The reality is that it is very easy to spot emotional manipulation when it happens to people you love, but professionals say it is hard to spot the puppetmaster pulling your own strings. We spoke with licensed psychologist Kate Balestrieri, Ph.D., CST, and mental health counselor Destiny McCoy, LMSW, about the different types of manipulation that exist, telltale signs to confirm it’s happening to you, and solutions to curb manipulation in relationships....

Friendships aren’t without conflict and miscommunication, though. This is normal in friendships and, when resolved in a conscious and healthy way, can be corrective experiences and can even enhance the relationship. However, there comes a time in our lives when friendships (yes, including childhood ones) end up draining us more than they nurture us, cause us significant stress, and have a negative impact on our mental health. With those friendships, it is OK to set boundaries and even OK to call it quits....

Here’s what to know about this strange dream phenomenon. Déjà rêvé—or feeling like you dreamed something that happened in real life—is one type of precognitive dream that seems to be relatively common, especially when we’re young. (More on those below!) Other precognitive dreams can relay everything from specific and incidental circumstances of an event to more vague things like feelings or emotions. Say you dreamed about feeling very unsettled, and the next day, found yourself having that same unsettled feeling; Some might argue that was a precognitive dream, though there isn’t any way to back that up....

For those thinking of picking up a bottle or bar, here’s exactly what Castile soap is, how it differs from other cleaners, and 14 recipes to help you get the best use of it in every room. Nowadays, “Castile is truly a multipurpose soap and very popular among people who want to live a cleaner, healthier, and more natural life,” says Loni Brown, the founder and CEO of EntirelyEco. In addition to the original olive oil blend, you’ll also find solid and liquid Castile soaps made with coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or hemp oil....

One of the reasons I recommend bergamot so often is because it really is a jack-of-all-trades with aiding in your health both mentally and physically. There are a few smaller benefits of bergamot oil. In 2008, a study1 was performed on hospice patients with terminal cancer. Half of the patients received a five-minute hand massage with a carrier oil for seven days while the other half received the same hand massage with bergamot, lavender, and frankincense essential oils added to the carrier oil....

“With the dramatic rise in boutique fitness studios over the past few years, gyms are beginning to offer longer hours and more luxury amenities, like spa-enhanced locker rooms, to compete,” Susana Cagle, senior manager, sustainability product management, of eco-consulting firm ENGIE Impact, tells mbg. “These extended hours and unique amenities result in higher energy bills and utility costs.” Lately, though, workout spaces that aren’t explicitly branded as eco-friendly have started cleaning up their act with equipment that allows gym-goers to help power the building as they burn calories....

A cousin of the strikingly similar Ficus Audrey (Ficus benghalensis), fiddle leaf figs require a lot more patience as houseplants. They love a warm and wet environment, making them hard to keep indoors by nature. In their native environment, these beauties can grow up to 100 feet tall and bear fruit. As a houseplant, however, they tend to max out around 10 feet—still fairly tall! As a symbol of abundance and good luck, they’re magnificent to look at when they’re healthy, and they can make any space feel more inviting....