Ask Dr Zoe | Grit and Grace Life

Ask Dr. Zoe – How Do I Set Boundaries with My Invasive Mother-in-Law?

‘Weighed Down Wife’ Asked: How do you converse with your husband about your invasive mother-in-law? I found her one day in our bedroom changing our sheets, she has “cleaned” our bedroom without being asked, and puts things in our house where she feels they need to be. When brought up to my husband he gets extremely defensive and says she does so much for us, she watches our son and saves us money and our son loves her. How can I relay the invasive behavior and lack of privacy without making him feel like I am ungrateful? This is a constant issue in our marriage since I was pregnant and had our son. Prior to that, there was zero issue. Dr. Zoe […]

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Ask Dr. Zoe – Is it Possible to Be Overly Emotional?

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe

‘Emotionally Charged’ Asked: Is there such thing as being overly emotional? I hear this all the time by family members. I cry when I’m happy, anxious, scared, angry. I don’t have any explanation for why this is the emotion I am most prone to. Can you explain this? Dr. Zoe Answered: Emotionally Charged, We are all born with a temperament that is essentially built into our DNA. Our temperament interacts with our environment to solidify a personality over the first 3-4 years of our life. Some people do seem a little more sensitive than others, and this is sometimes just a temperament thing. I would be less worried about what others say and more concerned about what you feel. Do you feel

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Ask Dr. Zoe – Can I Move On If I Still Love My Ex?

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe

‘Turmoil in Texas’ Asked: My husband and I were married for 12 years. He cheated and we have been separated for the last four years and are now getting a divorce. I was very angry at him the first two years after we separated. Then, when my anger subsided and I forgave him I wasn’t sure where to go from there. Our lives are intertwined raising our kids and his family is my family. The last two years I have gone back and forth emotionally. I have finally accepted I still love him. I don’t think spending our lives together will work out but I can’t get completely over him. How can I move forward? Dr. Zoe Answered: Turmoil in Texas, Divorce

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Ask Dr. Zoe – In Love with a Narcissist

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe

‘In Love With a Narcissist’ Asked: How long do I stay in a marriage with a narcissist who continually emotionally and verbally abuses me? Can he be treated/healed through counseling? I love this man with all my heart and have since middle school. (I’m in my mid-forties.) I left and divorced him once and then after 18 months apart, we reconnected and went to counseling weekly for 8 months. We remarried and it hasn’t even been a year since our wedding and I’ve moved out again. I do not want another divorce but can he be healed from narcissistic traits? I cannot stay in an abusive marriage, no matter how much I love him. In Love With a Narcissist Dr. Zoe Answered:

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Ask Dr. Zoe – Embrace Confrontation, Even When You Fear Rejection

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe

‘Worship Band’ Asked: I sing in the worship band at my church. I was convinced to join by a friend who noticed me confidently singing all the words at practice. The leader agreed that I was a good fit. Fast forward two years and I’m still singing about once per month in the worship band. Often there are weeks when the leader is singing by himself without backup. And I know the other two backup singers besides me have told him they are unavailable. I can’t help wondering why the leader doesn’t ask me to sing more often. And I kept thinking he’d rather have no one than me and that he thinks the other singers are better than me. I don’t

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Ask Dr. Zoe – Dating a Recovering Addict

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe

‘Dating a Recovering Addict’ Asked: I have a friend who is getting serious with someone who’s a former addict. He has been through rehab more than once, but this last time seems to have been successful. He’s healthy and dedicated to his long-term recovery. I want to be supportive of my friend, and I know that people can change with hard work and commitment, however, are there some things that my friend can do to protect herself in this new relationship? Are there questions she should be asking him? Are there warning signs she should be aware of? I want to believe and hope for the best, but I also want to realistic. Dr. Zoe Answered: You are a wonderful friend to

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Ask Dr. Zoe – Setting Boundaries When In-Laws Divorce

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe, Relationships

‘Stuck in the Middle’ Asked: How do my husband and I practically set boundaries with our parents who are each going through a separation/divorce? Both sets of parents are going through a break in their marriage and all four of them come to us to talk. It’s affecting our mood, emotional eating, fitness level, family life with our kids, and work. It’s constant. Holidays have been the absolute worst. How do we love them even when we’re angry with their decisions? How do we protect our family unit from the effects of the drama? I’ve resorted to literally miming the action of putting on sunglasses to block the drama when I feel overwhelmed! Stuck in the Middle Dr. Zoe Answered: Dear ‘Stuck

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Ask Dr. Zoe: Get Expert Advice for Your Life

By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe

Are you struggling with a lingering issue or life problem for which you can’t seem to find an answer? Maybe it’s something you’re unsure of, and you’re afraid to talk to your friends about it. Or, you’ve tried several ways to manage an issue, yet you’re still stuck. You are not alone. It’s OK to seek advice. And help can be found. Here at The Grit and Grace Project online magazine, we have been privileged to partner with Dr. Zoe Shaw, a licensed psychotherapist, educated at UCLA and Pepperdine University. She has a private practice in sunny California and a virtual practice working with people all over the world! She is a motivational speaker, podcast host, life coach, and fitness fanatic. She’s been a

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By Dr. Zoe / Ask Dr. Zoe

Are you struggling with a lingering issue or life problem for which you can’t seem to find an answer? Maybe you’re confused about one of your relationships or perhaps it’s a personal problem you’re afraid to talk to your friends about. You are not alone. It’s OK to seek advice, and help can be found. Here at The Grit and Grace Project online magazine, we have been privileged to partner with Dr. Zoe Shaw, a licensed psychotherapist, educated at UCLA and Pepperdine University. She has a private practice in sunny California and a virtual practice working with people all over the world! She is a motivational speaker, podcast host, life coach, and fitness fanatic. She’s been a contributing writer and frequent podcast guest