Secondhand Trauma — Is It Real? The 2017 Hurricane Season Is Affecting Everyone
As we have all witnessed in the last few months, 2017 has produced an incredibly destructive hurricane season. For many of us not living in the affected areas, just watching the devastation on TV and hearing about it on the radio or social media can also cause a deep sense of fear and anxiety.
It can even cause many to suffer secondhand trauma or more specifically, Secondary Trauma Stress (STS). STS is a psychiatric condition which mimics symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It affects individuals who did not witness the traumatic event firsthand but were still exposed to it in other ways.
It can even cause many to suffer secondhand trauma or more specifically, Secondary Trauma Stress (STS). STS is a psychiatric condition which mimics symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It affects individuals who did not witness the traumatic event firsthand but were still exposed to it in other ways.
Best of Our Blogs: September 22, 2017
I'm still feeling the glow from Sounds True's enlightening online Self-Acceptance summit. In particular, I've been reflecting on bestselling author Anne Lamott's words. She said we save the best China, our favorite cup and ornate glassware for our guests. But do we instill that same level of kindness and care to ourselves?
We may grab an energy bar or frozen drink to erase hunger and thirst, but devote time to lay out the sliced up tomatoes, freshly washed grapes and wedges of cheese for loved ones.
We go out of our way to make others happy, but often neglect ourselves. It's no wonder we end up resentful, sick, tired and angry at the world.
Before you look outward for love and nurturance, start with doing one kind thing for yourself. Be it an understanding thought, a patient response or time to savor a fancy meal just for yourself. Doing any of these will cause a seismic shift, changing the way you treat others, which ultimately affects the world.
We may grab an energy bar or frozen drink to erase hunger and thirst, but devote time to lay out the sliced up tomatoes, freshly washed grapes and wedges of cheese for loved ones.
We go out of our way to make others happy, but often neglect ourselves. It's no wonder we end up resentful, sick, tired and angry at the world.
Before you look outward for love and nurturance, start with doing one kind thing for yourself. Be it an understanding thought, a patient response or time to savor a fancy meal just for yourself. Doing any of these will cause a seismic shift, changing the way you treat others, which ultimately affects the world.
5 Fresh Ideas for Keeping Narcissists Out of Your Life
"Never again." That's what you said when you left your last narcissist.
After swearing you'd never fall in love with another narcissist, you've fallen head-over-heels in love with one... again. The pattern has repeated itself. Your new guy isn't different. Not really. He's just another charming, charismatic, abusive, control-freak narcissist.
Many psychologists say that codependents like us can walk into a room and instantly have amazing chemistry with the most wounded, most screwed up, most abusive guy in the room. No one seems to know why or how it happens. But it does! You know it does. You've experienced it and so have I.
How to Survive in an Unhappy Marriage and Thrive
You’re unhappy in your marriage, but you’ve decided to stay. It’s been a gut-wrenching decision, and you’re beginning to wonder how you can stay and keep your sanity. You alternate between wanting to leave and praying that it will get easier.
This article shows how to make the best of an unhappy marriage. It takes a lot of soul-searching to make this decision. When you’ve been together for several years (or longer) and there are kids, making this choice can weigh heavily on your heart.
Despite being in an unhappy marriage, there are reasons you are willing to stay.
This article shows how to make the best of an unhappy marriage. It takes a lot of soul-searching to make this decision. When you’ve been together for several years (or longer) and there are kids, making this choice can weigh heavily on your heart.
Despite being in an unhappy marriage, there are reasons you are willing to stay.
Seasonal Affective Disorder: The Silent Season
It's that time again. The days are getting shorter and the air is getting colder. The leaves are beginning to change colors and delicately fall. We pull out our scarves and gloves and drink warm cider. To many, the change in season is received with a warm welcome and open arms. To others, they begin to settle into the knowledge that their least favorite season is among them.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that emerges during autumn and well through the winter months. Some commonly mistake SAD with the general feeling of laziness during the winter months as symptoms tend to include increased sleep, withdrawal from people and feeling chronically fatigued. SAD is not an a symptom of disliking winter and not to be confused with major depressive disorder -- but rather a specific type of depression that comes around seasonally.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that emerges during autumn and well through the winter months. Some commonly mistake SAD with the general feeling of laziness during the winter months as symptoms tend to include increased sleep, withdrawal from people and feeling chronically fatigued. SAD is not an a symptom of disliking winter and not to be confused with major depressive disorder -- but rather a specific type of depression that comes around seasonally.
Podcast: What’s the REAL Link Between Anger and Violence?
In this episode of the Psych Central Show, hosts Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales discuss mental illness and violence. More specifically, they address the real culprit behind the vast majority of violence: anger. Their discussion dispels the myth that anger is an unhealthy emotion, teaches ways to express anger in a healthy fashion, and addresses the widely held belief that most mentally ill people are violent (and why people hold this belief). The discussion also covers the real factor in predicting whether someone might become violent and ends with suggestions on ways anyone can learn how to get control of anger in their lives.
Perfection Is Overrated
An age-old truth was revealed to me as I was making a cake during a recent holiday weekend. My 85-year-old mother was having a Labor Day party, and she wanted me to bring dessert. I picked up the frozen pie she likes, but she didn’t think that would be enough for the crowd that was coming, so she asked me to make a cake.
“Sure,” I said. Cakes were easy these days with endless, fool-proof cake mix possibilities.
“Sure,” I said. Cakes were easy these days with endless, fool-proof cake mix possibilities.
Bad Bosses: 3 Ways to Spot the Codependent
Your mental health and your physical health are at risk, if you work for a codependent boss. How do you spot one?
After all, you know how to spy a narcissistic boss. They’re divas enthralled by their own voices, clamoring for the adoration of crowds, and surrounded by folks they regard as their minions who must avoid their spotlight or get the chop. As the movie Dirty Dancing almost said, “Nobody puts the narcissist in the corner.” Other ways to spot a narcissistic boss include: they hate being interrupted; detest being disagreed with; and when they joke, you’d better laugh. Narcissists can be charming at first. But similar to leaving cheese languishing in the sun -- after a while, they can get up your nose. Narcissistic bosses and codependent bosses are quite different.
After all, you know how to spy a narcissistic boss. They’re divas enthralled by their own voices, clamoring for the adoration of crowds, and surrounded by folks they regard as their minions who must avoid their spotlight or get the chop. As the movie Dirty Dancing almost said, “Nobody puts the narcissist in the corner.” Other ways to spot a narcissistic boss include: they hate being interrupted; detest being disagreed with; and when they joke, you’d better laugh. Narcissists can be charming at first. But similar to leaving cheese languishing in the sun -- after a while, they can get up your nose. Narcissistic bosses and codependent bosses are quite different.
Be Willing to Change Your Path to Get What You Want in Life
“[You] don’t have to change your goal. Change your path, be willing to and don’t see that as a failure. That’s just life.” – Diane Hendricks
You have a goal or goals, perhaps even a tentative or somewhat fleshed-out plan for how to achieve your objective. Do you think there is only one way to get what you want in life? Are you obsessed with sticking to a path you’ve been on despite a change of circumstance, recently acquired knowledge or skill, even a new interest that’s in conflict with your chosen course of action?
If so, you might be stuck.
But you can get unstuck, too.
You have a goal or goals, perhaps even a tentative or somewhat fleshed-out plan for how to achieve your objective. Do you think there is only one way to get what you want in life? Are you obsessed with sticking to a path you’ve been on despite a change of circumstance, recently acquired knowledge or skill, even a new interest that’s in conflict with your chosen course of action?
If so, you might be stuck.
But you can get unstuck, too.
Should You Take that Job? 5 Signs Your Gut Says ‘No’
Most of the choices we make every day are simple and straight-forward: what to wear to work, what to eat for lunch, whether to go to sleep at a reasonable hour or stay up watching Netflix. They don’t cause much stress or inner conflict.
Career transition points, on the other hand, can leave you feeling significantly more stuck -- especially when you’re facing a big, life-changing decisions.
Career transition points, on the other hand, can leave you feeling significantly more stuck -- especially when you’re facing a big, life-changing decisions.
