LifeStance Insights
Our team of expert clinicians give their perspectives across a range of subjects, touching on current topics, family and loved one issues, mental health struggles and the comprehensive services that can help you live a better life.
FEATURED STORY
Bed Rotting: What It Means and When It Becomes a Mental Health Concern
Bed rotting has a name now, its own Wiki page, a hashtag, and millions of posts framing it as a form of self-care. So does its gentler cousin, hurkle-durkling, a term pulled from 19th-century Scottish dialect for lounging in bed long after you should be up.
While hurkle-durklers tend to emerge from the bedroom eventually, bed-rotters are more apt to stay horizontal all day, but both appear to be retreating from the same types of pressures. The question mental health professionals are asking is not whether rest is legitimate, but whether what looks like rest is actually functioning that way.
What Is Bed Rotting?
Bed rotting is a viral term used to describe spending extended periods of time lying in bed while scrolling, watching shows, or disengaging from daily responsibilities. The bed rotting trend took hold on social media as part of a broader cultural conversation about burnout, rest, and pushing back against the press...
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Self-Help & Wellness
Whimsy Isn’t Just a Trend: Motherhood Taught Me to Prioritize It
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you may have noticed a little corner of the internet called #whimsy. It’s exactly what it sounds like: people slowing down, leaning into magic, and making everyday life feel a little more enchanted, and I’m so here for it.
Because here’s the thing: life is genuinely hard sometimes. Between work, responsibilities, and the mental load that never fully shuts off, it’s easy to get so caught up that we forget life doesn’t have to be so serious. There’s something available to us, something we were actually really good at as kids that gets quietly edged out as we get older. Whimsy. Play. The ability to find magic in completely ordinary moments.
What Is Whimsy?
At its simplest, whimsy is a playful, lighthearted way of moving through the world. A willingness to be delighted by small, ordinary things and to let a little fancy and spontaneity into everyday life. It’s the disco ball you hang...
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Whimsy Isn’t Just a Trend: Motherhood Taught Me to Prioritize It
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you may have noticed a little corner of the internet called #whimsy. It’s exactly what it sounds like: people slowing down, leaning into magic, and making everyday life feel a little more enchanted, and I’m so here for it.
Because here’s the thing: life is genuinely hard sometimes. Between work, responsibilities, and the mental load that never fully shuts off, it’s easy to get so caught up that we forget life doesn’t have to be so serious. There’s something available to us, something we were actually really good at as kids that gets quietly edged out as we get older. Whimsy. Play. The ability to find magic in completely ordinary moments.
What Is Whimsy?
At its simplest, whimsy is a playful, lighthearted way of moving through the world. A willingness to be delighted by small, ordinary things and to let a little fancy and spontaneity into everyday life. It’s the disco ball you hang...
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Relationship / Dating
Spicy Questions to Ask Your Partner to Build Sexual Intimacy and Connection
Most partners have a moment when sexual intimacy quietly slips down the priority list. Stress, scheduling, parenting, work pressure, or unspoken tension can turn what used to feel effortless into something that gets pushed to next week, then the week after that. The good news is that the path back rarely starts in the bedroom. It usually starts with a conversation, and the right spicy questions to ask your partner can help crack open the kind of honesty that brings desire back to the surface.
Why Talking About Sex Matters in a Relationship
Partners who talk openly about sex tend to feel more satisfied, both inside and outside the bedroom. A meta-analysis published in The Journal of Sex Research found that better sexual communication is positively associated with desire, arousal, orgasm, and overall sexual satisfaction. In other words, the conversation itself is part of the intimacy, not just a setup for it.
Avoiding the t...
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Spicy Questions to Ask Your Partner to Build Sexual Intimacy and Connection
Most partners have a moment when sexual intimacy quietly slips down the priority list. Stress, scheduling, parenting, work pressure, or unspoken tension can turn what used to feel effortless into something that gets pushed to next week, then the week after that. The good news is that the path back rarely starts in the bedroom. It usually starts with a conversation, and the right spicy questions to ask your partner can help crack open the kind of honesty that brings desire back to the surface.
Why Talking About Sex Matters in a Relationship
Partners who talk openly about sex tend to feel more satisfied, both inside and outside the bedroom. A meta-analysis published in The Journal of Sex Research found that better sexual communication is positively associated with desire, arousal, orgasm, and overall sexual satisfaction. In other words, the conversation itself is part of the intimacy, not just a setup for it.
Avoiding the t...
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Self-Help & Wellness
How Indoor Plants and Biophilic Design Can Support Mental Health
I used to not be “into” plants. All I saw were living things that consistently needed my attention, and I had a black thumb to say the least. Watering schedules? Fertilizing? Proper sunlight? That’s too many things to keep track of when my mind is usually in a million places each and every day.
But then I discovered the term biophilic design, and my head was turned. And then, every time I scrolled Instagram and Pinterest, I saw more and more chic spaces filled to the brim with houseplants, looking beautiful in all their green glory. I thought to myself: I wonder what houseplants could do for my mental health?
What Is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design, which has been gaining steam in recent years, is an interior design and architectural approach that’s all about elements pulled straight from nature. Think: natural materials like stone and wood, color palettes inspired by outdoor environments, and windows that let in plent...
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How Indoor Plants and Biophilic Design Can Support Mental Health
I used to not be “into” plants. All I saw were living things that consistently needed my attention, and I had a black thumb to say the least. Watering schedules? Fertilizing? Proper sunlight? That’s too many things to keep track of when my mind is usually in a million places each and every day.
But then I discovered the term biophilic design, and my head was turned. And then, every time I scrolled Instagram and Pinterest, I saw more and more chic spaces filled to the brim with houseplants, looking beautiful in all their green glory. I thought to myself: I wonder what houseplants could do for my mental health?
What Is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design, which has been gaining steam in recent years, is an interior design and architectural approach that’s all about elements pulled straight from nature. Think: natural materials like stone and wood, color palettes inspired by outdoor environments, and windows that let in plent...
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Diagnosing (Testing & Evaluation)
Urine Test for Autism: How a New Study Could Help Diagnose Children
Over the past 20 years, autism diagnoses have increased by about 300% in the United States. Spotting the developmental disorder sooner, rather than later, can mean better treatment options and improved outcomes for children and their families. Yet diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) accurately, and as early as possible, remains one of the most stubborn challenges in pediatric mental health.
A recent study from researchers at Arizona State University points to a different screening idea: a urine test that, in their research sample, identified children with autism with about 90% accuracy.
The Challenge of Accurate, Early Autism Diagnosis
Autism prevalence has climbed steadily for two decades. The most recent surveillance data from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network estimates that roughly 1 in 31 children in the United States has autism, up from 1 in 36 just two years earlier. Acro...
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Urine Test for Autism: How a New Study Could Help Diagnose Children
Over the past 20 years, autism diagnoses have increased by about 300% in the United States. Spotting the developmental disorder sooner, rather than later, can mean better treatment options and improved outcomes for children and their families. Yet diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) accurately, and as early as possible, remains one of the most stubborn challenges in pediatric mental health.
A recent study from researchers at Arizona State University points to a different screening idea: a urine test that, in their research sample, identified children with autism with about 90% accuracy.
The Challenge of Accurate, Early Autism Diagnosis
Autism prevalence has climbed steadily for two decades. The most recent surveillance data from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network estimates that roughly 1 in 31 children in the United States has autism, up from 1 in 36 just two years earlier. Acro...
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Psychiatry
The 11 Best Psychiatric Care Providers of 2026
Finding the right psychiatric care has never been more important, or more confusing. With rising demand for mental health services and a growing number of online and hybrid platforms, choosing the right provider can feel overwhelming. More Americans have access to psychiatric care than ever before, through platforms that accept insurance, offer flexible scheduling, and combine therapy with medication management.
This guide compares eleven of the leading psychiatric care providers in 2026. It breaks down what each offers, including pricing, insurance acceptance, key features, and who each platform is likely best suited for, to help readers make an informed decision about their mental health care.
Best Psychiatric Care Providers: Comparison Chart
Use this chart for a quick side-by-side overview of all eleven providers covered in this guide.
Provider
Takes Insurance
Payment Model
In-Person Options
Self-Pay Option
Specialt...
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The 11 Best Psychiatric Care Providers of 2026
Finding the right psychiatric care has never been more important, or more confusing. With rising demand for mental health services and a growing number of online and hybrid platforms, choosing the right provider can feel overwhelming. More Americans have access to psychiatric care than ever before, through platforms that accept insurance, offer flexible scheduling, and combine therapy with medication management.
This guide compares eleven of the leading psychiatric care providers in 2026. It breaks down what each offers, including pricing, insurance acceptance, key features, and who each platform is likely best suited for, to help readers make an informed decision about their mental health care.
Best Psychiatric Care Providers: Comparison Chart
Use this chart for a quick side-by-side overview of all eleven providers covered in this guide.
Provider
Takes Insurance
Payment Model
In-Person Options
Self-Pay Option
Specialt...
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Share
Therapy
Gender-Affirming Care: The Impact of Parental Rejection on Transgender Youth When Support Falls Short
This content has been updated from the previous article published on September 19, 2024.
Vivian Jenna Wilson, the transgender daughter of Elon Musk, has publicly confronted her father over his comments about her childhood and gender transition. In an interview with Jordan Peterson, Musk claimed he was “tricked” into approving gender-affirming care for Vivian Jenna at 16 and said he had subsequently “lost” his son, labeling gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Wilson, who was legally granted a name and gender change at age 18 on June 22, 2022, responded that she no longer wants a relationship with her father, saying “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.”
Most recently, in June 2026, after Vivian appeared in Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty Pride campaign , Musk appeared to endorse, via his X account, a claim that his daughter’s transition was linked to his political engagement and Twitter purchase, but did not state this himself. This ongoing and public dispute serves as a real-world example of how parental rejection and misunderstanding over gender-affirming care can impact transgender youth....
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Gender-Affirming Care: The Impact of Parental Rejection on Transgender Youth When Support Falls Short
This content has been updated from the previous article published on September 19, 2024.
Vivian Jenna Wilson, the transgender daughter of Elon Musk, has publicly confronted her father over his comments about her childhood and gender transition. In an interview with Jordan Peterson, Musk claimed he was “tricked” into approving gender-affirming care for Vivian Jenna at 16 and said he had subsequently “lost” his son, labeling gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Wilson, who was legally granted a name and gender change at age 18 on June 22, 2022, responded that she no longer wants a relationship with her father, saying “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.”
Most recently, in June 2026, after Vivian appeared in Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty Pride campaign , Musk appeared to endorse, via his X account, a claim that his daughter’s transition was linked to his political engagement and Twitter purchase, but did not state this himself. This ongoing and public dispute serves as a real-world example of how parental rejection and misunderstanding over gender-affirming care can impact transgender youth....
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Self-Help & Wellness
Somatic Shaking Is Trending: Here’s How It Fits Into Somatic Exercises
This content has been updated from the previous article on May 8, 2024.
Somatic shaking has recently gained attention online, with many people sharing videos of rhythmic tremoring or gentle bouncing movements as a way to address trauma and stress-related issues. While the term may feel new, the practice itself is not. Shaking and tremoring movements have been used for decades within somatic therapy and trauma-informed approaches as one method of supporting nervous system regulation.
At its core, somatic work focuses on the connection between the mind and body. Somatic exercises, including grounding, breathwork, slow movement, and sometimes gentle shaking, are designed to increase body awareness and help reduce muscular tension associated with stress.
While somatic therapy is best administered in office by a licensed professional, there are some exercises that can be used at home in between sessions.
What are Somatic Exercises?...
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Somatic Shaking Is Trending: Here’s How It Fits Into Somatic Exercises
This content has been updated from the previous article on May 8, 2024.
Somatic shaking has recently gained attention online, with many people sharing videos of rhythmic tremoring or gentle bouncing movements as a way to address trauma and stress-related issues. While the term may feel new, the practice itself is not. Shaking and tremoring movements have been used for decades within somatic therapy and trauma-informed approaches as one method of supporting nervous system regulation.
At its core, somatic work focuses on the connection between the mind and body. Somatic exercises, including grounding, breathwork, slow movement, and sometimes gentle shaking, are designed to increase body awareness and help reduce muscular tension associated with stress.
While somatic therapy is best administered in office by a licensed professional, there are some exercises that can be used at home in between sessions.
What are Somatic Exercises?...
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