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If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Why do some people just naturally get it… and others don’t?”—you’re not alone. This question comes up in therapy rooms all the time. It lives in conversations about relationships, parenting, leadership, and even self-compassion. At its core is a deeply human curiosity: Is empathy something we’re born with, or something we can learn?

Memorial Day in Central Illinois often arrives with the things we’ve come to expect this time of year—parades in Peoria, backyard gatherings, kids running barefoot in the grass, and that subtle sense that summer is finally beginning. It’s a rhythm our community knows well. And yet, for many people, this day carries something much heavier beneath the surface.

If you have been around the therapy or child-development world for a while, you may have encountered terms like “anxious attachment” or “avoidant attachment.” Hearing these terms as a parent may cause worry. Is it possible that a child could get permanently set in a pattern? Or that you’ve done something wrong as a parent? Not necessarily! In this post, my goal is to unpack what these attachment styles look like, and what they can mean for your children.

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve likely seen a video that looks like this: a creator points to a list of "relatable" quirks—like losing your keys, liking coffee, having twenty browser tabs open, or my most recent favorite, showering backwards—and ends with the caption: “Did you know this was a sign of ADHD?”

There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from trying to be everything to everyone—especially when your brain is wired to notice every misstep, replay every conversation, and quietly whisper, “You could have done that better.”

If you’ve ever felt that pull toward perfection—whether in parenting, relationships, or your work—you are not alone.

This article was inspired by a conversation with a client navigating something many parents silently carry this time of year.

Her child is graduating high school—but not onto a clearly defined, traditional path. There isn’t a polished answer to “What’s next?” There isn’t a neat, impressive narrative to offer at parties or in passing conversations.

For many people, a dog is more than a pet—they are a steady presence, a source of comfort, and a relationship that supports mental and emotional well‑being. While dogs are not a substitute for therapy or medication, research consistently shows that meaningful relationships with dogs can positively support mental health in ways that are both psychological and physiological.

At Summit Family Therapy, many of our clients describe a familiar and painful pattern: “I care deeply, I try so hard, and I still end up feeling small, blamed, or disposable in relationships.”

Often, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is part of that story.

Not because something is wrong with you—but because your nervous system is doing exactly what it learned to do to protect you from loss of connection.

Mother’s Day is often wrapped in images of brunches, flowers, smiling families, and gratitude. For some, this day genuinely feels warm and celebratory. But for many others, Mother’s Day carries a quieter, more complicated emotional reality.

There’s a phrase I often share with parents: “Name it to tame it.”
It’s simple, accessible, and powerful.

When a child feels overwhelmed, angry, anxious, or frustrated, helping them put words to their internal experience can lower emotional intensity and support regulation. Naming emotions helps children feel seen and understood—and it gives their nervous system a chance to calm.

There’s a moment in many relationships that doesn’t look dramatic from the outside—but it’s no less real.
No slammed doors. No explosive arguments.
Just a quiet, persistent question that lingers beneath the surface:

Is this still right for me?

If you parent a teen or young adult, you’ve probably seen countless social media trends come and go. But there’s one gaining attention right now—not because it’s harmless or funny, but because of the very real mental health risks it carries.

It’s called looksmaxxing.

Perfectionism often looks admirable—especially in leadership.

It can look like being dependable, driven, detail‑oriented, and deeply committed to doing things “the right way.” Many of the clients we work with at Summit Family Therapy in Peoria, Illinois are high‑achieving professionals, caregivers, leaders, and helpers who pride themselves on responsibility and excellence.

And yet, many of them are also exhausted.

Many of us move through life with an internal rulebook that says: Do better. Be better. Don’t mess up. When we fall short—as all humans do—that inner voice can quickly turn harsh, critical, and shaming.

Self‑compassion invites a different way of relating to ourselves. It does not lower standards or excuse harmful behavior. Instead, it offers a supportive, grounded, and evidence‑based path for responding to our own suffering with the same care we would offer someone we love.

Why Does Everybody Hate Me? is a compassionate, validating, and deeply human exploration of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) by ADHD advocate Alex Partridge. Through personal stories, humor, and accessible psychoeducation, Partridge gives language to an experience many neurodivergent people live with silently—often wrapped in shame, confusion, and self‑doubt.

As a therapist, I was struck by how precisely this book reflects what I see clinically.
As someone living with RSD myself, it brought up a mix of anger, grief, relief, and recognition—sometimes all on the same page.

⚠️ Movie Spoiler Alert

This article contains spoilers for Project Hail Mary (2026) and Cast Away (2000).

Introduction: Two Very Different Stories, One Shared Human Need

Project Hail Mary and Cast Away take place in drastically different environments. One is set light‑years from Earth aboard a spacecraft. The other unfolds on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean. But psychologically and emotionally, these films are telling the same story:

What happens to the human mind when connection is removed—and what changes when it returns?

A few weeks ago, a client said something that lingered with me long after our session ended:

“I’m not just grieving my marriage. I’m grieving how differently people are treating me now.”

They asked if I’d write about divorce—not the logistics, not the legal pieces, but the social and relational fallout. The judgment. The awkwardness. The friendships that suddenly feel fragile. The family members who ask too many questions. The people who quietly disappear.

In his newest book, Hard Feelings: Finding the Wisdom in Our Darkest Emotions, psychotherapist and author Daniel Smith invites us to reconsider something most of us have spent years trying to avoid: our so‑called negative emotions. Rather than treating anger, shame, envy, regret, jealousy, annoyance, boredom, or despair as problems to eliminate, Smith makes a compelling and deeply humane case that these emotions serve an essential purpose—if we are willing to listen to what they are trying to tell us.

In her newest book, The Balancing Act: Creating Healthy Dependency and Connection Without Losing Yourself, licensed therapist and bestselling author Nedra Glover Tawwab explores a question many people quietly wrestle with: How do we stay connected to others without losing ourselves in the process?

Have you ever noticed that things you used to enjoy just don’t feel the same anymore? Maybe your favorite foods taste flat, time with friends feels draining instead of fulfilling, or activities that once brought excitement now feel empty. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and there’s a name for this experience: anhedonia.