Irina Zhuravleva

Many of the people I work with are hurting because they accepted the idea that if they long for a loving, committed partnership, having a...

I’ll always remember the moment I learned there was an actual label for the confusing feelings, odd actions, and repeated mistakes that had shadowed me...

Ending up in harmful partnerships is a common and painful outcome for people who experienced abuse and neglect growing up. When mistreatment was normal in...

You don’t pursue someone because they’re inherently extraordinary. You pursue them because they withhold themselves. The scarcer their affection, the stronger your craving becomes. If...

If maintaining friendships feels challenging for you, this will be important to read. Losing friendships cuts deep. For those of us raised with traumatic experiences,...

One major issue affecting countless people is staying in relationships that, realistically, have little chance of flourishing. Many remain stuck because nobody has clearly reminded...

“Don’t go to bed angry,” “a good relationship means never having to say you’re sorry,” “your partner should complete you,” and “your relationship’s purpose is...

There is a particular kind of silence that exists inside intimate relationships — the hush that follows when you risk being vulnerable and are met...

The first time I ran across the phrase “emotional sobriety,” it shook me — not because I didn’t understand the words, but because it sounded...

Imagine being told that sometimes the most loving choice for a partnership is to stop having sex for a while — it sounds counterintuitive, but...

About one in three people — and a much larger share among younger generations — report feeling so stressed that most days they are utterly...

The saddest part about childhood trauma, to me, is seeing so many people move through life with a battered spirit — their self-assurance, hope, and...

“Hey, can I borrow your phone for a minute? I need to look something up.” “Where’s your phone?” “It’s in the other room.” “Can I...

It’s common to believe that once a severe traumatic chapter ends, everything should return to normal. The reality is different: after trauma you’re often fragile—not...

The uncomfortable reality is that “nice guys” often don’t spark attraction in women. I know how that sounds, so hear me out for a minute...

There’s a clear and crucial distinction between beneficial stress and harmful stress — and the main difference lies in duration, intensity and timing. Beneficial stress...

I made a video joking about a husband who forgot his wife’s birthday, and someone commented, “maybe you should just remind them if it’s so...

Some of the most dangerous people you’ll ever encounter are the ones who never raise their voice. They won’t slam doors or hurl curses. Instead,...

Let me guess — they’ve gone quiet again. You’re glued to your phone, refreshing the screen, replaying the last conversation on repeat. Your thoughts are...

Alright — let’s get into this now. Do you want to know what the most devastating form of rejection is for that avoidant-dismissive person in...

Work is one of the worst places to fall for someone you can’t—or shouldn’t—pursue. It can destroy your happiness, harm theirs, devastate your spouse, and...

Okay — let’s begin 2023 by reminding ourselves of some basic truths about relationships. One: you deserve respect, kindness, appreciation, consideration and someone who genuinely...

Let’s be honest: you’re here because something about this situation feels wrong. You finally find someone who awakens you, you lower your defenses, you begin...

Oh my God, babe — if we buy it today they’ll throw an extra 25% off on top of the 50% they already had, okay?...