October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to speak out, share knowledge, and support survivors. Domestic violence affects millions of people every year and crosses all backgrounds, ages, and identities.
We often think of tolerance as a virtue, and it is. Tolerance allows people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and identities to live together in community. But there’s an important catch, known as the paradox of tolerance: if a society tolerates intolerance without limits, the intolerant can eventually destroy tolerance itself.
Many of us are our own worst critics. We hold ourselves to impossibly high standards, replay mistakes in our heads, and use harsh self-talk in the hopes it will somehow motivate us to do better. But in reality, self-criticism often leaves us feeling stuck, anxious, and defeated.
Sex is a natural, healthy part of human life, but like any behavior, it can become compulsive and destructive when it's used to escape pain, numb emotions, or regulate self-worth. While sex addiction isn’t an “official” mental disorder, many people struggle with out-of-control sexual behavior that deeply affects their mental health, relationships, and overall functioning.