by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Too much attention is given to narcissistic behavior with little consideration offered to the victims of it. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is clearly defined in the DSM-5. Many subtypes have been offered, books were written and seminars were taught. But what about the abuse some victims have suffered? Several names have been tossed around to… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Obsessive thinking is pondering the same point over and over with no new insight or outcome. Remember the old vinyl records? When there was a scratch on the record, the needle would go back and play the same small section repeatedly until the needle was lifted. That is obsessive thinking. The thoughts don’t have to… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
An expectation can be positive or negative, realistic or unrealistic, about behavior or performance, increase anxiety or relieve stress, and result in disappointment or surprise. There are two sources of expectations: internal and external. Internal expectations are rooted in beliefs, grounded by experience, and flourish through thoughts. In contrast, others impose external expectations based on… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Eventually, in everyone’s life, they will come across a person with a personality disorder (PD). It may be a family member, co-worker, neighbor, or friend. Usually, it is hard to discern if a person has a PD at the beginning of the relationship, but eventually, it comes to light. Having an accurate understanding will keep… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
If a fairy godmother could grant a wish, what would it be? The answer is most likely an area of life needing some type of change. It could be financial, professional, relational, spiritual, physical, mental or emotional. Whatever the topic, it is possible to change without the help of a fairy godmother. Change can be… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
“Anyone compelled to choose will find far greater security in being feared than in being loved.” This famous quote from Prince Machiavelli is one of the guiding principles of Machiavellians. Machiavellianism is a personality construct and not a personality disorder like narcissism or anti-social (sociopath and psychopath). It is a way of looking at the… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
No matter what the profession, if a boss has this personality combination, they are terrifying. The Dark Tetrad is composed of four parts: narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism. Sadism is the addition to the Dark Triad which has narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. For either condition, this means a person possesses the characteristics of all of… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Feeling lonely is bad enough but add the holidays to the mix and instead of helping, the feeling intensifies. This strange phenomenon tends to isolate even further and can bring about a deeper depression. In some cases, the hopelessness many lead to suicidal thoughts. The contrast is shocking. Everyone else seems to be happier. There… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
One minute everything seems fine. Then in a flood of intense emotion and erratic thoughts, it all changes. Life becomes a distorted kaleidoscope, with nothing familiar from before. Even speaking is difficult. It is impossible to explain what is happening because the event is so unlike anything experienced prior. In the past, the term nervous… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Addicts plus holidays usually equal disaster. This is because addicts have a tendency to divide family at a celebration, not unite. Relatives fall into one of three categories: those who see the addiction and have no tolerance, those who see the addiction and tolerate it, and those who don’t see the addiction at all. An… (more…)