Are you tired of feeling lonely because you can’t trust anyone? Are you trying to keep yourself safe but just end up feeling isolated? Rebuilding your faith in humanity is a long road, but it can be done. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 8 ways to rebuild your trust in people. Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/how-to-trust-people-again Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

Narcissists are like the sun—they make everyone orbit around them. But what happens when someone pathologically vain and egotistical also happens to be your mom or dad? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen unpacks 6 signs you were raised by a narcissist. Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/6-signs-you-were-raised-by-a-narcissist Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

Toxic co-worker? Steer clear. Toxic friend? Time for a breakup. But what if the toxic person in question is perched firmly in your family tree? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 5 ways to put a little (or a lot) of space between you and a toxic family member. Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/how-to-handle-a-toxic-family-member Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

The headlines scream: Screens are like crack! Screens turn your kid’s brain to mush! But are tablets, smartphones, and laptops—not to mention TV—really so bad? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen delves into the research to screen (ha-ha) out truth from fiction. Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/11891 Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

From bullies to math tests to things that go bump in the night, life is full of things for kids to worry about. And especially at stressful transition times--back to school, the holidays, heading to summer camp--worry can eat away at kids’ comfort and confidence. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 5 tips to soothe your kids’ worries. (And guess what? They work just as well for grownups!) Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/11836 Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

Mindfulness is all the rage, and with a promise to improve concentration, mood, and energy, reduce stress, improve immune function, and even fight obesity, it should be. But to outsiders, sometimes mindfulness can be intimidating, with the newly mindful left wondering “Am I doing this right?” This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen explains what mindfulness is, what it isn’t, and three ways to sample it. Read full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2aaBOHO

Apropos to solar eclipse mania comes a quote from a 17th century French nobleman: “Neither the sun, nor death, can be looked at steadily.” Four hundred years later, his words still hold. With that in mind, this week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen takes a safety-standards-approved look at 4 worries about the end of the road.

It’s been said that only two things are certain in this world. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen talks about one of them, and it’s not taxes.

Were you born under a lucky star? Or maybe you’re having a Friday the 13th kind of life. It turns out having good luck isn’t just a matter of, well, luck. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen examines the science of getting lucky (no, not that kind of getting lucky).

We’ve all been told to follow our heart. Go with our gut. Trust our intuition. But how, exactly? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen explains the “what” and the “how” of going with your gut.

A conversation with a good listener is like a good meal—we walk away feeling satisfied, happy, and nourished. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 5 ways to be an amazing listener. Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/11506 Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

Concentration, focus, attention. Whatever you call it, it’s quickly becoming the rarest of national resources. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen reveals 9 reasons your focus might be fizzling and 5 ways to fight the distraction of random shiny objects. Read the transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/11401 Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

Shaking off the judgment of haters is harder than mega-hit pop songs would have you believe. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 6 ways to, whatever they say, be the rubber to your haters’ glue.

Sick of running scared? Tired of the butterflies in your stomach getting the last word? Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 4 tips to face fear head on.

Ah, summer: the crash of waves, the crackling of a bonfire, the sand between your toes...and, well, between everything else, too. But is a vacation truly a break if you’re anxious about getting there, getting back, and everything in the middle? As you unwind this summer, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen puts to rest 4 common travel anxieties.

Are you a perfectionist? Most perfectionists don’t identify with the label. But Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 9 signs that might make you come out of the (perfectly organized) perfectionist closet.

As kids, most of us were afraid of dogs, clowns, or things that go bump in the night. But for a lot of us, childhood fears never wore off. And that isn’t just inconvenient, it’s potentially embarrassing. Thankfully, phobias are some of the easiest fears to vanquish. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen shows you how. Read the transcript at http://bit.ly/2tLTDDU Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

The term “separation anxiety” usually conjures the image of a tearful toddler, or worse, a whimpering dog, but millions of grown-ups live with separation anxiety, too. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen begins a two-part series on kid fears in grown-ups. First up, one of the most common adult fears no one ever talks about: separation anxiety. Read the transcript at http://bit.ly/2rav3vv Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

Choking under pressure happens to everyone from professional athletes to ten-year-olds taking a math test. Even socially awkward moments have their roots in choking, recent research shows. This week on the Savvy Psychologist, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen reveals why we choke and how to come through in the clutch. Read the transcript at http://bit.ly/2rrs58B. Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts FOLLOW SAVVY PSYCHOLOGIST Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist Twitter: https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

Trust is easy to break, hard to rebuild. By request from listener Kate, this week Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 5 steps to put the pieces together again.

“Your message must have gone to my spam folder.” “No, those pants are totally cute on you.” “The check’s in the mail.” White lies may be a necessary social lubricant, but big whoppers cost us time and trust. How to tell if you’re being taken for a ride? This week, by request from listener Nasser from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen reveals 7 ways to spot a liar. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/1NIn8uj

You’ve got a big moment ahead of you, whether it’s a presentation, a performance, or a pitch. You want to own it, but your jitters are threatening to own you. What to do? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 6 things to do before a big moment (besides power pose in a bathroom stall). Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2pZ3Yyj

Self-control (or lack of it) plays a role in choosing a salad or a soda, working out or staying on the couch, and moderating alcohol or getting trashed on a Tuesday. There are times we all wish we had a little (or a lot) more of it. Therefore, this week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 7 ways to stretch your self-control. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2q5a63X

What happens when your BFF’s behavior makes you say WTF? When do you stay loyal and when do you call it quits? By request from listener Alyssa, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen tackles when to stick it out in a troubled friendship and when to walk away. Read the full transcript at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/9616

Whether working, mothering, or operating as the head of the house, women everywhere understand the anxiety surrounding the phrase "dropping the ball." Author and activist Tiffany Dufu explains why "dropping the ball" and rewriting expectations actually leads to happier and less stressful life. Read more at http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/node/9562

Pop psychology tells us that complaining is a sort of catharsis—that by getting our feelings out rather than bottling them up, we’ll feel better. But it turns out this is largely a myth. This week on the Savvy Psychologist, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen reveals why complaining only makes us feel worse and more importantly, how the habitual complainers among us can stop the grumbling. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2nMyGHf

What's the flip side of psychological disorder? Is there a link between illness and genius? This week on the podcast, psychiatrist and author Dr. Gail Saltz shares how many diagnoses--from ADHD to depression to anxiety--come as a package deal with a hardwired strength. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2nkVmRh

Scrolling through the news these days is like walking through a Halloween haunted house: scary, horrifying things pop out at you from every angle. Last week on the show, we talked about how to handle the sheer volume of bad news. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen tackles how to deal with the content of today’s fast and furious news. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2n3wp8N

These days breaking news threatens to break all of us. No matter your political leanings, the volume (in terms of both quantity and loudness) of news these days is unprecedented. How to deal? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen explains what news overload is doing to us and how to take control. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2ltUQQo

Your heart races, you feel lightheaded, your sweat glands work overtime - is this the end? Nope, it's a panic attack. The Savvy Psychologist has 6 ways to fight this disabling disorder. Visit the website: http://bit.ly/1vFA0ej

Life is full of stressors, and for most, money is right a the top of the list. On this week's podcast, author and financial expert Jean Chatzky shares how taking small steps to reduce financial stress increases the wellbeing of ourselves and our relationships. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2khG7Yq

Last week we talked about 6 ways we self-sabotage and one reason why: fear of failure. This makes a lot of sense—who doesn’t want to avoid humiliation and defeat? But how to move forward and take that leap of faith? Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 5 ways to move away from fear and toward your goals. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2klouGN

“Why do I do this to myself?” If you’ve uttered that phrase, you may be an unwitting victim of your own bad habits, better known as self-sabotage. By request from listener Sari in Melbourne, Australia, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 6 reasons why, instead of shooting for the stars, we aim straight for our foot. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2jSnHsn

Last time on the Savvy Psychologist, we talked about the two-way connection between the brain and the small and large intestines, aka the gut. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen continues our journey through the gut by investigating the link between heartburn drugs and dementia. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2i3Yuid

Brandon Stanton has interviewed thousands of subjects for his popular photo blog and NYT best-selling books, Humans of New York. What insights can he share regarding talking to strangers and having greater empathy? Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/1RugT26

Are you the dictator of your corner of the world? If your theme song is Frank Sinatra’s My Way, check out this week’s 5 tips from Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2isE4MZ

To please or not to please. For most people, that is the question. But for people pleasers, the question is moot, because there’s only one answer: of course I can help you! Ready for a change but don’t want to throw in the towel on common decency? Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen has 5 tips to help you out. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2isAlz3

This New Year's, creating a healthy new habit or breaking an unhealthy old one doesn't have to hinge on sheer willpower. Clinical psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen suggests 5 steps to help you make a change for the better. Read the transcript: http://bit.ly/1Apvkts

The holiday season brings good tidings and joy, but also stress from all sides. The closest thing to a magic bullet? Exercise. Making a commitment to consistent activity during the holiday season might seem like a tall order, but this week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen makes a case for taking on the challenge. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2gUhlIY

Is sex addiction really a thing? Or just an excuse for horny people with no self-control? And why is demand for help with sex addiction on the rise (no pun intended)? This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 6 signs of sex addiction and how to know if you have a problem or merely a supercharged libido. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2gASNXd

Like “self love” or “inner child,” the term “codependent” smacks of pop psychology psychobabble. To make matters worse, it’s become shorthand for a whole host of unhealthy behaviors. But what does it really mean? And does it describe your relationship? This week, by listener request, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen reveals what “codependent” really means and what you can do to set things right. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2gnT3dv

Unless you had magical childhood luck or were homeschooled in the wilderness, you probably tangled with a mean girl or bully back in your day. Unfortunately, mean girls and bullies grow up and go to work, where you might just encounter them again—just without the lockers and swirlies this time around. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 9 tips to deal with workplace bullying. Read full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2fKdvRt

ADHD has long been the domain of school age boys who seem to come with a built-in jet pack. What’s slowly emerging is that girls and women suffer too, but with slightly different symptoms that often get overlooked. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen examines how ADHD often manifests in girls and women. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2f6KjEO

In the first of a two-part series, the Savvy Psychologist identifies the 5 symptoms of PTSD. Next week, she tackles healing and what you can do to offer support to someone with PTSD - plus, what not to do! Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2egthoo

It’s the most dramatized of the personality disorders (Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction with her boiled bunny, anyone?) but one of the least understood. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen clears the air with 9 signs of borderline personality disorder. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2d9GIVR

Blamers, complainers, and bullies, oh my! The Savvy Psychologist offers 4 tips for dealing with difficult people, and 5 more for taking care of yourself after a close encounter with the difficult kind. Plus, does bedwetting predict psychopathy? Find out in our new Savvy Listener Mail segment! Read the full transcript: http://bit.ly/1octx6S

We’ve all been in situations where the choice is anything but clear. How do you know when to keep on keepin’ on? Or wave the white flag of surrender? This week on the Savvy Psychologist, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 6 tips to help you decide when to stay and when to go. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2cPJNh4

Shaking and numbness and sweat, oh my! What do we call it when what we fear is fear itself? None other than the little-known, but hugely important concept of anxiety sensitivity. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen explains what it is and offers 3 tips to take it down. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2chpZhm