Showing posts with label May Mental Health Awareness Month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label May Mental Health Awareness Month. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Mental Health Awareness Month
May 2017



The Narcissist



We're back from our Coffee Break, and we are discussing the 16 Signs of a Narcissist.  We have covered the first 4 signs of a Narcissist, and everyone has been taking notes in their Journals.

Now while we started this discussion off talking about identifying girlfriends, boyfriends and spouses that could potentially be a narcissist, please remember that a narcissist can also be a parent, a boss, a sibling, a family member, a friend, or anyone you know.  Narcissists come in all shapes and sizes.

Narcissists are normally very nice looking and vain people, even if their personality makes them look ugly.

We are now continuing on with Sign #5 of the 16 Signs of a Narcissist . . .

#5  Do they spend a lot of time at the gym?

Let us be clear, not every gym addict is a narcissist, however you can normally pick out those who are.  The narcissist doesn’t go to the gym to keep fit, they go to make sure they look better than everybody else.  They will take any chance they get to show off their hard work and if the situation doesn’t arise, then they will make sure they create a situation to show off the hard work they have been putting in at the gym.
They will often bring up in conversation how many sit ups they did, or how far they ran for, just so they can be complimented by the listener, and feel better about themselves.
The Narcissist has a very competitive nature, and will always find opportunities to compete with you.  If you're doing something that brings you joy, you can bet that they will be doing whatever that thing is faster than lightening, and will make sure that they are better at it than you are!
Their goal is to make you feel inferior and/or incompetent.
[Ask Yourself:  Do you really want to deal with this type of person every day?]
#6   Do they always turn the conversation onto themselves?
Everyone likes to talk about themselves on the occasion but a narcissist takes it to another level.  It doesn’t matter what you are talking about, they will always manage to turn the conversation onto them, and their own issues.  They never really want to know anything about what you have to say.  If they begin listening to you, they will cut your conversation off and suddenly be distracted by something else so that they do not have to listen to you.  Or, they will over-talk you and get back to whatever it is that they want to say.
For example, if your friend is going through a break up, your narcissistic partner won’t ask your friend how they are doing, instead they will talk about a bad break up that they had.  If you are thinking about skydiving for charity, then they won’t ask you about it, they will instead think of something equally as awesome that they did, and they will tell you about it.
[Ask Yourself:  Can you deal with the selfishness of a narcissist for a prolonged period of time?]
#7  Do you feel like you have ever had their empathy?
This is a really good way of telling if you are in a narcissistic relationship or not, because a narcissist is incapable of empathy.  That really isn’t a joke, they are incapable of putting themselves into anyone else’s shoes but their own.  In fact, they will more likely than not remind you of how much they've done for you and how unappreciative you are.  And if you happen to be involved with a narcissistic person who has gone for many years without be called out on the carpet about their ways, they will become indignant when you mention their lack of compassion or arrogance.
Ask yourself this, the last big challenge you had to face, did your partner support you through it?  If the answer is no, then there is a good chance you are in a narcissistic relationship.
[Ask Yourself:  Do you really want to have someone around you that is judgmental, critical, and has absolutely no empathy?]
#8  Are they always focused on themselves?
Has your partner ever focused on something that didn’t directly involve them?  Have they ever reached out to help someone, when there was nothing in it for them?  If the answer is no, then you should know by now that you are likely to be in a narcissistic relationship.
The fact is that a narcissist only focuses on himself or herself, and if they do something for someone else, then it’s because they are getting something in return!
The return they get could be that it makes them look good, or it makes other people see them in a good light.  The return for them could also be that they meet a connection through you that they can influence for their own ends.
[Ask Yourself:  Do you really think that being around a person like this would be healthy for you?] 
At this point is where you need to get your Journal out before we go on to Signs 9 - 12 so that you can be sure to include this very important point about narcissists . . .
Narcissists always make you feel "trapped" . . .
Are you feeling trapped?


Learn more about the Narcissistic Personality in our next Blog Session so that you can be aware, do something about it, and stop feeling trapped.


We'll be back to go over Signs 9 - 12 in our next Blog Session ~ See you back here with your Journal!
Peace, Love & Light,

 René


©Copyright - René Allen - MAY 2017 - All Rights Reserved


Saturday, May 6, 2017

It's Mental Health Awareness Month!
MAY 2017


We are back with our listing of Depression Symptoms.  If you were here for our previous Blog Session, then you have your Journals and/or Diaries ready to take more notes.

When we were last here, we went over the first five (5)  Most Common Symptoms of Depression.  Lets carry on with the next five Depression Symptoms...

Ten (10) Most Common Symptoms of Depression (continued)


6.  Alcoholism/drug taking
Substance abuse, whether it involves illegal drug taking, or alcoholism, is prevalent among people with depression. Research has shown time and time again that people with depression are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs, and alcoholics are more likely to suffer from depression.
Please Note:  It seems like these two problems go hand in hand, and if you notice a friend drinking too much or taking drugs constantly, then they may have an underlying mental condition like depression.
7.  Erectile dysfunction
In men, erectile dysfunction is common when suffering from depression.  Erectile dysfunction occurs as a result of men not having any real interest in sex, which manifests itself physically.  Though many men don’t report the issue, likely as a result of being embarrassed, it has been known for many years that erectile dysfunction goes hand in hand with the problem and is relatively likely to occur in men with depression.
8.  Suicidal thoughts
This is one of the most serious symptoms of having depression, and it involves constant thoughts about how one might kill oneself.  These thoughts can quickly manifest into a serious attempt of trying to end one’s life, making this a worrying problem that family should try and solve right away.
Please Note:  If you are having suicidal thoughts, it’s essential that you speak to your doctor or your closest family immediately.  Remember that depression can be treated, and no matter how bad you feel right now, it isn’t as hopeless as you think.
9.  Trouble making decisions
If a person suddenly has trouble making decisions, and they have never acted like this in the past, then it is possible that they are suffering from depression.  A bizarre, yet common, symptom of depression is a difficulty making decisions.
Please Note:  If somebody is suddenly acting as if they don’t know what to do, or how they want to go about their day, or even something as simple as not knowing what to eat, try and find out more about what’s going on.
It’s possible that the depression is taking over their thought processes and damaging their ability to make decisions as a result.
10.  General stress
Finally, stress will be a likely accompaniment to depression. When you suffer from depression, it becomes more difficult to go about your life, and if you’re at work, you’re going to find it even more tiresome and difficult to do what your boss requires of you.

Depression

Depression is very personal and it is not surprising that it is one of the most common conditions in our modern society. The demands placed on us for our time and attention combined with increasing debt and uncertainty have made this one of the most highly medicated conditions.  While “chemical imbalance” is often used to validate this condition, the reason for the imbalance is often not addressed and can be from a variety of sources.
Please Note:  Diet, exercise, mind/body issues, trauma, loss, medication, life events, genetics, and accidents of all kinds can all contribute to the imbalance at the root of depression.
Taking a Holistic approach to dealing with depression would involve mindfulness, excellent foods, personal training, massage, mind-body work, meditation, prayer, and many other modalities to help your body’s many systems reconcile and heal.
As those that suffer from depression know, this illness doesn’t just affect one body system, depression is systemic and it also reaches into the lives of those around the person who is suffering.
Remember to keep your Journal and/or Diary going...
We will continue our Mental Health discussion in our next Blog Session.  See you then!
Peace, Love & Light,

 René

©Copyright - René Allen - MAY 2017 - All Rights Reserved