Billi Silverstein
Psychotherapy

Perhaps the task, then, is not to conquer grief but to learn to live alongside it. To recognise its presence not as pathology but as a reminder of attachment, meaning and love that persists beyond absence.

Hypervigilance is often misunderstood. It is not a universal consequence of trauma, nor is it simply anxiety or over-cautiousness. Rather, it is a finely tuned, embodied response that can develop when a child grows up in an environment where safety was unpredictable. From a psychotherapeutic perspective, hypervigilance reflects the nervous system’s remarkable adaptability. It learns to scan for danger in order to protect the self, even when the threat is no longer present.

Those who don’t watch Love Island may find themselves wondering, “Where are my people?” It’s not simply about television taste; it’s often about belonging. In psychodynamic terms, these moments tap into deeper relational patterns. Feeling like an outsider can reawaken early experiences of exclusion, perhaps from the family system, school friendships, or social groups where one felt misattuned.

The “disease of more” is not just a cultural issue or a personality flaw. It is a deeper psychological and existential condition, a sign that we have become disconnected from ourselves and from what gives life meaning. At its heart lies a constant urge to seek fulfilment through accumulation: more success, more possessions, more experiences, more recognition. But behind this craving is often a discomfort with simply being ourselves.

Are people who have affairs victims of their own internal chemical system?

Try: put an elastic band round your wrist and ping it to cause a sting as an alternative method. Use ice cubes – hold them in your hands...

We like to hold ourselves up to certain standards, but our actions do not always match up…. At times, we may gossip yet have a belief...

We are meant to evolve out of attention seeking behaviours. For some this happens at the toddler stage. If however, their needs are not...

keeping secrets is a universal experience and can protect your sense of self by keeping good and safe boundaries. Being too secretive can...