Jealousy has no place in a love relationship because jealousy is about fear, not love. But, it continues to be a huge issue in many relationships (I know this because you all keep asking me about it)! Today we’ll discuss the many ways jealousy might be showing up in your relationship, the eight things not to do if your partner is jealous, and the three ways to help move from jealousy to connection.  ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/what-to-do-and-not-do-if-your-partner-is-jealous Grab my FREE list of Collaborative Questions: https://abbymedca ..read more

You messed up, or at least you think you did. Maybe it was a job you quit in the heat of the moment, not finishing your education ten years ago or cheating on your spouse. We can perceive big or little things as crimes that need to be punished in perpetuity. Many of us can easily forgive others, but when it comes to forgiving ourselves, we’re not so generous. But learning to forgive ourselves is crucial to creating balanced, healthy relationships with others as well as leading a life of serenity and satisfaction. Forgiving yourself won’t change your past, but it will absolutely make your futur ..read more

If you’re like me, when you think of a relationship break, you’re remembering Ross Gellar on the show Friends, screaming, “We were on a break!” Well, let me tell you, that was not the right way to take a relationship break. But there is a healthy way to take a relationship break and you do it by asking (and answering) three important questions. ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/how-to-take-a-healthy-relationship-break-the-three-questions-you-need-to-ask   Figure out the Love Relationship You REALLY want: https://abbymedcalf.com/love-worksheet ..read more

Adjustment disorders are basically having excessive reactions to some stress (or stressors) in your life that result in overly strong emotions, increased negative thinking and some sort of change in behavior. The key is that the reaction to this event is way more intense than would typically be expected. As you might imagine, this can cause a lot of problems in your relationships, work or school. Today I’ll teach you what adjustment disorders are, the signs you might have one, and how to treat them (including an amazing free tool you can download). ____________________________ Full blog and s ..read more

The vast majority of people find it difficult to talk about money with partners, friends or family. At the root of this issue is something called money shame. To have effective conversations about finances with others, we have to understand money shame and how to overcome it. Today, I’ll not only be discussing money shame, but we’ll also talk about financial incompatibility, the beliefs you have about money that are getting in your way and, as always, my top tips for moving past all that and finally having effective conversations about your finances with the important people in your life. ____ ..read more

Shame doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter if you’re fat or thin, rich or poor, tall or short: shame is an equal opportunity emotion and it’s amazingly destructive. Research has linked it to violence, addiction, depression, sleep problems, eating disorders, bullying and anxiety. But what’s the difference between guilt and shame? And then what the heck is toxic shame? Today I’m answering all your questions and coming at you with my top tips for recovering from toxic shame.  ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/is-toxic-shame-hurting-your-relatio ..read more

Jealousy in a moment happens when you perceive someone or something else as a threat to your relationship. Retroactive jealousy is different because you feel threatened by something or someone in your partner’s past but there’s no current situation happening that’s triggering this feeling. Today I’m going to talk about the signs of retroactive jealousy, why you act this way and my top five tips for making it stop.  ____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/jealous-of-your-partners-past-relationships-what-retroactive-jealousy-is-and-my-top-5-tips-to-mak ..read more

With Valentine’s Day around the corner in about 30 countries around the world, I thought it would be an excellent time to talk about Gary Chapman’s love languages. Let me say first that I’m not a Gary Chapman hater, and I think the Love Languages quiz can be fun and a little informative. However, this is not a one-size-fits-all theory and I’ve definitely found times that it’s even been detrimental for my clients. Today I’m going to answer your burning questions about the five love languages. What are they exactly and do they really work? Is there any research to support Chapman’s theory? Is th ..read more

I know you’ve heard that curiosity killed the cat, but that negative spin is all wrong! We know from the research that curiosity will help with everything from improving your relationships, to coping better with rejection to feeling happier and more fulfilled in your life. In the last thirty years, we’ve amassed a lot of great research illustrating the benefits of curiosity. In fact, describing a day you felt curious will boost your mental and physical state by 20% more than if you told me about a day you felt incredibly happy! Today we’re going to discuss the biggest benefits of curiosity and ..read more

What do you do when your partner gets along great with their ex and wants to spend all holidays and main events with them and the kids? You’re invited too, of course, but you feel like a third wheel somehow and you’re wondering how to fit in. Do you push your feelings aside for the greater good or draw boundaries around your needs? Today, I’m answering a question from one of you as we figure out the right thing to do.  ____________________________ Full blog and show notes:  https://abbymedcalf.com/ask-dr-abby-when-you-feel-on-the-outside-with-your-partner-their-ex-and-their-kids Pick ..read more