<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[ Amy Ratkovich]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Amy Ratkovich]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:04:02 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.amyratkovich.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Transforming Relationships: Understanding ADHD Through Executive Functioning and Nervous System Regulation]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Near and Dear Readers, Intimate relationships often bring out the best and the most challenging parts of ourselves. When ADHD is part of the picture, misunderstandings and frustrations can grow quickly. Many couples find themselves caught in cycles of blame and hurt, not realizing that the root of their struggles often lies in how ADHD affects executive functioning and nervous system regulation. Recognizing these underlying factors can shift relationships from conflict zones to places of...]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/transforming-relationships-understanding-adhd-through-executive-functioning-and-nervous-system-regu</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697d534323c3a829dd82a754</guid><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/16314f_38fa0a95a93e443e927e9ee77639f4eb~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Ratkovich</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Honoring Women’s History Month The Dignity of Defense: Anna Freud and the Modern Woman ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Dignity of Defense: Anna Freud and the Modern Woman Women’s History Month  is a time to honor the pioneers who reshaped our understanding of the human mind. Few shifted that understanding more profoundly than Dr. Anna Freud .  She will no longer be overshadowed by her father. It is time for Anna—not just "Freud"—to take the spotlight as an equal where she belongs. Sigmund Freud opened the door to the unconscious. Anna stepped through it and asked a different question: What will the ego...]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/honoring-women-s-history-month-through-the-legacy-of-doctor-anna-freud-and-ego-development</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b314ac19a7028f2bc24d61</guid><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 14:00:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/16314f_3301fe127e5a442d81ae8b99e3563936~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Ratkovich</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How ADHD Shapes Romance: Struggles, Strengths, and Staying Connected]]></title><description><![CDATA[Romance and ADHD Dear Near and Dear Readers, I wanted to share something that's been close to my heart lately—a reflection on how ADHD shows up in our most intimate connections, and why understanding it through the lens of nervous system regulation and executive functioning can transform relationships from sources of pain to spaces of deeper compassion and creativity. First and Foremost! I'd like to start by naming something essential: self-regulation is the foundation of connection . Not...]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/how-adhd-shapes-romance-struggles-strengths-and-staying-connected</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697d55d6ccf6db790cb4199d</guid><pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 17:00:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/16314f_92515c968b124620963025d74c6a64d4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_450,h_399,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Ratkovich</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dry January, ADHD and the Relationship You're Trying to Save ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Near Dear Readers, Dry January is about becoming more aware of yourself by temporarily removing things that might be blocking that clarity—in this case, substances or habits you enjoy but aren’t always sure are just “for fun” versus something you quietly rely on. It’s a month to test the waters: Do I need this to feel okay, or is it filling a gap I haven’t fully named? Many people use this time to gently confront the small ways we justify patterns that interfere with relationships, work,...]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/dry-january-adhd-and-the-relationship-you-re-trying-to-save</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6976d9a8c28ec6f25192d1f2</guid><pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 15:00:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/16314f_2a4ab838752a482898ca3e7a569cb587~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Ratkovich</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why December Felt Different When You Have ADHD]]></title><description><![CDATA[How do you feel right now, as December comes to a close? If you’re being honest, your answer might include exhaustion, overwhelm, or a quiet sense of relief that it’s finally over. If so — you’re not imagining it. December asks more of ADHD brains than most people realize. And if you’re here reading this, chances are you felt it. It’s been a long month. This is a longer blog. Go at your own pace. Here’s the reassurance up front: If you make it to the end, you’re doing okay.And even if you...]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/why-december-felt-different-when-you-have-adhd</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69504184103da5c23b900150</guid><pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 18:45:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/16314f_ad3347d78c2c4fe088575a3618aff82d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Ratkovich</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Understanding Rejection Sensitivity in ADHD]]></title><description><![CDATA[For women navigating relationships with heightened emotional sensitivity You know that feeling. Your partner's tone shifts slightly. Their energy changes. Maybe they're quieter than usual, or there's a tension in their body language you can't quite name but definitely feel. And instantly, your body responds: What did I do wrong? Your heart races. Your mind scrambles through the last hour, the last day, searching for evidence of your mistake. The story writes itself before you even realize...]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/the-stories-we-tell-ourselves-understanding-rejection-sensitivity-in-adhd</link><guid isPermaLink="false">692ce02abdf3aa73170e83d3</guid><pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:38:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/179b71_1edcfb2bcfb244f188c5b402db83db09~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Ratkovich</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ Sober October and ADHD Awareness: Why the ADHD Brain Is Wired for More]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Near &#38; Dear Reader, Welcome to my blog — a space where I hope to bring you information rooted in research, guided by compassion, and aligned with the Hippocratic  principle: “First, do no harm.” My goal is to present the best scientific information I can — evaluated both by peer review and my own lens as a therapist working directly with real people. Psychological research is abstract and imperfect, but through experience, theory becomes practice — and that’s the bridge I hope to share...]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/sober-october-and-adhd-awareness-why-the-adhd-brain-is-wired-for-more</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6903a92ea6b0a4b03c9fe205</guid><pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 22:10:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/16314f_071dbf2ff1204990a13d7b654b14be3d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Ratkovich</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What is Therapy? Part 2: Why Opting for “Private Pay” Therapy Matters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dear Therapy Seeker, Many people assume therapy should always be covered by insurance. After all, people pay for insurance, so why not...]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/why-opting-for-private-pay-therapy-matters-privacy-and-the-frame-of-the-work</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68abc0ed689a6f236111a51a</guid><pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2025 01:57:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/16314f_c16c64d6a3ca4ca9bd468636633f14ac~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Ratkovich</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Finding Real Calm: Somatic Tools to Celebrate National Relaxation Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[In our fast-paced world, we often confuse relaxation with simply doing nothing — sitting on the couch, scrolling through our phones, or watching TV. But true relaxation goes deeper. It's not just the absence of activity — it's the intentional creation of a restorative state where your nervous system can recalibrate.]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/finding-real-calm-somatic-tools-to-celebrate-national-relaxation-day</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68901748f741774de102a866</guid><pubDate>Fri, 15 Aug 2025 15:30:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/16314f_fb1f6d3d61134774a7da0e3d29deb164~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Ratkovich</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Is Therapy, Really?]]></title><description><![CDATA[A compassionate guide for the curious, the cautious, and the ready]]></description><link>https://www.neardeartherapy.com/post/what-is-therapy-really</link><guid isPermaLink="false">687035d17183254306bbb94b</guid><pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2025 21:51:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/179b71_be5bfb65b81f41559ff313bfe85b5dff~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator></dc:creator></item></channel></rss>