The number of people working from home, coupled with technology that offers immediate communication, is creating a dangerous work environment in which people are expected to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Joan Herrmann
Few things are as confusing or painful as realizing that the person you care about doesn’t want the same kind of relationship you do. You may love them deeply, enjoy their company, and see a future together—but if you’re not aligned on the type of relationship you both want, it creates a fundamental tension that’s hard to ignore.
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Joan Herrmann
Expectations are a natural part of being human. We develop them from childhood, shaped by family dynamics, cultural narratives, personal experiences, and even media portrayals of how life and relationships “should” unfold. We expect love to be returned in the way we give it. We expect support from those we’ve supported. We expect fairness, reciprocity, and understanding, especially from those closest to us. At their core, expectations are often rooted in a desire for safety, connection, and predictability, but when left unchecked, they can become silent saboteurs of our peace and our relationships.
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Joan Herrmann
Relationships have the power to bring out the best in us—and sometimes, the most vulnerable parts we didn’t know were still raw. If you’ve ever reacted in a way that surprised even yourself—snapping over a comment, withdrawing suddenly, or becoming overly emotional during a disagreement—you’ve likely encountered a trigger. These emotional landmines can cause us to act irrationally, often harming the very relationships we want to protect.
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Joan Herrmann
Re-entering the dating world later in life can be both exciting and overwhelming. For many, the experience brings a mix of emotions — hope, anxiety, self-doubt, and even frustration. The dating landscape has changed drastically (and that’s an understatement), and the confidence once felt in youth may now be replaced with feelings of inadequacy or fear of rejection. However, despite these challenges, later in life dating can also be an opportunity for growth, self-discovery, and yes, even love.
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Joan Herrmann
A trauma bond is a deep emotional attachment that forms between a person and their abuser, typically as a result of repeated cycles of abuse and intermittent reinforcement. It is a psychological response to intense, often manipulative emotional experiences that create confusion, loyalty, and dependency — even in the face of harm. Unlike healthy attachment, trauma bonding is rooted in fear, shame, and control rather than trust, safety, and mutual respect. This type of bond can be especially difficult to recognize and break, as the relationship often swings between periods of intense connection and episodes of abuse or neglect.