Lowey Psychological Services

05/27/2026

You spend years working toward something. You get there. And then the feeling you expected doesn't quite arrive.

Psychologists call this the arrival fallacy. This article examines why high achievers so often feel emptiness after reaching major goals.

For many people, it points to how deeply self-worth has become tangled up with performance. When what we do and who we are feel inseparable, even success can leave something unresolved.

Success can feel empty for high achievers. Here’s why—and what that feeling reveals about identity, motivation, and what actually leads to fulfillment.

05/20/2026

The TV left on all night. The email sitting unanswered. The thing your partner does that you've mentioned more times than you can count.

Small, recurring irritants (what researchers call daily hassles) can have an outsized effect on our emotional health and closest relationships. When they go unprocessed, they tend to show up in places we don't expect.

Letting little things pass turns out to be a real skill, and one worth building.

How we deal with our daily hassles can profoundly affect our health and relationships. Here’s how to do better.

05/15/2026

Being alone and feeling lonely are not the same thing, and that difference matters more than most people realize.

This article sheds some light on how intentional solitude, time alone that is chosen rather than imposed, can support emotional regulation, improve mood, and even spark creativity.

For many people, learning to actually rest in the quiet, rather than fill it the moment it appears, is one of the more meaningful things they can practice.

In her latest collection, “A Suit or A Suitcase," poet Maggie Smith explores how solitude can bring insight and clarity, even in the moments we feel most unmoored.

05/13/2026

Being alone and feeling lonely are not the same thing, and that difference matters more than most people realize.

Psychology Today explores how intentional solitude, time alone that is chosen rather than imposed, can support emotional regulation, improve mood, and even spark creativity.

For many people, learning to actually rest in the quiet, rather than fill it the moment it appears, is one of the more meaningful things they can practice.

Read more: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/well-read/202603/how-solitude-supports-mental-health

05/06/2026

There's a kind of tired that rest doesn't fix.

A new NPR piece breaks down what researchers call the "mental load": the constant background work of tracking schedules, anticipating needs, and managing what has to happen before it can even begin.

Studies show women carry the larger share of this invisible labor, and over time, that weight affects relationships and emotional health in ways that are hard to name.

One key insight: once we can actually see the mental load, we can start to address it.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/04/21/nx-s1-5736111/want-to-lighten-your-mental-load-first-let-go-of-these-gender-myths

04/29/2026

“What is wrong with me?” is a question a lot of people carry quietly.

This feeling often comes from stress, loneliness, or unresolved experiences, not because something is actually “wrong” with you. Sitting with that question instead of pushing it away can lead to better understanding and change.

What's wrong with me? You might ask yourself this question if you are overwhelmed, stressed, or dealing with mental health issues. Learn how to cope and get help.

04/22/2026

A lot of people confuse optimism with pretending everything is fine. But real optimism is not denial. It’s the ability to stay grounded in reality while still believing change, healing, or movement is possible. 🌱 That kind of mindset can be especially helpful when someone feels stuck, discouraged, or emotionally worn down.

NPR’s Life Kit recently shared a thoughtful conversation on the difference between forced positivity and a more resilient, realistic kind of optimism.

Psychologist Deepika Chopra says that optimism isn’t about being positive all the time. It’s about staying open, curious and resilient. In her new book, The Power of Real Optimism, she explains the science behind optimism and evidence-based manifestation, and how affirmations done the right way ...

04/16/2026

“I need space” can sound scary.

A lot of people hear it as rejection, when sometimes it’s really a sign that someone feels overwhelmed and needs room to regulate before they can reconnect well. That does not make it painless, but it can change the way we interpret the moment.

This is a helpful reminder that not every pause means disconnection. Sometimes it’s part of trying not to make things worse.

If you hear it, seek clarity, not reassurance.

04/15/2026

“I need space” can sound scary.

A lot of people hear it as rejection, when sometimes it’s really a sign that someone feels overwhelmed and needs room to regulate before they can reconnect well.

That does not make it painless, but it can change the way we interpret the moment.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202604/what-i-need-space-actually-means-in-a-relationship

This is a helpful reminder that not every pause means disconnection. Sometimes it’s part of trying not to make things worse.

04/09/2026

We’re so proud to see our very own Dr. Patricia Gratson, Psy.D. featured on Fox Good Day last week! 👏

In the segment, she breaks down an important question: Is it love, or is it limerence? While limerence can feel a lot like love, it often involves intense emotional fixation and idealization that can be confusing and overwhelming.

Thank you, Dr. Gratson, for sharing your insight on such an important topic!

Is it love or is it limerence? Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Patricia Gratson, PsyD, breaks down what limerence is and why it’s so often mistaken for love.