Those with OCPD ~

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder

have the capacity to experience great

emotional depth because of their hypersensitivity

JUNE 2017

Good Morning Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors!

We are back to continue our discussion about OCPD and those who have the capacity to experience great emotional depth because of their hypersensitivity.

If you are new to the Blog discussions, we welcome you.  We also invite you to tell others about the Blog.  Especially those who you believe will benefit from the discussions that we are having.  We come here to talk about issues that affect you and those you know and love.  If you do not yet have  Journal or Diary that you use daily, we suggest that you pick one up so that you can keep notes about our discussions, and also keep a daily track of your own personal thoughts.  It is beneficial to learn more about your "self" and those you know and love. Keeping a Journal helps you to do just that.  You will be glad that you took the time to document your thoughts and daily activities when you look back on what you have written later.

In case you don't know, or have forgotten, you are here because you are an Author, Writer, Aspiring Author, Emerging Author, Poet, Creative Writer, Film Maker, Journalist, Reporter, Artist, Blog Writer, or have the capacity and tools needed to Produce or Write a Documentary.  Just a reminder that what you learn, and what you know, is to be utilized to help others. And YOU, dear friend, are the one tasked to do so. 

Now is the time to get your Journal and your pen as we get into our topic for today . . .

"Decorative Journals that are personal

to you help to inspire you to write daily".

People with OCPD have the capacity to experience great emotional depth because of their hypersensitivity.  They are able to feel emotions that most of the world will never be able to feel or understand.  People with emotional sensitivity also have a heightened sense of the emotions of others.  Even if others say, “I’m doing fine,” people with OCPD have the ability to see right through surface level communication.  In an instant, people with OCPD can assess the body language and tone of voice of others and figure out the true emotions behind all the masks that people put on.  Some people with extreme emotional sensitivity possess a near-psychic ability to sense even the history of emotions, hurts, and pains of others.

You may happen to be able to sense the pain and suffering collectively experienced by the people of an entire nation.  (And it is at this juncture that I must again mention the Prophetic Ministry and Missionaries).  We will discuss the Prophetic Ministry and Missionaries in another Blog Session.  Just simply make a note of it in your Journal at this time.  [Regardless of whether or not you believe in God, are mad at God, have an issue with the name of God, have an issue with Religion and the Church, or believe that this topic does not effect you -- do make a note of it].  Be open to learn always, because it is when you think that you know everything and that no one can teach you anything that you become worthless.  You also miss a lot of blessings and opportunities being closed minded.

We are all made up differently, and we do not always have to agree with one another, but we should at the least -- be AWARE.

People with OCPD have all the right tools to enrich the lives of others through empathy.

The reason why this discussion is so important is because many people with OCPD do not recognize their "gifts".  If you have OCPD ~ Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder, then this discussion is for YOU!  If you know someone who has OCPD, or you suspect has OCPD, then please pass this Blog discussion on to them.

Here is the main question for you to write down in your Journal today . . .

Why then are there so many people with OCPD who do not practice their natural gift for empathy?

The answer is anxiety.

At a very early age, people with OCPD were once overwhelmed by their strong negative emotions.  They needed their immediate caretaker (usually their mother) to comfort them by saying, “Don’t worry, child.  You’re going to be just fine.  Bad feelings are a normal part of life and they will come and go.  Don’t try to avoid them.  Just feel them out and let them pass.”  Unfortunately, most of the world (mothers included) do not understand how emotionally sensitive people with OCPD are and they fail to provide the correct kind of security.  Without the proper security, people with OCPD grow up to fear their emotions and try everything in their power to avoid them.  There are psychological strategies people with OCPD use to prevent themselves from experiencing negative emotions.  As long as people with OCPD continue to dodge negative emotions, they will never be able to give others the sense that their feelings are being understood and shared.

In order to redeem the natural gift for empathy, people with OCPD must face their fear of negative emotions.  This fear cannot be faced, however, if people with OCPD continue to make use of the very things that prevent them from experiencing their emotions.  Therefore, people with OCPD must resist the urge to use their defense mechanisms as well. Every step of the way, people with OCPD must re-parent themselves with words of comfort.  When negative emotions are no longer things that need to be feared and avoided, people with OCPD can then begin to feel the negative emotions of others.  When this happens, people will discover that no one can empathize with them as well as their OCPD friend.  Can you imagine how much better a person who is suffering or in pain will feel if there is someone who can empathize with them?

Let's talk about another area that you may need to pay attention to, and make a note of in your Journal . . .

Feeling depressed?

It might not be you.

The emotional sensitivity of people with OCPD is so strong that, despite all their efforts to avoid negative feelings, people with OCPD will still pick up the emotions of others unconsciously.  People with OCPD might find themselves feeling sad all of a sudden.  When this happens, most people with OCPD who have not yet familiarized themselves with the power of their emotional sensitivity will likely think that they (personally) are the cause of this emotional pain.  What really might be happening is that they are unconsciously empathizing with others.  It is a shame that people with OCPD do not get credit for this kind of behind-the-scenes empathy.  Unfortunately, the burden that people with OCPD feel for others can become so heavy that going into isolation feels like the most liberating thing to do.  It is very important that people with OCPD who often feel the pain and suffering of others have outlets, like hobbies, or friends they can talk to, with which they can release the burden that they pick up.

This is why a Journal is so important for you to utilize.  When you can chart your feelings, and the people you are around, it will help you to evaluate what is really happening with you.

If for instance, you have been around your friend Sally, and you suddenly start feeling helpless and without hope, and later Sally tells you that she has these feelings, then you should realize that it is not YOU that is feeling this way, but it is in fact your friend, Sally.

WE are to be aware of the fact that WE are all connected to one another.  When we begin to think in the me, myself, and I zone, we lose sight of what living is all about.  When we are all doing well, it is better for the whole.  When one of us feels any pain or happens to be suffering in some way, then those of us who are empathetic will feel that pain and same such suffering.  Those here reading and following this Blog just so happen to be "gifted" with the ability to do so.  Which means that we inherently are not selfish or self-serving people.  If we happen to decide that we will be "selfish" and "self-serving", we will hurt ourselves, and do an injustice to those who we are called to help.

Write it.  Note it.  Understand it.

Be who you are called to be.

MUCH MORE TO COME!

Until next Blog Session . . .

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

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

MAY 2017:  Mental Health Awareness Month

Good Evening Blog Readers & Followers ~  We have been discussing the serious issue of Mental Health this month, and we will continue doing so for the rest of the month.

Tonight we will be shifting gears to discuss "pain".  There are various types of pain as we all know.  There is physical pain, emotional pain, psychological pain, spiritual pain, and mental pain.

Pain is a sensory experience that is highly subjective to the individual. Amplified pain syndrome is characterized as an individual's response to a seemingly mild sensory experience and processes it as an intense pain signal.

To go a bit further, Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndromes are pain syndromes where excessive, acute and chronic pain are observed for which no overt primary cause can be found or surmised.

Below is a chart from a Fibromyal Lecture in 2010:

Pain is a distressing feeling often caused by intense or damaging stimuli, such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting alcohol on a cut, or bumping the "funny bone". Because it is a complex, subjective phenomenon, defining pain has been a challenge.  The International Association for the Study of Pain's widely used definition states: "Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage."  In medical diagnosis, pain is regarded as a symptom of an underlying condition.

PAIN - points

Let us look at the following definitions of pain . . .

1.

physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.

2.

a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body:

a back pain.

3.

mental or emotional suffering or torment

NOTE:  Psychological pain or mental pain is an unpleasant feeling (a suffering) of a psychological, non-physical origin.  A pioneer in the field of suicidology, Edwin S. Shneidman, described it as "how much you hurt as a human being.  It is mental suffering; mental torment."

The pain of mental suffering-mental torment

In palliative care, understanding and managing emotional or spiritual pain is as important as managing physical pain.  We know from speaking to people living with a terminal illness, and their families and friends, that emotional or spiritual pain is common regardless of religion, beliefs or culture.

There are also cultural overlays of how to express pain, to whom, and when.  “Physical” pain associated with particular areas of the body may be a culturally accepted way of expressing stress that everyone recognizes and addresses without having to confront difficult social issues directly.

Defining Spiritual Pain and Distress

It is to be expected that “spiritual” pain is just as elusive and difficult to quantify, although researchers are attempting to do so (Mako et al 2006).  Spiritual pain is described in NANDA (1994:49) as the “disruption in the principle which pervades a person’s entire being and which integrates and transcends one’s biological and psychosocial nature.”

Anandarajah and Hight (2001) note that "spiritual distress and spiritual crisis" occur when a person is "unable to find sources of meaning, hope, love, peace, comfort, strength, and connection in life or when conflict occurs between their beliefs and what is happening in their life.  Sources list multiple defining characteristics of spiritual distress that may cause or indicate the presence of spiritual pain.  Stoll (1989) and Pehler (1997) list similar defining characteristics, although Pehler also includes characteristics from several other studies.  For both, the major characteristic was an expression of concern with the meaning of life/death or any belief system.

The lists included, but were not limited to anger toward God, questioning the meaning of suffering or the meaning of one's own existence, verbal comments regarding an inner conflict about beliefs or about one's relationship with a deity, an inability to participate in one's usual religious practices, and more.

Spiritual Pain ~ Spiritual Distress

There are many levels of pain that can be discussed as it relates to mental health.  What we will do is go into various aspects of the topic of "pain" in relation to mental health in our next Blog Session.

One important area that we will focus on in our next Blog Session as it relates to our mental health is:  Loss, Grief, and Bereavement.

Until we meet again, please remember to make notes in your Journals, Diaries and Notebooks on the areas that we have covered today.  In addition, do not forget to Journal your feelings, thoughts, emotions, questions and activities for today.

FOR NOW . . .

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

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

MAY 2017 ~ Mental Health Awareness Month

Greetings Blog Readers ~ This month we are discussing mental health here on the Blog in an effort to open up discussions and to bring more awareness to the topic of mental health.

We'll be diving into many topics of discussion in relation to mental health, and hopefully you will be able to gain further knowledge and also add your input as well.

Please Note:  [You may catch up on any past Blog posts by scrolling down, or by clicking on any of the links in the far right column in the "Blog Archive".  As always, your thoughts, comments and/or questions are always welcomed and encouraged.  You may post your comments here on the Blog in the "Comments Section".  Remember you may also "Follow by Email", simply enter your Email address and click "submit" {far right column just below my eyeball}].

Let's take a look at Mental Health Myths & Facts:

Myth: Teenagers don’t suffer from “real” mental illnesses — they are just moody.
Fact: One in five teens has some type of mental health problem in a given year.

Myth: Talk about suicide is an idle threat that need not be taken seriously.
Fact: Suicide is the third leading cause of death among high school students and the second leading cause of death in college students. Talk about suicide should always be taken seriously.

Myth: Mental illness is an indication of weakness, and those experiencing problems should just “snap out of it.”
Fact: Mental illnesses are just that: illnesses. They are not character flaws. Facing a mental illness and going through the process of therapy takes an enormous amount of emotional and physical strength.

Myth: Mental illness is not real and cannot be treated.Fact: Mental disorders are as easy to diagnose as asthma, diabetes and cancer and have a range of effective treatments for most conditions.

Myth: Mental illnesses are not “real” medical illnesses.
Fact: Mental illnesses can be just as disabling as other medical illnesses, and many are at least partly biological in nature.

Myth: We’re good people. Mental illness doesn't happen to my family.
Fact: One in four families is affected by a mental health problem.

Myth: Eating disorders only affect celebrities and models.
Fact: Each year eating disorders and binge eating affect 24 million Americans. Eating disorders claim more lives each year than any other mental disorder.

Myth: It’s not depression; you're just going through a phase.
Fact: Nineteen million adults in the United States suffer from some form of depression every year.

Myth: Insurance doesn’t need to cover mental health; it’s not a big problem.
Fact: Fifty-four million Americans are affected by mental illness each year, regardless of ethnicity, sex or socioeconomic class.

Myth: Doctors are too busy treating physical problems to deal with mental health.
Fact: Up to one-half of all visits to primary care physicians are due to conditions that are caused or exacerbated by mental illness.

Myth: Mental illness is a personal problem not a business concern.
Fact: Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States over back problems, heart disease and liver failure.

University of Michigan, Five Common Myths. (n.d.). Retrieved from URL  

Visit:  Healthy Campus - Mental Health Home

As part of the process of learning more about mental health on the Blog this month, we are Journaling our thoughts . . .

Journal Therapy

Journals are wonderful tools to keep in touch with your feelings, your emotions, your thoughts, and your day to day activities.  With respect to your mental health, you'll find that keeping a Journal is a very therapeutic exercise.

You'd be amazed at all of the things that have happened in your life up to this point that you have pushed under the rug.  Writing in a Journal daily helps you keep in touch with your authentic and true "self".  The original "you" is not who others make you out to be.  Nor is the original "you" the incidences that have dampened your spirit.  The original "you" knows exactly who you are and the greatness you are capable of.

No matter what anyone has said about you or to you that you know is not true, remember your true "self" is bigger and better than any insults, criticisms, lies, or hurtful comments.

A Journal helps you to see the joyful moments of your life as well.  Your life has been full of many moments of accomplishments and conquests for the betterment of others that you may have discounted.  Many of your most joyful moments others do not have a clue about.  No one is with you every step of your life.  They do not see all of the joys, nor do they see or know about all of your hurts.  You know you better than anyone else.

Here is a Journal exercise for you this evening...

Get comfortable, put on your favorite music, light some candles, burn some incense, turn on your therapeutic water fountain . . .

I'm going to help you to get your Journal Party started!  Pull out your favorite Journal and your favorite ink pen.  In your Journal, write about . . .

1)  The first joyful moment you can remember.

2)  How old were you, and why were you so happy about that particular joyful moment?

3)  Who, (if any), were the people involved or around?

4)  Where was the location of your first joyful moment?

5)  Now, consider the first incident in your life that made you unhappy, sad, scared, or angry.

6)  How old were you, and what was the reason that you were unhappy, sad, scared, or angry?

7)  Who, (if any), were the people involved or around?

8)  Where was the location of your first incident of unhappiness, sadness, fear or anger?

Go back in your mind as far as you can to answer the questions above, and to revisit the emotions associated with the joy and the pain.  You may think you have forgotten, but the answers to those questions are in your subconscious mind.

After you have taken the time to write all of the above items in your Journal, sit back for a minute and just breathe ~ relax.

Put on a song that you absolutely L O V E!

We'll be back . . .

Peace, Love & Light,

 René

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