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Spousal abuse is devastating in every aspect. It creates deep wounds in the abuser, abused and anyone within close proximity to the experience.
As a child, I not only witnessed my mother being abused by my father, but I too was severly abused. The violence created survival instincts so intense, ... Views: 2071
The holiday season is considered to be one of the most hectic times for police and traffic departments due to the significant increase in impaired or drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 1000 people in America who are killed ... Views: 2070
Do you have an addiction you simply can’t seem to get rid of? Try these techniques to help you boost success:
Improve your mental and physical health
It takes mental stamina and physical health to prevent relapsing. Trying to fight off an addiction is very draining mentally and physically. ... Views: 2070
It is often said that abuse is passed down from one generation to another and it can be hard for people to understand why this happens. However, the next generation are not the only ones who can end up being abused; it is also something that can affect the people who the abuser comes into ... Views: 2069
The moment the verbal assault springs off his/her tongue, the natural reflex is “ouch.” Correct? But lucky for you, it doesn’t have to be.
Let’s face it, you cannot control what’s up with another person, much less what they dish out, but you certainly can control ... Views: 2069
(Written September 20, 1988)
We were in a house trailer just outside the Lindreth trading post, in northwest New Mexico. There were six of us on the hunt that year: My Dad and I; Morris - Dad's best friend, and his son Brad; Don - who owned the trailer and was to be our guide, and his son ... Views: 2066
From the moment someone is born, their mother has incredible power over them. She has the power to build them up or the power to tear them down. Ideally, one would have had a mother who was: loving, supportive and kind, for instance. But there are also people out there who had the complete ... Views: 2066
Low self-esteem is a thinking disorder in which individuals view themselves as inadequate, unlovable, or incompetent. There are many manifestations of low self-esteem, the worst of them being addiction.
There’s no doubt that low self-esteem is one of the chief causes of addiction. The ... Views: 2065
When someone is abused as a child, it is highly likely that they are going to have trouble feeling safe in life. This would have been something that they first experienced when they were growing up and something that has stayed with them throughout their adult years.
So for some people, it ... Views: 2064
The seven deadly sins were the seven cardinal sins enumerated by Saint Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century – pride or vanity, envy, gluttony, greed or avarice, lust, sloth, and wrath or anger. These seven certainly are the cause of much human misery and may even be among those faults that condemn ... Views: 2063
There are many forms of bullying around today and some of these are more overt than others. At times, this is done in a way that is so subtle, that it can take place without anyone even noticing.
And while bullying has taken place for many, many years, and is nothing new, the internet has ... Views: 2059
Abusive relationships are largely invisible to the public, most of whom are illiterate about this realm of life. Acts of abuse mostly take place behind closed doors and can go on for some time before there is visual evidence. For example, you can’t tell by looking that:
• A woman was ... Views: 2059
As the years begin to pass me by, it is hard not to reflect on my life. Lost friendships, lost loves… just so much lost. Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy with how my life has turned out, yet I can’t help and look back at the destruction of my life.
From early childhood, watching my ... Views: 2058
Learning to take care of yourself is at the very core of your healing process. It’s a way to demonstrate self-love and respect of yourself.
No matter how busy you get, making time to care for yourself—mind, body, and spirit—is a must. Neglecting self-care can have negative effects on body, ... Views: 2058
When someone has experienced some kind of abuse as a child and this could be physical emotional, verbal or sexual, there is often the need to recover as fast as possible. To look for the answers and to find the solution or solutions that will make everything better.
This is natural and must ... Views: 2057
Verbal abuse is toxic. The following is Kate Carlson, OTR/L interviewing domestic abuse consulting expert Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D. in an effort to help people recognize and understand verbal abuse in unhealthy relationships.
1) KATE CARLSON: In your words, please define verbal abuse and ... Views: 2051
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON THE RISE- HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF
Just this summer, Governor Schwarzenegger cut funding for all Domestic Violence Programs in the state of California as part of his $489 million in budget cuts. You certainly don’t need to be a psychic to predict an increase in ... Views: 2045
“A battlefield is a battlefield. I don’t care where you are fighting it. Unless you have lived through fearing for your life on a nightly basis, you cannot imagine what war is like." - Dr. Gayle J. Hall.
A victim of domestic violence fights for her life on a daily basis, just like a soldier ... Views: 2043
For the last two years I've been working to overcome the effects of damage done by my Grandmother, who we all called Mamaw. When I was 8 years old, she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said a famous writer, and she was appalled, and said "If you are a famous writer, they'll call ... Views: 2042
In the book The Republic, Plato tells the story of prisoners of war that were held captive in a cave for such a long period of time, they could not remember their lives before their captivity. These men were forced to face the back of the cave wall for decades, while a fire burned behind them ... Views: 2042
My passion in looking at men and trauma comes primarily from my personal experience as a young boy, first growing up in a violent alcoholic home and then having to deal with the impact of that trauma long into my thirties — and long into my sobriety. I still have vivid memories sitting on the ... Views: 2041
Psst! Abuse. Shhh!
Voicing openly on the subject of abuse is still largely considered taboo and best kept as ‘civilized’ society's dirty little ‘bully secret’. When you think about it, it’s quite inconceivable that in every society bullying as domestic abuse is more acceptable than ... Views: 2038
Betrayal, big or small, trashes your heart to bits. You do survive and heal. When it has been shattering, your scar will usually be deep and render you hyper-sensitive. You may have a tendency to armor yourself in order to protect yourself from any other injury. This armor may be so ... Views: 2033
Do you have a loved one that is addicted to alcohol?
If your answer was ‘yes’, you have now made a positive step in helping them overcome their alcohol addiction.
In this article, we’ll tell you how to help an alcoholic and also provide you with some guidelines on what treatment is best ... Views: 2031
I am a believer who struggled with co-dependency and alcohol. The first time I was exposed to the Twelve Steps, it was in Alcoholics Anonymous and they gave me sobriety from alcohol. I was on the 4th step working this program, when my sponsor sent me to Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA), and ... Views: 2027
Recently, my daughter made a trip to the town where she was born. Unfortunately, it was not a happy occasion. The daughter of one of her childhood friends had committed suicide.
The girl was 15 years old when she decided that she could not tolerate any more bullying. The only way she could ... Views: 2027
Are you asking yourself ‘when is alcohol treatment needed?’ The fact that you are asking this question indicates that there could be a problem at hand.
In this article, we’ll tell you how you to determine when alcohol treatment is needed.
Knowing the Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol ... Views: 2027
By Sam Vaknin
Author of "Malignant Self-love: Narcissism Revisited"
"Triggering cascade" is when a seemingly minor trigger results in vastly disproportional trauma.
Painful memories, replete with the attendant negative emotions, are walled behind mental barriers: combinations of dams and ... Views: 2020
Your teen has relapsed. Despite whatever fear, disappointment, and frustration you may feel, you need to remain as calm as possible. Your loved one still needs your support.
So, what can you do as a concerned parent to help them get back on the road to recovery?
1. Envision Relapse as a ... Views: 2019
How do we measure courage? I guess it very much depends on your mind set. There are so many ways that it can be measured.
We hear stories about the loss of lives in our armed forces whilst serving overseas; sadly this is a measure of their courage after the loss of life. Unselfishness whilst ... Views: 2019
Lack of emotional safety is the number one indicator of a potentially dangerous relationship. It may seem subtle, yet it is ever so significant with respect to your well-being.
When you have emotional safety, it’s palatable. You can feel it in every fiber of your being. When it’s missing, you ... Views: 2013
Let’s examine the legal implications of Battered Woman Syndrome. BWS was first proposed in the 1970’s. According to Joe Wheeler Dixon, PhD, JD BWS appears to be the product of legal advocacy and not science. BWS seems to owe its existence to the needs of legal advocates to support and justify ... Views: 2012
Now that I have your attention, allow me to explain why I know, beyond any reasonable doubt, that our choices and decisions either make or break our true destiny and purpose in God. If you are not where you want to be, there is still hope for you. My purpose is to exhort women leaders and others ... Views: 2008
A substance abuse evaluation is an assessment of an individual to discern whether the drugs or alcohol use is a problem in the person’s life. There are basically three general categories of using drugs, which are social use, abuse and addiction.
Social Use is either the experimentation of ... Views: 2006
"The new narcissist is haunted not by guilt but by anxiety. He seeks not to inflict his own certainties on others but to find a meaning in life. Liberated from the superstitions of the past, he doubts even the reality of his own existence. Superficially relaxed and tolerant, he finds little use ... Views: 2002
Substance Abuse has a Profound Impact on Sex
Sex and drugs always seems like a hot topic in the media and in nearly all social circles, but the reality of the situation is that sex and drugs can pose serious, lifelong consequences to those who engage in such behaviors simultaneously. There ... Views: 1992
Although each one of us has a body, it doesn’t mean that everyone feels that it is safe to be in their body. It might even sound confusing as to how this could be; especially as one’s body is a big part of who they are.
Instead of one being in their body, what they can end up doing is living ... Views: 1991
The headlines read: Eight Year-Old Kills Father and a Boarder. Was this tragedy preventable? If it is proven that the known causes of youth violence were there, it was entirely preventable. This is worse than a tragedy and it must be fixed.
Experts agree that most youth who become violent share ... Views: 1983
To be abused as a child is going to have the potential to cause all kinds of problems and these problems are unlikely to just end there. They could end up affecting this person for the rest of their adult life. And to what degree their adult life is affected will depend on many factors.
... Views: 1981
Personal growth and recovery from abuse is a journey. The journey we shall take commences at the point when one’s inner life begins, as a child, but not a living child, an inner-child, locked in time, forever orbiting in the universe within one’s head, and there is likely more than one such ... Views: 1974
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock…
Right. No time for hanging around today.
Lots to do, so let’s get organized.
First things first.
Make a list.
Now where’s my note pad. I know I left it here somewhere.
Isn’t it amazing how things just disappear around here?
I ... Views: 1974
Drug addiction and abuse can be prevented. Research has shown that prevention programs that involve families, schools, and communities can help reduce drug abuse. It is important for the youth and general public to understand the real risks of drug abuse and addiction. Community leaders must ... Views: 1974
Last year, a study reported that despite the improvement in women's lives, their happiness relative to men has declined since the '70s, when the reverse was true. This held true across racial and socio-economic lines in several industrialized countries. Women's happiness also declines with age. ... Views: 1970
Coping strategies are designed to keep the person alive and functioning. Some people call these strategies defense mechanisms or avoidance - some might even go as far as talking about denial. That's all very judgmental and I personally prefer coping strategies. Why you may ask? Because these ... Views: 1968
Patients afflicted with the Factitious Disorder colloquially known as “Munchausen Syndrome” seek to attract the attention of medical personnel by feigning or by self-inflicting serious illness or injury. “Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome” (Factitious Illness or Disorder by Proxy, or Imposed by ... Views: 1963
I would like to thank the men and women who took the time to share their personal stories and complete the survey questions for us. This was not a scientific survey. However the candid answers may help the reader who is going through the same type of emotions. (The questions and a small sampling ... Views: 1956
You are magnificent! In fact, you are absolutely a fabulous, unique, one-of-a-kind masterpiece, and you are priceless! Has anyone ever told you that? Beginning right now, at this very minute, I am asking you to begin saying this to yourself every day until you believe it. Why? Because it is the ... Views: 1947
ACOA DOUBLE BINDS - Either way we lose ourselves, to stay loyal to the family
If you’d like to know about double binds, go to pg. 10 of www.acoarecovery.com.
ACoAs have a terrible dilemma:
1. On the one hand we desperately want to be loved, acknowledged, seen, heard. We complain bitterly ... Views: 1947
More than once to date I have received an email from an abuser and not the abused. The question that must pop in to our heads is why? Why would someone of that ilk visit my web page? Is it not rubbing their noise in it? Are their reasons for being here pure? After much pondering, I have decided ... Views: 1946
When there has been abuse, sexual, physical, emotional and verbal it's tough to forgive, darn near impossible. I know because I've been in each of these situations, so I speak from my heart and soul, to yours, with love, respect and light.
The abuser went to prison for his actions. Well ... Views: 1930