Sisters and tennis icons Serena Willians and Venus Williams shared an epic embrace after winning the Olympic gold medal for Women’s Doubles Tennis in 2012. “We are captivated by images of people hugging because our own mirror neurons feel a sense of connection we see others hugging–in other words, it’s like receiving a virtual hug,” explains Lauren Cook, a therapist, author of Name Your Story: How to Talk Openly About Mental Health. A hug is an indication of social reciprocity, warmth, and caring—all indicators that humans crave in their social connections. It is natural that we crave these close connections and feel a sense of joy when we see others hugging as well.

In a world that can be challenging and frustrating at times, it’s not difficult for anger to find its way into your thoughts and overpower your other emotions. While you can’t avoid ever feeling angry, you can find ways to your feelings.

According to Lauren Cook, MMFT , therapist and clinical psychologist candidate at Pepperdine, anger occurs when one experiences a feeling of frustration and agitation that becomes so powerful that their cognitive functioning becomes impaired. The emotional part of the brain then takes over and their sense of logic can temporarily diminish.

Communicating our needs can be difficult at any stage of life — and it certainly doesn’t get easier after a baby arrives. During this time of uphill battles — some literal (like hauling a stroller up a flight of stairs) and some figurative (like dealing with postpartum anxiety) — it’s not unusual to feel awkward about asking for help.

It’s only human to feel like we’re imposing on others by asking for a hand. But attempting to power through baby care single-handedly can leave you feeling overwhelmed and alone. Parenting your new little one requires extreme amounts of energy and fortitude, and it’s absolutely okay if you’re not able to muster them at the moment.

In a perfect world, the holidays would be full of good cheer, and only good cheer. 

In reality, the extra-hectic schedule, expectations and desire to please others that tend to come with the season can lead to a less festive emotional state. 

This year, make a plan for lower-stress, higher-happiness holidays with these tips from mental health and wellness professionals.

Blame your boss, the weather, your period, whatever—it’s 100 percent normal to be in a bad mood every now and then. (Yes, even for people who go to yoga four times a week and sip green tea instead of coffee.) Even happiness therapist and The Sunny Side Up author Lauren Cook wakes up on the wrong side of the bed sometimes.

This isn’t necessarily an issue when you’re young and new to the dating world. It’s the whole point of dating — trying out and figuring out the type of relationship you want for the long run. But as you get older and these try outs become longer, it can be easy to get stuck. Before you know it, familiarity can look like love and time spent turns into reasons to stay. Before you know it, you’re happy… but not happy enough.

Why does this happen? Why do we stay in relationships that are just okay? Why are we willing to settle for a love that is less than?

Although touted as the merriest and brightest of seasons, winter holidays, for me, can also deliver a dread and terror that’s more synonymous with Halloween. More specifically, it's the obligatory festive gatherings with family that often places me in the line of conversational fire. No matter how mentally prepared I arrive, I always seem to find myself fielding awkward questions that almost always pertain to my age and perpetual singleness.

When you’ve been burned by someone you love, it’s hard to know where to begin. You’re torn between tending to your own wounds, surveying the full scope of the damage and rebuilding your relationship when the foundation looks like...rubble. Plus, no matter the size or specifics of the scandal, you weren’t the only one taken down by it—that person you love lost a lot of credibility and you might both be wishing you could go back to a time when your trust was intact.

For some, dating is simply a means to meet someone new and possibly make a connection that leads to friendship or a potential relationship. Others, however, can take a more intentional approach and use dates as vehicles to drive you to your soulmate. If you're in the latter category, you are well aware that said journey is not without its fallbacks and endless questions, the main one being: how do you know you've found the "one"?

Let's talk about goal setting through a bucket list & the happiness that comes with it - with Author, Speaker & Therapist Dr. Lauren Cook. Lauren is an amazing woman with an optimistic attitude and who is clearly passionate about all of her endeavors.

Even though you get along swimmingly with your partner, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll get along with your partner's family — at least not right away. It can take some time to feel comfortable around them and find your place within the group. And if mismatched personalities are involved, the process can take even longer.

For some people who experience obsessive thoughts, they're so frequent and intense that they affect sleep and the ability to stay focused during the day, says Nancy Irwin, clinical psychologist at Seasons in Malibu, an addiction treatment center. Over time, these thoughts can affect relationships and physical health. They're typically negative or dark, and they can feel really scary.

Anger is a natural, primitive emotion, one that serves a number of distinct purposes, from helping us set boundaries when we need space to pumping us full of additional adrenaline when we encounter an altercation. In other words, it’s extremely useful. It’s also extremely not, as it can crop up in the wrong situations and lashing out is an easy way to isolate yourself from family and friends.

When you were a child, your mom was in a caregiver role, rather than someone who you could truly be buddies with. But if you're looking to have a healthy relationship with your mom as an adult, the dynamics are bound to shift a little bit.

Even if you don't immediately recognize them as signs of anxiety, you might notice that you have a few ongoing, everyday problems that just don't feel quite right. While you may be able to go to work, see friends, and get through the day, these symptoms could still be taking a toll. And may even be a sign you're more anxious than you realize.

This 8-step process will help you get through the conversation and build a better relationship with your grown children.

When something happens to you, you may think that you will never be able to forget it or forgive the person involved. However, Bustle, and Lauren Cook, MMFT, who is a clinician practicing emotionally-focused therapy, explains that forgiving that person instead of holding a grudge is really what's best for you.

If you've had one too many sleepless nights lately, it's all too understandable — there’s a lot to worry about these days! More likely than not, you’re experiencing anxiety. But know that you're not alone.