For narcissists, these mind games serve as tools to keep their partners off-balance, questioning their own sanity, and ultimately, more dependent on the narcissist for a sense of stability. By eroding their partner's self-esteem and confidence in their own perceptions, narcissists are able to maintain the upper hand in the relationship, always keeping their partner guessing and striving for their approval.

Mental health has long been a topic shrouded in stigma and shame. Throughout history, those struggling with mental illness have faced discrimination, social isolation, and even persecution. However, as our understanding of mental health has grown, so too has our acceptance and support for those dealing with these challenges.

Navigating Communication with a Narcissist: Understanding their Patterns and Motives and Strategies for Self-Protection

Effective communication is a crucial skill in both personal and professional life. It involves the clear exchange of thoughts, ideas, and feelings between individuals or groups. The best way to communicate depends on various factors, such as the context, audience, and purpose of the message. However, there are several strategies that can help you become a more effective communicator:

* On your first date, please meet at a public place, tell someone where you are going and who the date is with. Never get picked up at your home or dropped off at your home until you know this person.

Breaking a trauma bond often requires professional help who understand trauma, abuse, and trauma bonding and by friends, who are non-judgmental, validating, empathetic, and compassionate.

Anxiety affects millions of people worldwide. It can manifest and various forms from general anxiety to panic attacks. In this blog, I will explore what you can do when you’re feeling anxious, and how to support someone who is feeling anxiety.

It is helpful to be aware of both red flags that may warn you to proceed with caution and green flags that indicate a healthy potential relationship. Be mindful of how you feel and here are some common signs to watch for.

“Grief is a universal human experience that can greatly impact our lives and those around us. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a job, or a significant life change, grief can manifest in many ways and affect people in different ways, sometimes unexpected, like an emotional rollercoaster - with its ups and downs.”

As a society, it is important to acknowledge the impact of childhood roles in dysfunctional

families and provide resources for individuals to heal and grow.

Navigating the Holidays with a Narcissist

I have been blessed and had the privilege to have worked and volunteered as a hospice social worker for more than sixteen years. Patients and their families have allowed me to enter their homes at one of the most difficult and most vulnerable periods of their lives. They put trust in me and our team to care for them and we strived to do our best to make the patient and their loved ones physically comfortable and emotionally and spiritually at peace.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE- JUST BY USING YOUR WORDS. THIS IS HOW YOU SAVE LGBTQ+ YOUTH AND ADULTS.... BY PROVIDING LOVE…ACCEPTANCE…KINDNESS...SUPPORT...NON-JUDGEMENT...LISTENING AND HELPING THEM FEEL HEARD...USING PRONOUNS THE PERSON IDENTIFIES WITH...HELPING SOMEONE GAIN ACCESS TO RESOURCES...HELPING SOMEONE GAIN ACCESS TO GOOD MENTAL HEALTH ...BE AN ALLY...BE A FRIEND...DONT BE A BYSTANDER…STAND UP FOR SOMEONE WHO IS BEING BULLIED...SUPPORT LAWS TO PROTECT OUR LGBTQ+ YOUTH AND ADULTS. JUST BE A GOOD HUMAN.

According to the CDC, In 2020, in the United States:

*12.2 million adults (over 18) seriously thought about suicide. In addition, 3.2 million adults made a plan, and 1.2 million adults attempted suicide.

*45,979 people died by suicide, one death every 11 minutes.

*For every suicide death, four people of hospitalized for a suicide attempt, eight people visited the emergency room because of suicide, 27 people self-report suicide attempts, and 275 people "seriously considered suicide."

It can be devastating for all parties involved. Often, but not always, the grandchildren are estranged from their grandparents because of the estrangement of the parent and adult child. The person that desires a connection, often feels helpless, as they wait for the other person to connect. All parties are often suffering, though this blog focuses primarily on the person that has not made the decision to be alienated, I must recognize that the person that made that decision usually does so because they are feeling a myriad of emotions such as emotional pain, anger, or a need to protect themselves. There may be a history of abuse or history of alienation from the other parent since the adult child’s childhood.

Trauma affects our mental health, our physical health, our relationships, our self-esteem, and how we perceive and react to the world around us. Trauma responses such as fight, flight, and freeze, are our body’s way to protect ourselves from danger and keep us safe. So, our bodies are acting the way they are supposed to when they feel danger. The problem is that our bodies may think they are in a dangerous situation when there is none. So instead of looking at our trauma responses as dysfunctional, I see them as potentially functional but at the wrong time.