Joan was a combat veteran who made it through two wartime postings without having PTSD. She prided herself on her toughness and resilience. Never did she expect that she would be dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD) once home in the United States, but Joan was raped while walking on a New York City street by herself one night. She never reported it, felt embarrassed and ashamed that she had not fought off her attacker, and feared dealing with her symptoms of sleeplessness and … [Read more...]
Film Review: “Inside Out 2” – Understanding Anxiety’s Effect on Teens (and Adults too!)
This past June, a very important film for understanding emotions was released called “Inside Out 2.” The original movie, “Inside Out, “released in 2015, put its viewers into the shoes of Riley, a typical pre-teen girl and introduced the viewer to the five major emotions that controlled her life, Joy, Anger, Disgust, Fear, and Sadness, very typical emotions for a girl that age. As Riley nears puberty and her teenage years, her emotional system takes a sharp turn, and this is where “ Inside Out … [Read more...]
What is Gaslighting?
We often talk about “gaslighting” in connection with a manipulative behavior used by a narcissist in dealing with their victim. The term originated in a 1930's play called Gas Light, in which the main character is attempting to make his wife believe she is going crazy by dimming the lights ever so slightly each day, and convincing her it is all in her head. It was later made into a movie starring Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman which emphasized the way male privilege is used to gain power over … [Read more...]
Are You in A Relationship with A Narcissist?
Do you ever wonder why your husband only cares about his interests and activities? Does he do as much for you as you do for him? Does your good friend consistently ignore what you care about yet go on and on about his own needs? Do you feel unheard even when you take the time to tell your boyfriend what is important to you and how you feel? You might be in a relationship with a narcissist. Narcissism, a term that is often bandied about casually, is actually a psychiatric diagnosis … [Read more...]
Quieting Your Inner Critic
One may think that all eyes are on us when we’re out and about. We may hear an acquaintance say “Look at what she’s wearing today!” Comments like this may be normal but, ultimately, we are our own worst critic and it is vital that we not take it to heart. Recently I read an article in the New York Times titled Learn to Quiet Your Inner Critic by Christina Caron and in today’s day and age it couldn’t be more relevant. Inner criticism stems from our constant want, not need, to be … [Read more...]