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Resilient Brain Project

Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Health Through Accessible, Therapeutic Learning

  • Identity & Discrimination
  • Life Changes
  • Grief & Loss
  • Productivity
  • Confidence & Body Image
  • Stress
  • Relationships & Sexuality*
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Addictions
  • Trauma & PTSD
  • Emergency Resources

Relationships & Sexuality*

“An interpersonal relationship is a strong, deep, or close association or acquaintance between two or more people that may range in duration from brief to enduring”
Wikipedia

Actions For Now

Steps (& Apps) to Reduce Symptoms
  • “How to make Friends As An Adult in 4 Simple Steps”: Ideas for bonding with others when it’s not as simple as meeting in a classroom
  • “10 Ways To Make You Closer To Your Family”: Advice on building common family values and a strong home cultural to bring your immediate relatives together
  • “How To Break The Pattern of Love Addiction”: Sometimes your relationships are more about a compulsive need to be with someone than your connection with the other person. Here are ways to move past that.
  • “36 Questions to Bring You Closer Together”: Build up any relationship by getting to know one another with these questions that have been shown to almost always make people feel more positive about one another
  • 7 meditations on common relationship issues: Topics include kindness, acceptance, and communication among others
  • “How Do I Set Boundaries With My Divorcing Parents?”: Feeling caught in the middle of your parents? Check out these tips.
  • “How to Set Healthy Boundaries”: A graphic that makes it easy to just say “no” to obligations you can’t meet
  • Guided meditation on relationships: This meditation examines your relationships with people and the world at large
  • “How to Beat Feelings of Loneliness”: We all feel lonely from time to time; here are tips for getting out of an isolated funk
  • “5 Ways to Enhance Relationships”: Simple advice for strengthening your bonds
  • “How To Make Friends When You’re A Grown Up”: More advice on creating new relationships as an adult
  • “Staying (or Becoming) Close with Our Siblings As We Age”: Tips on maintaining the sibling bond even after you’ve moved far away or gotten absorbed in busy lives
Apps
  • Bumble BFF: A friend finder within the Bumble dating app
  • Conversation Builder Teen: This app was designed to assist kids and teens with their communication. Initially free, it now costs $19.99
Romantic Relationships
  • “9 Things You Should Do For A Happy Relationship”: This infographic was designed for romantic partners, but can also be applied to platonic relationships
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy: Learn more about this evidence-based approach to couples treatment and enroll in an online workshop or find a nearby therapist (therapists, learn more about getting certified in EFT here)
  • “Healing from the Aftermath of Infidelity”: Sex and relationship expert Dr. Tammy Nelson gives this free webinar on recovering from infidelity. You can also check out her blog on relationship issues like jealousy, consent, and porn.
  • American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists: Find a therapist or physician who has received extensive training in human sexuality and healthy sexual behavior
  • “Best Online Dating Sites of 2017”: Trying to meet someone new? Check out these sites.
  • “How To Ask Someone Out”: This guide will help you present yourself kindly and confidently
  • “Is My Relationship Healthy?”: This quiz can help you figure out if your relationship is right for you
  • “12 Pre-planned Dating Nights”: Take the hassle out of date planning
  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call this number if you suspect your romantic relationship has become harmful
  • “Ending a Marriage, With Grace and Respect”: Relationship expert Esther Perel offers guidance on handling your divorce like a respectful ritual rather than an explosive fight
  • “Valentine’s Day for the Single Romantic”: An infographic that’ll show you how to enjoy your Valentine’s Day (or any day) while flying solo
  • “50 Best (Fun) Cheap Date Ideas”: Bond with your significant other without breaking the bank
  • “How to Get Over a Breakup, According to Psychology”: The best advice for allowing your heart (and mind) to move forward from a difficult breakup
Apps
  • Mend: Supportive articles and audio recordings to help you through your breakup
Healthy Sexuality
  • “Seven Ways To Become More Sexually Confident (Without Feeling Embarrassed)”: Follow these steps to become more assured in your sexual self
  • Safer Sex Guide: This PDF offers information about STIs, sex and substance use, condom use, and more
  • “What Does Sex Mean To You?”: Evaluate your attitudes towards sex with this piece from the Huffington Post
  • Mojo: A questionnaire to help you and your partner determine common sexual interests
  • Get Tested: The Center for Disease Control explains the importance of getting tested for STIs and STDs, and how you can do so.
  • “Reclaiming Your Sexuality After Trauma, ft. Alina McClerklin, LICSW”: Steps for moving forward and reclaiming your sensual self after a traumatic incident
  • “10 Minute Guided Meditation for Better Sex”: This meditation helps you engage with your sexuality to enhance your experience
  • “Using the Sacral Chakra to Engage With Your Sexuality, ft. Tim Rogers, LMT”: How can chakra work help you connect with your sexual self?
Apps
  • My Sex Doctor: Sex education resources
  • MyPill Birth Control Reminder: Everyone needs a little help remembering to take their medication on time
  • CDC STD Tx: STD education from the US Center for Disease Control
  • iCondom: Locate nearest condom retailer

For Allies

Give the Best Support Possible
  • “When Someone You Love Is Struggling”: An infographic on how to support loved ones who’re going through rough times
  • “How to Be a Resource for a Friend In Need”: This article focuses on assisting friends in crisis (such as someone dealing with self-harm or suicidality)
  • “10 Ways to Get and Give Emotional Support”: Psychology Today gives us the lowdown on creating mutually caring relationships
  • “How You Can Support a Partner Who’s Struggling with their Mental Health”: Kristin Dart, LICSW, offers tips for those unsure how to best support their significant other during tough psychological times.
Romantic Relationships
  • “5 Ways To Help a Friend Who’s In A Bad Relationship”: How to healthily and nonjudgmentally assist a friend who’s in a negative situation
  • “4 Ways To Be A Good Friend During A Friend’s Breakup”: What to do (and not to do) for a friend struggling with a breakup
  • “13 Ways to Be A Good Friend To Someone Getting A Divorce”: Even if you haven’t been through one yourself, you can lend a helping hand
  • “How Do I Set Boundaries With My Divorcing Parents?”: Feeling caught in the middle of your parents? Check out these tips
Healthy Sexuality
  • “Tips for Talking With Your Teen About Sex”: How to communicate openly and without shame
  • “4 Ways To Help Your Friend Who’s Being Sex-Shamed”: Are people attacking your friend because of their sexual activity? Here’s how you can support them
  • “What Can I Say To A Friend Who’s Having Unprotected Sex?”: You don’t want your friend to get hurt, so here’s a gentle way to discuss birth control with them
  • “Teaching Sexual Health”: Resources for the classroom
  • “How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex”: This podcast from NPR lifekit explores all the uncomfortable but necessary parts of this conversation
  • “How To Help A Friend Who’s Having Painful Sex, By A Sexologist”: Your loved ones shouldn’t have to experience pain during intercourse. Here are some ideas you can share with them.

You’re Not Alone

Connect with Others, Hear their Stories & Access Playlists
Stories
  • “22 Heartwarming Stories of True Friendship That Will Make You Call Your Bestie”: Remind yourself of how wonderful friendship can be
  • “A Love Letter To My Brother”: One woman crafted this letter of appreciation for her sibling, even though she wasn’t all too enthusiastic when he first joined the family
  • Estranged Stories: A forum for those coping with familial estrangement
  • “An Open Letter To My Long-Distance Best Friend”: After moving to a far-away college, one individual penned this note to her BFF
  • “An Open Letter To My BeautifuL Child Who Will Always Shine”: Advice on how to life happily and love oneself from a parent to their child
  • “Friend Breakup Stories: 5 Women Share Their Tales of BFF Heartbreak”: If you’ve had to end a meaningful friendship, you’re not alone
  • “How To Build A Family From Scratch”: A reflection on how families can be built intentionally, whether they’re biologically related or not
Romantic Relationships
  • “3 Things That Finally Made Me Get Over My Fear of Falling In Love”: A writer discusses her fear of commitment, and how she eventually moved past it
  • “Readers’ Stories of Being Single”: The BBC collected several tales about the joys and hardships of single life
  • “How I Found My Soulmate, Part 1”: A blogger reflects on her past struggles and insecurities in relationships, and how she eventually began a relationship with her future husband
  • “Why I Broke Up With Someone I Love”: One woman’s story of ending a relationship despite lingering feelings of affection
  • “My Past Relationship Made Me Who I Am Today”: The writer reflects on an emotionally and physically abusive relationship
  • “9 Guys Share The Moment They Knew She Was ‘The One’”: Several men describe how they realized their partner was someone they wanted to spend the rest of their life with
  • “This Is Why I’m Choosing To Remain Single (Forever)”: A woman explains her unconventional choice
  • “My Divorce Story”: Dr. Karen Finn shares how she got through a separation from her partner
  • Break the Cycle: Educational programs on abusive relations targeting teens and parents
Healthy Sexuality
  • “13 Women Share Their Most Empowering Sexual Experiences”: You can feel confident and strong during sex too
  • “Casual Sex Made Me Feel Manipulated, Until I Learned To Ask For What I Want”: One woman describes her struggle with casual sex and her eventual erotic empowerment
  • “How I Dealt With My Premature Ejaculation Problem”: This issue is more common than many will admit, but never fear! You can overcome it
  • “On Sex, Aging, and Living Erotically”: 20-somethings aren’t the only people who have sex lives, despite what the media tells us!
  • “Why I Love My Husband But Not Sex”: Not everyone loves to have sex, and that’s okay
  • “Real Women Dish About Their First Times”: If your first time being sexually active was a little awkward, you’re not alone
Tune In

Check out our Spotify playlist for Friends, Family and other Loved Ones here

  • “You’re My Best Friend,” Queen
  • “Let’s Get Together,” The Go-Go’s
  • “I’ll Stand By You,” The Pretenders
  • “My Same,” Adele
  • “We Are Family,” Sister Sledge
  • “I’ll Be There,” The Jackson Five
  • “We’re Going to be Friends,” The White Stripes
  • “My and My Girls,” Fifth Harmony
  • “Julia,” John Lennon
  • “I’ll Be There For You,” The Rembrandts
  • “Lean On Me,” Bill Withers
  • “22,” Taylor Swift
  • “My Best Friend,” Weezer
  • “You’ve Got a Friend,” James Taylor
  • “Umbrella,” Rihanna & Jay Z
  • “Time After Time,” Cyndi Lauper
  • “Here Today,” Paul McCartney
  • “With a Little Help From My Friends,” The Beatles
  • “One Call Away,” Charlie Puth
  • “That’s What Friends are For,” Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, & Gladys Knight
  • “For Good,” Kristen Chenoweth & Idinia Menzel
  • “Don’t You Forget About Me,” Simple Minds
  • “History,” One Direction
  • “Stand By Me,” Ben E. King
  • “Seasons of Love,” Rent
  • “True Colors,” Cyndi Lauper
  • “It’s Nice to Have a Friend,” Taylor Swift
Romantic Relationships

Check out our Spotify playlist for being In Love here!

  • “L-O-V-E,” Nat King Cole
  • “Your Song,” Elton John
  • “We Found Love,” Rihanna & Calvin Harris
  • “Maybe I’m Amazed,” Paul McCartney
  • “Thinking Out Loud,” Ed Sheeran
  • “Lay, Lady, Lay,” Bob Dylan
  • “The Louvre,” Lorde
  • “All of Me,” John Legend
  • “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” Aerosmith
  • “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Elvis Presley
  • “The Way I Am,” Ingrid Michaelson
  • “Just the Way You Are,” Billy Joel
  • “Yellow,” Coldplay
  • “Mirror,” Justin Timberlake
  • “It Takes Two,” Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston
  • “Lover,” Taylor Swift
  • “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” Stevie Wonder
  • “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” James Taylor
  • “The Only Exception,” Paramore
  • “Let’s Stay Together,” Al Green
  • “I Won’t Give Up,” Jason Mraz
  • “Snowman,” Sia
  • “New Year’s Day,” Taylor Swift
  • “I’ve Had the Time of My Life,” Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes
  • “You Make My Dreams,” Hall & Oates
  • “Love On Top,” Beyoncé
  • “My Girl,” The Temptations
Breakups

Check out our Spotify playlist for Breakups here!

  • “Since U Been Gone,” Kelly Clarkson
  • “Go Your Own Way,” Fleetwood Mac
  • “Freefalling,” Tom Petty
  • “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele
  • “Hallelujah,” Leonard Cohen
  • “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” Beyoncé
  • “Tangled Up In Blue,” Bob Dylan
  • “Bad At Love,” Halsey
  • “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” Marvin Gaye
  • “Better in Time,” Leona Lewis
  • “You’re So Vain,” Carly Simon
  • “I Will Survive,” Gloria Gaynor
  • “Best Thing I Never Had,” Beyoncé
  • “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift
  • “Tainted Love,” Soft Cell
  • “You Give Love a Bad Name,” Bon Jovi
  • “Yesterday,” The Beatles
  • “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Gotye
  • “Fighter,” Christina Aguilera
  • “Burn,” Usher
  • “It Ain’t Me, Babe,” Bob Dylan
  • “I Knew You Were Trouble,” Taylor Swift
  • “Miss Movin’ On,” Fifth Harmony
  • “Cool,” Gwen Stefani
  • “Wide Awake,” Katy Perry
  • “Survivor,” Destiny’s Child
  • “Tears Dry On Their Own,” Amy Winehouse
  • “Send My Love (To Your New Lover),” Adele
  • “in my head,” Ariana Grande
  • “Inevitable,” Shakira
  • “You Oughtta Know,” Alanis Morissette
  • “New Rules,” Dua Lipa
  • “Hard Feelings/Loveless,” Lorde
  • “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo
  • “Part of Me,” Katy Perry
  • “thank u, next,” Ariana Grande

Master The Subject

Learn How it Works & The Science Behind It
  • “Social Relationships and Health: A Flashpoint For Health Policy”: This study reviews the ways in which social support affects our physical and psychological health, alongside healthcare and policy implications
  • “Rethinking Infidelity”: Therapist Esther Perel examines why people cheat and why affairs can be so traumatic in one of her many TED Talks.
  • “Evolution of the Social Brain In Humans”: Why exactly did we evolve to need and appreciate social relationships?
  • “The Evolution of Family and Marriages”: Learn how and why these social structures developed in this thorough PDF
  • “10 Things to Know About Parent-Child Relationships”: How can your relationship affect both you and your child’s wellbeing, and vice versa?
  • “How Do Toxic Relationships Hurt Your Health?”: Not all relationships are good for you—here’s how unhealthy ones can affect your wellbeing
  • “Dear Sugars”: This podcast covers topics including the end of friendships, when it’s okay to meddle in a friend’s life, how to say “no” to others, and more
  • “Healthy vs Unhealthy Friendships”: Learn the difference between a supportive and an unhealthy friendship
  • “The Best Apology”: This graphic illustrates what meaningful apologies have in common
  • “10 Rules for Fair Fighting”: A graphic detailing how you should and should not approach a conflict
  • “The Road Map to Long-Distance Relationships”: Learn how to make your LTR thrive
  • “Making Good Friends”: An article with tips on how to make positive connections
  • “Mastering the Art of the Tough Conversation”: Get through difficult conversations with relative ease and unhurt feelings
  • “Detoxing Your Social Environment”: How can you get rid of unhealthy relationships?
  • “10 Rules of a Great Conversationalist”: Keep people coming back for more with these skills
  • “4 Tips For Dealing With Difficult Family Members”: Your next family event doesn’t have to be painful
  • Advice for Dealing With Loneliness: An article and infographic about the power of loneliness and how you can fight it
  • “Why We Need Unconditional Love and Acceptance From Our Caregivers”: Did you know that acceptance during childhood affects our health and behaviors throughout life?
Romantic Relationships
  • “Love Explained: The Science of Romance”: This section of Scientific American is dedicated to studies about relationships, sex, romance, and more. Articles include “Your Brain In Love” and “True Love: How To Find It.”
  • “3 Simple Reminders That Being Single is More than Okay”: Remind yourself of all the great things about being single, and why it’s not a personal failure
  • “The Best Marriage Advice”: An infographic on how you can build and maintain a successful marriage
  • More Than Two: Information for those engaged in or interested in polyamorous relationships
  • “Traits of a Healthy Relationship”: This infographic looks at the common traits of positive relationships
  • Modern Love Podcast: Based on the popular New York Times column, Modern Love looks at all things rooted in love
  • “Maintaining Intimacy In Long-Term Relationships”: How can you keep things close when you’re physically far apart?
  • “8 Signs It’s Definitely Time To Break Up”: For those evaluating their current relationships
  • “How To Love The Holidays When You’re Heartbroken”: The holidays can be an upsetting time for those going through a breakup or divorce, but there are ways you can reclaim your celebration
Healthy Sexuality
  • “What Consent Looks Like”: Confused by the definition of consent? The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network is here to clear things up for you.
  • “Sexual Self-Esteem: A Short Course”: Why it’s important to have confidence in your sexual self
  • “Health Benefits of Sex”: Consensual sex is good for your physical health!
  • Ted Talks on Sex: Listen to talks on envy, pregnancy, birth control, and more

Advocate

Connect to the Larger Movement
  • National Council on Family Relationships: This nonprofit focuses on family research, education, and practice
  • Relationships First: Empowering people to speak critically and connect across differences
  • Hand in Hand Parenting: This group seeks to strengthen parent-child relationships by providing parents with the information they need to provide the best possible care
  • Best Buddies International: This organization builds strong relationships while fighting the social, economic, and physical isolation of people with learning and developmental disabilities.
Romantic Relationships
  • The Divorce Center: A nonprofit designed to support and empower people before, during, and after divorce
  • Love Is Respect: A resource for teen relationships. This organization is particularly concerned with issues of dating violence, but its guidelines on healthy relationships and communication strategies are great resources for everyone.
Healthy Sexuality
  • Planned Parenthood: Planned Parenthood is dedicated to advocating, educating, and providing healthcare for people across the globe.
  • The Kinsey Institute: This organization seeks to promote a greater understanding of human sexuality and relationships
  • Dating With Herpes: Relationship information and resources for those living with and/or partnered with someone who has herpes
  • The Best HIV/AIDs Nonprofits of 2017: Find a comprehensive list at this link

 

*For resources regarding sexual identity, please see “Identity and Discrimination.“

The human brain is both brilliant and resilient. Not only does it control the way we think, feel, and react to daily life, but it is also capable of undergoing major change. By working with the brain, we can change our experience to improve our personal, professional, and relational lives. Our goal is to empower you to do exactly that.

Link to The Viva Center

For more support in the Maryland, Virginia, or Washington DC area, click here for Viva.

The Resilient Brain Project (RBP) was developed in Fall 2017 by Viva Partnership LLC, with the goal of making mental health resources more accessible to the public.
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