Dr. Robin Engelman

08/12/2025

I am actively working on not avoiding. As my Ma used to say, "We teach best what we most need to learn"

07/29/2025

A personal story. Dementia is slowly taking pieces of my mom. But not all of her—not yet. This is a story about what remains, what matters, and the moments I’m learning to treasure.

My mom has moderate-stage dementia. Some days, it’s hard to find her in the fog. But other days, she says something so wise, so her, it stops me in my tracks. I'm learning to savor what’s still there.

07/13/2025

Subscribe and check out my Substack! It's free!

The last thing I feel like doing when I’m overwhelmed

01/20/2024

Hitting Children Leads to Trauma, NOT Better Behavior. I grew up during a time when children were threatened for misbehavior with corporal punishment in school and at home. I am so glad kids are mostly being raised in a healthier way. If you are still spanking your children or you were spanked or threatened, check out this article.

Hitting a child for "discipline" doesn't work. New research shows that it actually leads to trauma.

05/18/2023

Teen ma*****na use -even casual use- is more dangerous than we thought. Study just out of Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Specifically, teens who use cannabis recreationally were two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression and to have suicidal thoughts than those who don't use pot at all. Teens who have cannabis use disorder were four times more likely to have mental health disorders than non-users.”

My guess is that early ma*****na use leads to an avoidant coping style at a time when a person is learning to deal with life stressors. This typically leads to depression and anxiety.

Talk to your kids!

12/15/2022

Some of us have suicidal ideation. This is a solvable problem. Death by su***de is not the solve. 💔

I know I am not alone with feeling so sad and frustrated that so many beautiful people are dying by su***de. Research on survivors of su***de attempts show us that people who try to take their lives by su***de do not actually want to die. They simply wanted their pain to go away.

The brain often likes simple solutions. Suicidal thoughts and plans are a way some people's brains attempt to experience relief from pain, overwhelm, and distress. Some brain's get stuck and ruminate on death by su***de as an answer. This does not mean that death is the only way to find relief.

Instead know that you are not alone in your pain and your thoughts and reach out and tell someone that you are having these thoughts...that you are hurting.

We can all start having conversations about suicidal thoughts. They are more common than you'd think. We can all also improve on being more authentic. We don't need to always put on a smile. Reach out more, check in and find ways to connect with our loved ones in deeper and more authentic ways.

Some of us have suicidal ideation. This is a solvable problem. Death by su***de is not the solve. 💔

***deawareness ***deprevention

12/06/2022

988 is a new phone number that recently went live to help people get help in a mental health crisis. Similar to 911, this line is dedicated for anyone in need of mental health assistance of any kind. Its 988.
Please copy and re-post to spread the word.
***deAwareness call 988

10/26/2022

Simple!! Large study shows that Folic Acid supplements were connected to an over 40% reduction in suicidal behavior.

***de

Study reveals a 44% reduction in suicidal events, including su***de attempts and self-harm, in depressed patients who took folic acid supplements.

08/29/2022

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04/05/2022

Check out Dr. Engelman's latest. And follow her Facebook Happier Hour page for well-being tips!

Her exposure to the "Honor Yard" inmates set Engelman on a path of happiness research. "I was intrigued," she says. "If they can be happy, why can’t we? The reason these men were able to thrive in such an unstimulating setting is that happier is not something to pursue, it is something to decide a...