by guest blogger Tammy Nelson, PhD, author of the upcoming book The New Monogamy

I recommend that couples check in with each other often about their expectations and how they are living up to the vision of their new monogamy. Making a new monogamy agreement is like renewing your vows and should be revisited every five years or even more often if necessary. If you are lucky enough to get to this phase, then you may be one of the lucky ones that can work on a loving and committed partnership that really lasts.

by guest blogger Neil Lavender, PhD, co-author of The One-Way Relationship Workbook and Toxic Coworkers

You are not the easiest person to get along with. And neither am I. We are all a bit quirky if you ask me. I like to think of us as a bunch of swimmers in one small pool. We’re all kind of fighting for our own swimming space, if you know what I mean.

Unfortunately, there are certain people who take up more space than they’re entitled to. Worse yet, they pull others down in their self-centered efforts.

These are not your average swimmers. Most likely, these are individuals with personality disorders.

So how do you know you’re involved with one? It’s easy if you know the right signs to look for.

by guest blogger Christy Matta MA, author of The Stress Response

Do you find yourself compromising your values to smooth out a conflict? Or do you worry about that someone will judge you harshly if you speak up? Do you lie or gloss over the truth out of fear of rejection?

We all smooth over the truth and bend in our standards from time to time in order to reduce conflict and make relationships work. But when pleasing others becomes a habit you may find yourself resentful, which ultimately damages your relationships.

Smoothing over disagreements and arguments can become more important than your own personal beliefs, eroding your self-respect.

by guest blogger Suzanne Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP, co-author of Healing Together

If you are a mother, you know that there are times when you feel you have been through the war. If you are a military mother…you actually have!

Men and women don’t go to war – families go to war and as a result there are many military mothers. They include mothers who have to leave their children to serve; mothers of the men and women who serve; and military spouses who hold on to their children and the life at home while their partners serve.

A closer look at these military mothers offers a reflection of fear and courage, of sacrifice and maternal resilience, of trauma and triumph.

by guest blogger Sheela Raja, PhD, author of Overcoming Trauma and PTSD

In recent months, there's been growing media attention given to the shocking number of veteran suicides. It is, indeed, a national crisis. Surely we can all agree that our veterans gave us their best, and in return, they deserve the best from each of us. But what can each of us do, as family, friends and concerned citizens to help ease the burden of our returning servicemen and women? Here are some recommendations based on what we know about good, evidence-based treatments for PTSD.

by guest blogger Christy Matta MA, author of The Stress Response

We're often kept from getting what we want in life by the demands we place on ourselves more so than by the demands of others. Pressure, hassles and tension often come when what we want to do conflicts with what we tell ourselves is "right." We see a messy house and believe we "should" clean it, or we long to pursue a career we're passionate about but tell ourselves "I can't do that."

If you are stuck "doing the right thing" while sacrificing what you want, your beliefs about how you "should" act may be holding you back.

by guest blogger Michelle May, MD, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes

We're at a crossroads with dieting. Diets temporarily treat symptoms, not causes; diets temporarily change behaviors, not the source of those behaviors. The "treatment" paradigm is flawed, yet so pervasive that millions of people are trapped in outdated beliefs and behaviors, despite all of the evidence that it's not moving the majority toward healthier, happier, more vibrant lives.

There's endless, tiresome debate about which diet works better, but none have shown a permanent cure. Some even resort to blaming or subtly shaming dieters (or themselves) when they quit the diet or regain weight, even though that is the known outcome for the vast majority of people.

by guest blogger Christy Matta MA, author of The Stress Response

Do you find that you have little free time? When you're drained and frazzled you may not feel you have the time or resolve to cope in healthy ways. Unending expectations and continual interruptions contribute to out-of-control feelings and an inability to ever fully relax.

That feeling of not having control over your time is, itself, problematic. One study found that people who were under time pressure and felt they had control over their time had greater life satisfaction, felt less overloaded, and had less tension than those who were equally busy, but felt they had little or no control over their time.

We may love and cherish our children, parents and partners, but many people find they infringe on what little free time they have. For our own well-being it's essential that we have some time to care for ourselves and recharge.

If you feel you are one of those people who have little free time and what little you have is continually interrupted, you may need to get active in order to carve out a little more time for yourself.

by guest blogger Raychelle Cassada Lohmann MS, LPC, author of The Anger Workbook for Teens

What on earth would drive a student to the point that he felt he needed to shoot his fellow peers? Were there signs that indicated a potential catastrophe waited? If so, what were they? A youth who is not prone to trouble or violence doesn't just turn into a killer overnight. Right? Odds are the indicators, red flags and warning signs were there all the time. Unfortunately, the pieces didn't fall into place until it was way too late.

As with any troubled teen, there are usually underlying emotions and feelings as well as social and familial turmoil that creates a recipe for disaster. So, what are some of the potential warning signs? While there is no perfect "profile" for a troubled youth, there are some distinct indicators and common characteristics to look for.

by guest blogger Carolyn Coker Ross MD, MPH, author of The Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating Workbook

There is a strong correlation between trauma and eating disorders. A number of studies have shown that people who struggle with eating disorders have a higher incidence of neglect and physical, emotional and sexual abuse. In particular, binge eating disorder is associated with emotional abuse while sexual abuse has been linked to eating disorders in males.

So what constitutes trauma?