Diana Kirschner

Hooking Up & Other Deadly Dating Patterns

Hooking up, that is, no-strings-attached sex, can be hot, mind-blowing hot. And it has become the norm for many college students, 20-somethings and even many 30-somethings. But there are high costs for this brief steamy pleasure. Impulsive in-the-moment sex is often fueled by alcohol or drugs, which makes it hard to remember that it is risky sex. Risks escalate if there is no condom, or if it sits in the back... (posted by Diana 3 years 134 days ago.)

Texting 101 in Dating and Relationships: 7 Do’s and Don’ts

I think texting rocks! It means that no matter what you are doing you can be in touch with and connected to your loved ones. Texting has absolutely deepened our dating and love relationships. Now your "A" level friends, family and lovers can be in a constant secret dialogue with you. Of course texting can be overdone and work in reverse: how many times have you seen others texting away and... (posted by Diana 3 years 134 days ago.)

Breakup Quiz: 20 Questions to Ask Yourself

Of course, some relationships are destructive, smothering or empty and they have to go. But these days breaking up and divorce have become so socially acceptable, that many couples who could work things out wind up dissolving their unions. And often there is a big price to pay for this. As a couples therapist and love expert, I've seen too many people regret ending their relationships. Usually the breakup itself... (posted by Diana 3 years 139 days ago.)

Five Tips for Coping with a Breakup

Being alone after a break up is a challenge, especially at holiday time. Divorce or separation after a long relationship is the number two top life stressor following right behind being widowed. A severe loss can plunge you into depression and health problems. So do not let yourself go for several months without taking steps to recover. A UCLA study showed that being rejected activates one of the same areas of the... (posted by Diana 3 years 148 days ago.)

Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater? Five Signs to Help You Know

So you've been cheated on. It was devastating--like being kicked in the gut and thrown into the gutter. You couldn't eat or function at work. Or maybe you were up all night watching old movies, crying and eating pints of Ben & Jerry's. The affair creates such heartache and pain that you do not want it to happen again. Definitely never again. The questions loom large. Is the cheater going... (posted by Diana 3 years 148 days ago.)

The Power of Positive Self-Affirmations for Dating Success

Research has repeatedly shown the power of positive self-talk, which is what most of us call affirmations. Positive affirmations have been used to: change behavior in under-achieving students; increase nurses' and doctors' well-being and lower their stress levels; reduce breast cancer patients' cortisol levels; and heighten athletic performance. People cope more easily when going into new social... (posted by Diana 3 years 148 days ago.)