Stories by Savvy Psychologist Ellen Hendriksen

They say you stay up too late and got nothing in your brain? It’s normal to care what important people in your life think of you. But if caring too much makes you stressed or you live your life by others’ expectations, it may be time to push back. Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers nine ways to stop caring what other people think

Usually, a celebrity checking into a treatment facility equals scandal. But Hayden Panettiere’s story is anything but. Here are eight symptoms to watch for and four myths, busted

We all know (or were) the kid who makes us wish for the invention of a Ritalin blow dart. But is it a good idea to put kids on psychiatric meds? And once they’re on, how long is long enough? The Savvy Psychologist tackles the topic of psychiatric drugs that start early and last a lifetime

Chronic pain can be in your neck, back and anywhere else. It can disrupt your work, your relationships and, by extension, your mental health. This week, Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers five tips to deal with the common challenge of chronic pain

This week on the Savvy Psychologist podcast, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen outlines 4 differences between nightmares and night terrors. Plus, tips on how to get rid of each so you can drift back to dreamland

Brandon Stanton, creator, photographer, interviewer, and author of the recent New York Times bestseller Humans of New York: Stories, discusses how to talk to strangers, the importance of having greater empathy, and more

Affecting 3 to 8 percent of the population, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is the most common of all the personality disorders. This week, the Savvy Psychologist explains the eight traits of OCPD

This week, we’ll wrap up our three-part series on toxic habits. Our third toxic habit? Call it overthinking, obsessing, brooding, or wallowing, or, call it the official term: rumination. In this episode of the Savvy Psychologist, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 4 tips to stop the mental hamster wheel

While millions of people are comfortable seeking help from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other counselor, others—maybe you included—would rather pass a kidney stone than make an appointment with a therapist. This week, the Savvy Psychologist helps you (or someone you love) get over 5 common myths and fears about therapy

Is porn bad for the brain? The Savvy Psychologist explains 3 studies that looked at how we process porn and other sexualized images, and reveals the potential effects on the brain—and on how we see our fellow men and women

The terms “psychopath” and “sociopath” often get used interchangeably, but they’re not exactly the same. Regardless of semantics, here’s how to spot the heartless, charming evil of a psychopath or sociopath

Can’t take a compliment? Feel like a fake? Convinced you’ll be unmasked at any moment? Welcome to the secret circle of high achievers suffering from Impostor Syndrome. The Savvy Psychologist explains how to recognize it, where it comes from, and has 9 tips on how to combat it

Hair pulling, skin picking, and knuckle cracking are just a few examples of pesky habits many of us just can't resist. Here are 10 tips to stop the snap, crackle, and pop of your body-focused nervous habits

Do you frequently start and abandon projects? Does your ability to concentrate flip-flop between The Laser Beam and The Disco Ball? Sometimes ADHD is obvious, but sometimes it can fly under the radar. The Savvy Psychologist explains the common, and not so common, signs of this disorder. Plus, learn about medication-free tips to manage ADHD in kids and adults.

In Part 1 of this series, the Savvy Psychologist covered 5 ways to get to your destination without leaving fingernail marks in the armrest. Today, we’ll learn why you freak out at 30,000 feet and do a 10-second test to see if you’re prone to panic. Plus, the skinny on Xanax and what to do next

About 40% of all Americans have a fear of flying. That's more than 120 million people! If you're one of them, the Savvy Psychologist has 5 tips to get you in the air without a pit stop at the terminal bar. You’ll never love the middle seat, but you may not mind getting on the plane

When all that’s left of the fa-la-la-la-las is rock-hard fruitcake, the winter blahs creep up, settle in, and hang around until spring. Dr. Ellen Hendriksen, the Savvy Psychologist, has 8 tips on how to deal with the blues and their more serious cousin, Seasonal Affective Disorder

This week, the Savvy Psychologist talks about healing PTSD and the stigma that can get in the way, with a special emphasis on veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Whether you call it zoning out, spacing out or daydreaming, we spend up to 47 percent of our waking lives letting our minds wander. This week, the Savvy Psychologist explains why mind wandering happens, when it’s good, when it’s bad—and how it might even lead to your own "Eureka!" moment

The recent tragedy of Robin Williams's suicide—and the ensuing media storm—raised awareness of suicide as a mental health issue but also generated a lot of misinformation. This week, the Savvy Psychologist cleans up after the headlines

Procrastination happens to the best of us.  None other than Leonardo DaVinci noted, “It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.”  So don’t delay!  Read on for 6 tips to stop procrastinating.

Antidepressants have been hailed as miracle drug rock stars and vilified as brain-changing happy pills. All promotion aside—good or bad—are they effective?  The Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen digs though the data.

Talking to yourself again?  Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen assures you’re not going crazy.  You’re simply thinking out loud, which is not only normal, but beneficial

Sometimes there’s no clear medical reason for flagging energy and dragging drive.  And sometimes the tried-and-true trio of sleep, diet, and exercise doesn’t help as much as we wish.  Savvy Psychologist Dr. Ellen Hendriksen offers 7 possibilities, some common, some not-so-obvious, for why you may be tired