The Self Help Briefing: Psychology, Relationships & Personal Growth

Worried about money? Financial anxiety can show up as constant money stress, fear about bills or debt, compulsively checking your bank account, or avoiding your finances altogether because they feel overwhelming. In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen talk about why money anxiety can feel so intense and how uncertainty, shame, catastrophic thinking, and fear about the future can keep financial worries going.

Financ...

Is masturbation good for you? Despite how common it is, masturbation is still surrounded by embarrassment, myths, and plenty of questions about whether it actually has health benefits.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen put the awkwardness aside and look at some of the potential health benefits of masturbation, including better sleep, stress relief, improved mood, sexual self-awareness, mindfulness, and greater...

Why do some women keep dating emotionally unavailable men—even when they know the relationship probably isn't going anywhere? Attraction, chemistry, attachment patterns, and the thrill of the chase can make emotionally unavailable men especially hard to walk away from.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Jen takes the lead as she and Mike explore why women can find themselves repeatedly attract...

You live together. You share routines. You stream shows, pay bills, handle chores, and get through everyday life together.

But somewhere along the way, did your relationship start feeling less romantic—and a lot more like two roommates sharing the same space?

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen talk about roommate syndrome—the gradual shift that can happen w...

Anxiety can show up in a lot of different ways—from constant worry and racing thoughts to panic attacks, OCD, stress, avoidance, and that nagging feeling that something just isn’t right.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen take a closer look at anxiety disorders and why working with a therapist who specializes in anxiety can make a difference. They also spot...

Are you the person everyone counts on—the fixer, the organizer, the one who steps in because “if I don’t do it, it won’t get done”? Being responsible can be a strength, but chronic responsibility can leave you carrying responsibilities that were never really yours—and feeling exhausted by all of it.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen...

Could sleeping naked actually help you sleep better? Research suggests that nighttime body temperature plays an important role in sleep quality, and ditching your pajamas may have some surprising benefits for comfort, intimacy, and overall well-being.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike makes a confession: he sleeps completely naked—and Jen has questions. From body temperature and sleep quality to intimacy, mood, ...

Are you dating someone who is already married and wondering what to do next? Relationships with married partners can involve secrecy, guilt, hope, intense attachment, and difficult questions about whether the situation will ever truly change.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen talk honestly about what it can be like to become involved with someone who is married...

Why do guys wake up with morning wood—and what exactly is happening while they sleep? In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen tackle one of those totally normal body questions that almost everyone knows about but hardly anyone talks about.

With plenty of laughs along the way, they explore what causes morning erections, what REM sleep and hormones have to do with them, why a full bladder may sometimes play a ro...

Do you ever replay a conversation over and over again, analyzing what you said, how you said it, and what the other person might have thought? Those mental replays can quickly turn ordinary reflection into anxiety, self-doubt, and rumination.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen explore why our minds sometimes get stuck replaying conversations and why perfectionism, social anxiety, and uncertainty can make the cy...

Do you always feel anxious? Do you have this overwhelming feeling that something bad is going to happen, even though you logically know you're OK? Well, you aren't alone.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen explore why anxiety can feel so intensely physical—and why your brain sometimes sounds the alarm even when there’s no immediate danger.

They break down anxiety as a kind of forecasting system, con...

Can you be happy in a committed relationship and still feel attracted to someone else? Attraction outside a relationship is surprisingly common, but it can trigger guilt, confusion, and questions about what those feelings really mean.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen explore why noticing someone else doesn't necessarily mean your relationship is in trouble. They talk about the difference between attraction an...

Looksmaxing is supposed to help you improve your appearance—but what happens when self-improvement turns into constant comparison, flaw-finding, and never feeling good enough?

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen talk about the growing looksmaxxing trend and why something that starts with grooming, fitness, skincare, or style can sometimes become an exhausting cycle of self-monitoring. They explore the...

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen explore the psychology of ghosting, why it hurts so deeply, and how you can begin healing after someone suddenly disappears from your life. They discuss why our brains crave closure, how ghosting can affect self-esteem and future relationships, and why another person's inability to communicate says far more about them than it does about your worth.

Whether you've been ghosted ...

What happens when your boyfriend seems interested in physical intimacy but treats you poorly the rest of the time?

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen unpack a painful relationship paradox: feeling sexually desired while simultaneously feeling emotionally neglected, criticized, dismissed, or taken for granted.

They explore why some people separate sex from emotional con...

Sleeping with your boss can feel exciting, validating, and intensely attractive—but it can also create a complicated mix of secrecy, power, guilt, career risk, and emotional confusion.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen unpack why workplace affairs can feel so intense, how power imbalances can affect the relationship, and why that uneasy feeling in your gut may b...

Dating is supposed to be exciting, but for many people it feels more like a high-pressure test.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen talk about dating anxiety and why texting, dating apps, first dates, fear of rejection, and uncertainty can trigger so much overthinking and self-doubt. They also explore how avoidance can make anxiety stronger over time, why past relations...

Is bigger always better? Not necessarily.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen explore a topic that's rarely discussed openly: what happens when physical compatibility becomes a challenge in a relationship. They discuss why intimacy can sometimes become uncomfortable or painful, practical strategies couples can use to improve comfort, and the importance of communication,...

Heading back to school can be exciting—but it can also bring stress, distractions, and a lot of pressure.

In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen share seven practical strategies for making the transition back to school easier and more successful. They talk about managing smartphone distractions, learning when to say no, creating a calming study space, limiting news o...