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Many people want to feel safe in relationships without feeling closed off. Yet after repeated disappointments, stress, or emotional strain, it can feel easier—and safer—to shut down. You may tell yourself you’re “setting boundaries,” but internally you feel numb, distant, or disconnected. This is where an important distinction comes in: emotional boundaries are not the same as emotional walls. While both are attempts at self-protection, they have very different effects on men

Many people reach a point where life looks “fine” from the outside—but internally, something feels heavy, stale, or constricting. You may find yourself thinking, “I’m tired of being this person,” even if you can’t fully articulate why. This experience is often described as identity fatigue: emotional exhaustion that arises from long-term identification with roles, expectations, or versions of yourself that no longer fit.

Loneliness is often imagined as a lack of people—being isolated, single, or socially disconnected. But many people experience a different, quieter kind of loneliness: feeling emotionally unseen or unsupported despite having relationships, responsibilities, and a full life. This experience is known as emotional loneliness, and it can be deeply confusing. You may have friends, a partner, family, colleagues, or children—and still feel an underlying sense of emptiness or disconne

Hyperarousal refers to prolonged activation of the body’s stress response system. When the nervous system perceives threat, it activates the sympathetic nervous system, preparing the body for fight or flight. This response is essential for survival. Chronic hyperarousal occurs when this system remains activated over time—without adequate opportunities to return to a regulated baseline.

When people think of grief, they often imagine something clear and definitive: the death of a loved one, a funeral, a period of mourning followed by gradual healing. But many forms of loss don’t come with closure, rituals, or a clear ending. Instead, they linger—uncertain, unresolved, and often misunderstood. This type of grief is known as ambiguous loss. It occurs when what has been lost is unclear, incomplete, or psychologically present but physically or emotionally altered

Have you ever reached the end of the day feeling completely depleted—not because of one big problem, but because everything felt hard to decide? What to make for dinner. Whether to answer an email now or later. How to respond to a text. Whether to speak up in a meeting. When even small choices feel exhausting or paralyzing, you may be experiencing decision fatigue.

Emotional Avoidance: The Invisible Habit Keeping Anxiety, Depression, and Burnout Alive Many people believe that emotional health means not feeling overwhelmed, sad, anxious, or uncomfortable. From an early age, we are often taught—explicitly or implicitly—to “stay strong,” “push through,” or “not dwell on feelings.” Over time, this can lead to a subtle but powerful habit known as emotional avoidance.

Starting therapy often comes with hope: relief, clarity, change. For many people, therapy does lead to meaningful improvement. But for others, there comes a quieter, more confusing moment—when sessions feel stagnant, progress slows, or the same patterns keep showing up despite effort. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Why isn’t therapy helping?” or “Am I doing something wrong?”—you’re not alone. Feeling stuck in therapy is more common than people realize.

We live in a world where information is constant, content is endless, and stimulation never slows down. Phones buzz, inboxes refill, news alerts glow, and social media updates keep us scrolling. While technology offers convenience and connection, it also brings something else: a persistent sense of pressure, comparison, and emotional overload.

Many people want to be seen as kind, helpful, supportive, and reliable. But when saying “yes” becomes automatic—and comes at the expense of your well-being—you may be caught in the exhausting cycle of people-pleasing.

If you’ve ever stared at an unfinished task for hours, missed deadlines despite good intentions, or felt overwhelmed by everyday responsibilities, you may have wondered: “What is wrong with me? Why can’t I just do it?” Many adults experience significant difficulty with task initiation, planning, organization, working memory, and follow-through—symptoms that fall under the umbrella of executive dysfunction.

Most people overthink from time to time—but when your mind gets trapped in repetitive loops, replaying conversations, analyzing decisions endlessly, or mentally rehearsing worst-case scenarios, it becomes something more: rumination. These spiraling thoughts can feel uncontrollable, exhausting, and deeply distressing. The good news: rumination is a treatable process. With evidence-based therapy, especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Many people assume that anxiety looks like avoidance, panic attacks, or visible distress. But for countless high-achieving adults—especially in fast-paced cities like New York—anxiety can hide behind success, productivity, and exceptional performance. This is known as high-functioning anxiety, and while it’s often invisible to others, it can take a powerful toll on a person’s emotional, physical, and relational well-being.

As a psychologist, I often talk with patients about the importance of social connection, the benefits of novelty, and how powerful it can be to bring more joy, play, and presence into our lives. What I don’t always share is how much these same practices matter in my own life — and how meaningful it has been for me lately to try new things purely for connection, curiosity, and fun.

Learn how parental burnout develops, the warning signs to watch for, and how evidence-based therapy can help overwhelmed parents restore balance, energy, and emotional wellbeing. Serving NYC + virtual therapy.

Explore how affirming, evidence-based therapy supports LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples in navigating identity, relationships, minority stress, and mental health. Serving NYC + virtual therapy.

Learn how technology, remote work, and modern stressors impact relationships—and how couples therapy can strengthen communication, resolve conflict, and rebuild connection. Serving NYC + virtual therapy.

Learn how adult ADHD therapy in NYC helps with focus, motivation, and executive functioning. Explore CBT and practical strategies beyond medication at Upper East Side Psychology.

Learn how therapy supports emerging adults in their 20s and 30s navigating career, identity, and relationship transitions. In-person and virtual therapy available in NYC.

Learn how hybrid work is fueling burnout among high achievers. Explore the signs, self-care strategies, and how therapy can help you restore balance and well-being.