The Self Help Briefing: Psychology, Relationships & Personal Growth

What is it really like to love a Scorpio man?
In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen take a playful detour into astrology and relationships as they explore some of the personality traits commonly associated with Scorpio men.
Mike happens to be a Scorpio himself, which gives Jen plenty of opportunities to put him on the spot as they talk about intensity, loyalty, jealousy, control, emotional depth, mystery, attraction, and the Scorpio reputation for being especially passionate in relationships.
They also talk about where astrology and psychology can overlap—not as a scientific personality test, but as a way people sometimes use symbols, archetypes, and personality frameworks to think about themselves and their relationships.
In This Episode
Why Scorpio men are often described as intense and mysterious
Loyalty, jealousy, and the desire for control
Why Scorpio men may come across as emotionally distant
The connection between emotional intimacy and sexual intensity
How self-awareness can help with challenging relationship patterns
Why astrology can sometimes be a fun starting point for conversations about personality and relationships
Today’s Affirmation
I can be passionate about who I am while still being open to growth. I choose relationships built on trust, honesty, and mutual respect.
Source Article
This episode was inspired by Guy Counseling’s article “25 Truths About a Scorpio Man In Love and Relationships,” which explores commonly associated Scorpio traits including passion, competitiveness, jealousy, loyalty, independence, emotional intensity, and relationship dynamics. The article also discusses psycho-spirituality and Carl Jung’s use of symbolic and mystical material as a pathway to self-reflection.
Read about the Scorpio Man in Love
Follow the Show If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow The Self Help Briefing on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a moment, we'd really appreciate a quick review. It helps other listeners discover the show. Visit Us Online or Make Contact You can visit the podcast at www.theselfhelpbriefing.com to check out our latest episodes or to make contact. Affiliate Disclosure The Self Help Briefing may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected because we believe they may be useful or relevant to the topic being discussed. General Disclaimer The Self Help Briefing is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing discussed on the podcast should be considered medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult an appropriately qualified professional. Production Notes The Self Help Briefing is a production of G Digital Studios. Episodes may be developed from sources available online. Episode artwork may be created using Adobe Firefly or other royalty-free sources. Articles, books, and other resources discussed in an episode are credited and linked in the show notes when applicable. Voiceovers are generated using synthesized audio.

Worried about money? Financial anxiety can show up as constant money stress, fear about bills or debt, compulsively checking your bank account, or avoiding your finances altogether because they feel overwhelming. In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen talk about why money anxiety can feel so intense and how uncertainty, shame, catastrophic thinking, and fear about the future can keep financial worries going.
Financial anxiety isn’t always about how much money someone has. As explained in this guide to financial anxiety and money stress from Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic, people can experience intense anxiety around finances even when their actual financial circumstances are relatively stable. Money can become closely connected to safety, control, identity, and uncertainty, which helps explain why financial stress can feel so personal.
In This Episode
Mike and Jen discuss:
Why financial anxiety can affect people across very different income levels
The difference between constantly checking your finances and avoiding them altogether
Why uncertainty can make money worries feel much bigger
How financial stress can trigger catastrophic “what if” thinking
Why money can become tied to self-worth, identity, and shame
The difference between what is possible and what is actually probable
How taking one small financial step can make an overwhelming task feel more manageable
Why talking about money anxiety can sometimes reduce its emotional intensity
When financial anxiety may be interfering enough with daily life to consider professional support
Today’s Affirmation
“I can face my financial reality without letting fear control me.”
📗Recommended Reading
If money worries tend to take over your thoughts, Mike and Jen recommend The Financial Anxiety Solution, a practical workbook focused on reducing anxiety, avoidance, and overwhelm around money.
Check out The Financial Anxiety Solution on Amazon.
Source Article
This episode was informed by Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic’s article Financial Anxiety: Why Money Stress Feels So Overwhelming—and What Helps, which explores financial stress, compulsive checking, avoidance, uncertainty, catastrophic thinking, and practical ways to develop a healthier response to money-related anxiety.
Related Podcasts
If financial anxiety tends to send your mind into overdrive, you may also want to listen to Dating Anxiety since money and dating stress often go together.  
Follow the Show If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow The Self Help Briefing on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a moment, we'd really appreciate a quick review. It helps other listeners discover the show. Visit Us Online or Make Contact You can visit the podcast at www.theselfhelpbriefing.com to check out our latest episodes or to make contact. Affiliate Disclosure The Self Help Briefing may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected because we believe they may be useful or relevant to the topic being discussed. General Disclaimer The Self Help Briefing is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing discussed on the podcast should be considered medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult an appropriately qualified professional. Production Notes The Self Help Briefing is a production of G Digital Studios. Episodes may be developed from sources available online. Episode artwork may be created using Adobe Firefly or other royalty-free sources. Articles, books, and other resources discussed in an episode are credited and linked in the show notes when applicable. Voiceovers are generated using synthesized audio.

Is masturbation good for you? Despite how common it is, masturbation is still surrounded by embarrassment, myths, and plenty of questions about whether it actually has health benefits.
In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen put the awkwardness aside and look at some of the potential health benefits of masturbation, including better sleep, stress relief, improved mood, sexual self-awareness, mindfulness, and greater awareness and control during sex.
They also dig into some surprisingly specific research, including what frequent ejaculation may have to do with prostate health, why orgasm can leave you feeling relaxed and sleepy, and how techniques like the stop-start method may help some men develop better control over ejaculation.
And yes, Mike decides to make the conversation just a little more personal than Jen was expecting.
In This Briefing
Why masturbation is so common despite still feeling taboo
Masturbation, stress relief, and mood
Why orgasm may help promote relaxation and sleep
Masturbation as a way to better understand your own body
Mindfulness and staying present during sexual activity
The stop-start method and ejaculatory control
What research says about ejaculation frequency and prostate cancer risk
Why masturbation can be a healthy part of sexual self-care
Today’s Affirmation
“My body is mine to understand, appreciate, and care for without shame.”
Book Resource
Mike and Jen recommend:
The Guide to Getting It On by Paul Joannides
A frank, approachable guide to sexual health, pleasure, communication, relationships, and understanding your own body.
Amazon: See Amazon for pricing
Research & Resources Mentioned
Planned Parenthood offers a helpful overview of whether masturbation is good for you, including discussion of stress relief, relaxation, sleep, and sexual self-awareness.
A large international survey reported that 92% of American men and 76% of American women said they masturbate.
Research published in Frontiers in Public Health explored the relationship between sexual activity, orgasm, and sleep.
Harvard Health has covered research examining the connection between ejaculation frequency and prostate cancer risk.
For men interested in gaining more control over ejaculation, the Urology Care Foundation explains the stop-start method for premature ejaculation.
You Might Also Like
If this episode got you thinking about sexual comfort and communication, listen to Is Your Boyfriend’s Manhood Too Big? for a candid conversation about anatomy, comfort, and communicating during sex.
You may also enjoy Does Your Boyfriend Only Want You for Sex?, where Mike and Jen explore sexual attraction, emotional connection, and how to tell whether a relationship has something deeper underneath the chemistry.
 
Follow the Show If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow The Self Help Briefing on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a moment, we'd really appreciate a quick review. It helps other listeners discover the show. Visit Us Online or Make Contact You can visit the podcast at www.theselfhelpbriefing.com to check out our latest episodes or to make contact. Affiliate Disclosure The Self Help Briefing may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected because we believe they may be useful or relevant to the topic being discussed. General Disclaimer The Self Help Briefing is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing discussed on the podcast should be considered medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult an appropriately qualified professional. Production Notes The Self Help Briefing is a production of G Digital Studios. Episodes may be developed from sources available online. Episode artwork may be created using Adobe Firefly or other royalty-free sources. Articles, books, and other resources discussed in an episode are credited and linked in the show notes when applicable. Voiceovers are generated using synthesized audio.

Why do some women keep dating emotionally unavailable men—even when they know the relationship probably isn't going anywhere? Attraction, chemistry, attachment patterns, and the thrill of the chase can make emotionally unavailable men especially hard to walk away from.
In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Jen takes the lead as she and Mike explore why women can find themselves repeatedly attracted to men who are distant, inconsistent, afraid of commitment, or simply unable to offer the kind of relationship they want.
They talk about the difference between chemistry and anxiety, why emotional stability can sometimes feel strangely boring, and how early attachment experiences may influence who we find attractive later in life. Jen also gets personal about learning the hard way that an attractive man with muscles, money, and plenty of charm isn't necessarily a man who will treat you well.
Because sometimes the hardest part isn't recognizing that he's emotionally unavailable.
It's recognizing why you still want him.
In This Episode
Why emotionally unavailable men can be so attractive
The addictive quality of uncertainty and the chase
How attachment patterns can influence dating choices
Why “butterflies” aren't always the same thing as healthy chemistry
When emotional safety gets mistaken for boredom
How fantasy can keep you attached to someone's potential
Why choosing an unavailable partner can sometimes protect you from vulnerability
Learning to recognize calm, consistent, emotionally available love
Today's Affirmation
“I am worthy of love that is present, consistent, and chooses me back.”
Recommended Reading
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Loveby Amir Levine, M.D., and Rachel Heller, M.A.
This popular relationship book explores adult attachment styles and how they can influence attraction, intimacy, dating, and the partners we choose.
Check out Attached on Amazon
Source & Further Reading
This episode was inspired in part by the Couples Counseling Chicago article Emotionally Unavailable Men: Why Women Keep Falling for Them, which explores attraction to emotionally unavailable partners, recurring dating patterns, and related relationship dynamics.---
Related Pods
Ghosting: Why It Hurts So Much
Does Your Boyfriend Use You Just for Sex?
Is Your Boyfriend's Penis TOO Big?
Follow the Show If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow The Self Help Briefing on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a moment, we'd really appreciate a quick review. It helps other listeners discover the show. Visit Us Online or Make Contact You can visit the podcast at www.theselfhelpbriefing.com to check out our latest episodes or to make contact. Affiliate Disclosure The Self Help Briefing may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected because we believe they may be useful or relevant to the topic being discussed. General Disclaimer The Self Help Briefing is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing discussed on the podcast should be considered medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult an appropriately qualified professional. Production Notes The Self Help Briefing is a production of G Digital Studios. Episodes may be developed from sources available online. Episode artwork may be created using Adobe Firefly or other royalty-free sources. Articles, books, and other resources discussed in an episode are credited and linked in the show notes when applicable. Voiceovers are generated using synthesized audio.

You live together. You share routines. You stream shows, pay bills, handle chores, and get through everyday life together.
But somewhere along the way, did your relationship start feeling less romantic—and a lot more like two roommates sharing the same space?
In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen talk about roommate syndrome—the gradual shift that can happen when romantic partners become more focused on managing everyday life than actually connecting with each other.
They explore some of the signs that a relationship may have slipped into roommate territory, including conversations that revolve around logistics, less physical affection, fading intimacy, separate routines, and that strange feeling of being lonely even when your partner is sitting right beside you. These are among the common patterns associated with roommate syndrome.
But feeling disconnected doesn't necessarily mean the relationship is over. Mike and Jen also talk about ways couples can begin reconnecting—from dating each other again and putting away the phones to asking better questions, restoring affection, and simply becoming curious about each other again. Small, consistent efforts toward connection can matter more than one grand romantic gesture.
In This Episode
Mike and Jen discuss how roommate syndrome develops, the warning signs to watch for, why intimacy involves much more than sex, how routine and everyday pressures can crowd out connection, and what couples can do to start finding their way back to one another.
Today’s Affirmation
I choose to be present in my relationships and make space for connection, curiosity, and love.
Recommended Reading
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman and Nan Silver
The book explores friendship, communication, emotional connection, and intentionally tending to a relationship.
View the book on Amazon
Source Article
This episode was inspired in part by “Roommate Syndrome in Relationships: When Partners Feel More Like Housemates” from Couples Counseling Chicago. The source notes that roommate syndrome isn't a formal diagnosis, but rather a recognizable pattern in which romantic partners can gradually begin functioning more like housemates or co-managers than intimate partners.
Read the source article at Couples Counseling Chicago
Follow the Show If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow The Self Help Briefing on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a moment, we'd really appreciate a quick review. It helps other listeners discover the show. Visit Us Online or Make Contact You can visit the podcast at www.theselfhelpbriefing.com to check out our latest episodes or to make contact. Affiliate Disclosure The Self Help Briefing may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected because we believe they may be useful or relevant to the topic being discussed. General Disclaimer The Self Help Briefing is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing discussed on the podcast should be considered medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult an appropriately qualified professional. Production Notes The Self Help Briefing is a production of G Digital Studios. Episodes may be developed from sources available online. Episode artwork may be created using Adobe Firefly or other royalty-free sources. Articles, books, and other resources discussed in an episode are credited and linked in the show notes when applicable. Voiceovers are generated using synthesized audio.

Anxiety can show up in a lot of different ways—from constant worry and racing thoughts to panic attacks, OCD, stress, avoidance, and that nagging feeling that something just isn’t right.
In this episode of The Self Help Briefing, Mike and Jen take a closer look at anxiety disorders and why working with a therapist who specializes in anxiety can make a difference. They also spotlight Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic and its work with clients in Chicago’s Andersonville community.
You’ll hear about several approaches commonly used in anxiety treatment, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based strategies, and EMDR.
Mike and Jen also talk about what it can feel like to start therapy, the importance of finding a therapist who feels like a good fit, LGBTQ-affirming care, virtual therapy, and why you don’t have to wait until anxiety completely takes over your life before asking for help.
In This Episode
Why anxiety disorders are so common
Why some people wait to seek help
The value of specialized anxiety treatment
How CBT, ERP, ACT, EMDR, and mindfulness may be used in therapy
Virtual and in-person therapy options
Why LGBTQ-affirming mental health care matters
What to expect when reaching out for therapy
Calm Anxiety Clinic’s presence in Andersonville
Today’s Affirmation
I can ask for help before anxiety takes over my life. I can learn new skills to create a calmer existence.
Calm Anxiety Clinic in Andersonville
Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic provides specialized anxiety treatment for people in Chicago and throughout Illinois. For those who prefer in-person care, the clinic offers services in the Andersonville area along with virtual therapy options.
Learn more about anxiety therapy in Andersonville:Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic — Andersonville
Resources
National Institute of Mental Health — Anxiety DisordersLearn more about anxiety disorders, symptoms, treatment, and current prevalence information.
NIMH: Anxiety Disorders
Source Information
Information about Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic, its approach to anxiety treatment, services, and locations was developed from information provided by the clinic.
Calm Anxiety CBT Therapy Clinic FAQs
Follow the Show If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to follow The Self Help Briefing on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a moment, we'd really appreciate a quick review. It helps other listeners discover the show. Visit Us Online or Make Contact You can visit the podcast at www.theselfhelpbriefing.com to check out our latest episodes or to make contact. Affiliate Disclosure The Self Help Briefing may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, the podcast may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are selected because we believe they may be useful or relevant to the topic being discussed. General Disclaimer The Self Help Briefing is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing discussed on the podcast should be considered medical, psychological, mental health, legal, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your physical or mental health, please consult an appropriately qualified professional. Production Notes The Self Help Briefing is a production of G Digital Studios. Episodes may be developed from sources available online. Episode artwork may be created using Adobe Firefly or other royalty-free sources. Articles, books, and other resources discussed in an episode are credited and linked in the show notes when applicable. Voiceovers are generated using synthesized audio.