by Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D.…

Don’t we all wear masks at one time or another, pretending that everything is OK? There are many reasons people may act out this charade. It’s not uncommon to hide personal pain, because putting it on display for all to see can be embarrassing and even destabilize relationships. Yet studies show that using denial as an emotional defense and ‘acting as if’ everything is fine can actually shift your feelings in a more positive direction. And keeping a ‘stiff upper lip’ when you feel powerless may, in fact, result in your having more control over a difficult situation.

Yet underlying bad feelings don’t just disappear when you hide them as a form of self-medication. The transitions we go through can be complicated. And perspective is valuable, Read More→