I’ve been reading more often lately, and I think it’s for one reason: The books I’ve found have been amazing. Some entail plot twists, some help me fight diet culture, and others simply have beautiful storylines. After I finish these books, I want to find similar ones to continue the high I’m feeling, but finding just the right one can be difficult. I’ve seen “recommended reading” lists, but they don’t always match my interests as much as I’d like.

So, when I came across #booktok on TikTok, I was thrilled. This hashtag, along with others, shares TikTok creators’ book recommendations…

Have you ever taken on a parental role as a child? Or defined yourself by your relationship with your significant other? Or, because of a lack of boundaries, felt confused about where you ended and someone else began?

Those are all signs of enmeshment. But don’t worry — you’re not alone. I’ve struggled with this too.

Enmeshment is when two or more people, usually within a family, are overly involved in each other’s lives, leading to unhealthy interactions and an inability to discern oneself from another.

What’s tricky about enmeshment, though, is it can feel fully healthy and positive. It’s…

Some days, I’m a writing machine. I crank out multiple articles, work for eight hours straight, and feel great about my productivity. Other days, I don’t. Other days, I stay in bed and watch a TV show stressfully, feeling guilty for not writing. I try to work and end up crying. I have no ideas, no motivation, no hope.

I’ve struggled with depression on and off for about six years. Thankfully, I’m high-functioning most of the time, which I want to make clear when I explain some “easy” practices that help me (but may not help you, and that doesn’t…

From mid-December to almost mid-February, my career in freelance writing was not going well. I’d been on a high for a while, but suddenly, everything hit. Rejections, constructive criticism, low stats, you name it.

What made it worse is the fact I didn’t know when it would end. I kept thinking it would end “after the holidays” or “after the new year” or “after the inauguration” — and to no avail.

As someone with an Enneagram type three personality, this sense of failure negatively affected my self-worth and mood. Type threes, also known as “Achievers,” care deeply about success and…

I’ve been single most of my life, and during that time, one of my least favorite holidays was Valentine’s. Other than loving the candy, I was basically a Valentine’s Grinch. Seeing people in relationships when I wanted one so badly made me feel inadequate, and I especially struggled when my friends had partners so I couldn’t spend time with them.

If you’re also struggling this Valentine’s Day, I encourage you to find ways to enjoy the holiday, all while reminding yourself that you’re so loved and worthy of love. For four suggestions on how to do so, keep reading.

1. Spend Time With Friends and/or Family

While…

Growing up in a diet culture-filled world, I lived under a system of beliefs that promotes weight loss, demonizes fat people, and moralizes health. As a result, I feared two things: food and being fat. Under those umbrellas, I also feared hunger, as normal as it is, as well as weight gain and “junk food.” I feared being judged for what I was eating or how I looked. And frankly, I don’t remember a time when I didn’t dislike my thighs or have anxiety over food. When I was 8 years old, I told people I was on a diet.

…

I love reading books by authors of all identities, but I noticed several of the books I’ve read that played an influential role in my life were written by women of Asian descent. These books were not only enjoyable, but they also taught me life lessons about relationships and helped me feel less alone. In addition, several of these books portrayed family dynamics in important ways, encouraging conversation about how families can affect each other and those around them, including the problems they can cause.

I want others to read these books and learn those insights as well. …

February is National Eating Disorders Awareness Month, and the goal is to educate the public, share hope, and raise awareness about life-saving resources for those who need them. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week specifically this year is Feb. 22 through Feb. 28; the theme is “Every Body Has a Seat at the Table.”

Talking about diversity and inclusion within the eating disorder realm has always been under-discussed and crucial. The way TV shows and movies portray eating disorders still today is harmful and shocking: They focus on thin, white, cisgender women, even though we know people in marginalized communities are…