting...

Have you ever paused to ask what finally makes someone with avoidant tendencies stop running? Like, what moment pushes them to confront themselves, do the...

Have you ever spoken up in a group and felt like no one registered your words, only to hear someone else repeat the exact same...

Okay — imagine you bring up something that matters to you in a calm, respectful way, but your partner still reacts as if you’ve attacked...

You follow every piece of advice you’re given—go to therapy, practice breathing, stay optimistic, exercise, repeat affirmations, be gentle with others, grieve, honor your feelings—yet...

Why does she appear to get on my nerves even more when I have to wrap up work at home? For instance, I might be...

How can someone know if an avoidant person actually feels regret about losing them when no words are spoken? Pause on that — it’s the...

We triple-dare you to bring up these questions the next time an argument erupts. Are you seriously that upset? I’m fired up, man — there’s...

hey, are you the wife translator? yeah, so what are we dealing with here? hey, thanks for coming. honestly, I didn’t think we’d need a...