Personality disorders A personality disorder is a type of mental disorder in which you have a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving. A person with a personality disorder has trouble perceiving and relating to situations and to people. This causes significant problems and limitations in relationships, social encounters, work and school. In some cases, you may not realize that you have a personality disorder because your way of thinking and behaving seems natural to you. And you may blame others for the challenges you face. Personality disorders usually begin in the teenage years or early adulthood. SymptomsJan. 31, 2014 References Personality disorders.
Schizophrenia.com, Indepth Schizophrenia Information and Support Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Symptoms, Treatment and Self-Help What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop following a traumatic event that threatens your safety or makes you feel helpless. Most people associate PTSD with battle-scarred soldiers—and military combat is the most common cause in men—but any overwhelming life experience can trigger PTSD, especially if the event feels unpredictable and uncontrollable. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect those who personally experience the catastrophe, those who witness it, and those who pick up the pieces afterwards, including emergency workers and law enforcement officers. PTSD develops differently from person to person. Traumatic events that can lead to PTSD include: The difference between PTSD and a normal response to trauma The traumatic events that lead to post-traumatic stress disorder are usually so overwhelming and frightening that they would upset anyone. For most people, however, these symptoms are short-lived. Related Articles
8 Things Everybody Ought to Know About Concentrating “Music helps me concentrate,” Mike said to me glancing briefly over his shoulder. Mike was in his room writing a paper for his U.S. History class. On his desk next to his computer sat crunched Red Bulls, empty Gatorade bottles, some extra pocket change and scattered pieces of paper. Mike made a shift about every thirty seconds between all of the above. Do you know a person like this? The Science Behind Concentration In the above account, Mike’s obviously stuck in a routine that many of us may have found ourselves in, yet in the moment we feel it’s almost an impossible routine to get out of. When we constantly multitask to get things done, we’re not multitasking, we’re rapidly shifting our attention. Phase 1: Blood Rush Alert When Mike decides to start writing his History essay, blood rushes to his anterior prefrontal cortex. Phase 2: Find and Execute Phase 3: Disengagement While in this state, Mike then hears an email notification. The process repeats itself sequentially. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Why Criticism Is So Hard to Take (Part 2) This post (going beyond Part 1 ) offers additional bulleted explanations to help account for the almost universal susceptibility to criticism. At the same time, it suggests ways to gradually become less sensitive to the negative judgment of others. • When we're unfavorably evaluated or disagreed with, we can experience such discord almost as a put-down. Negatively sensitized to criticism, we may respond as though we were told (in so many words) that we were bad, ugly, or stupid. In such instances, the hurt child within us--never fully healed from the wound of early, and quite possibly excessive, parental criticism--is likely to bleed anew. • Criticism, even well-intended criticism, can be understood as a direct assault on our ego. Additionally, for those of us who are particularly insecure about how others see them--and therefore sensitive to the slightest hint of criticism--even a well-meaning can feel threatening.
10 Laws of Productivity You might think that creatives as diverse as Internet entrepreneur Jack Dorsey, industrial design firm Studio 7.5, and bestselling Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami would have little in common. In fact, the tenets that guide how they – and exceptionally productive creatives across the board – make ideas happen are incredibly similar. Here are 10 laws of productivity we’ve consistently observed among serial idea executors: 1. A bias toward action is the most common trait we’ve found across the hundreds of creative professionals and entrepreneurs we’ve interviewed. 2. When our ideas are still in our head, we tend to think big, blue sky concepts. 3. Trial and error is an essential part of any creative’s life. To avoid ‘blue sky paralysis,’ pare your idea down to a small, immediately executable concept. 4. When working on in-depth projects, we generate lots of new ideas along the way. 5. 6. Part of being able to work on your project a little bit each day is carving out the time to do so. 7.
Why Criticism Is So Hard to Take (Part 1) Very few people can take criticism graciously. For most of us, being criticized is uncomfortable at best--de-stabilizing (or even devastating) at worst. The ability to take criticism in stride, it seems, is almost universally elusive. We all need to feel good about ourselves, so the moment someone judges us negatively any doubts we may yet have about ourselves can immediately catapult to the surface. And, to be ruthlessly honest, which one of us harbor certain deep-seated doubts about our worth, goodness, competence, or attractiveness? Of course, there's some relativity in all this. Bulleted below are explanations as to why almost all of us are susceptible to criticism. Nonetheless, it will be useful here to describe some of the reasons that criticism can so easily elicit a defensive reaction. • Chances are that as a child you were frequently (maybe even incessantly) criticized by your caretakers.
Understanding the 10 Most Destructive Human Behaviors by Live Science Staff | May 13, 2011 12:25pm ET Credit: © Fernando Gregory | Dreamstime.com Compared with most animals, we humans engage in a host of behaviors that are destructive to our own kind and to ourselves. We lie, cheat and steal, carve ornamentations into our own bodies, stress out and kill ourselves, and of course kill others. Science has provided much insight into why an intelligent species seems so nasty, spiteful, self-destructive and hurtful. Author Bio Live Science Staff For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. Live Science Staff on
How to Stop Worrying: Self-Help for Anxiety Relief Why is it so hard to stop worrying? Constant worrying takes a heavy toll. It keeps you up at night and makes you tense and edgy during the day. You hate feeling like a nervous wreck. So why is it so difficult to stop worrying? For most chronic worriers, the anxious thoughts are fueled by the beliefs—both negative and positive—they hold about worrying. On the negative side, you may believe that your constant worrying is harmful, that it’s going to drive you crazy or affect your physical health. On the positive side, you may believe that your worrying helps you avoid bad things, prevents problems, prepares you for the worst, or leads to solutions. Negative beliefs, or worrying about worrying, add to your anxiety and keep worry going. Why you keep worrying You have mixed feelings about your worries. Maybe I'll find a solution. You have a hard time giving up on your worries because, in a sense, your worries have been working for you. Worry and anxiety self-help tip #1: Create a worry period
How To Overcome a Bad Night's Sleep The holidays are exciting - and sleep depriving. Gaze in a mirror and you probably don't see a perfect sleeper. In Gallup polls, perhaps 5% of the population says they sleep well every night. Yet lots of people have bad nights, with perhaps one third of Americans complaining of insomnia that goes on and on and on. But many people don't have prolonged insomnia - just periods where they sleep badly, for one night or a few. They often feel lousy the next day - and worry insomnia might get worse. So here's a few techniques to help overcome a bad night's sleep: A. So : Find a comfortable place to lie down. Next, use some kind of timer - whether from a cell phone, a watch, a computer or just a plain old kitchen timer. B After a bad night people often feel lethargic. C. . If your job chains you to a desk, explain you have to use the facilities. . D. How much tea or coffee to drink? Most of us can overcome brief sleep deficits (long term ones is a whole other story.) And please, .
How to Begin Rebuilding Trust - The Anxiety Support Network E-mail this page to a friend As social anxiety sufferers, and probably for all anxiety sufferers to some degree, we lack a basic human value which most people enjoy: the ability to trust others. Lacking trust is one of the main reasons that we have anxiety. For example, we become anxious and fearful of what others may think of us should we attempt to tell a joke. For those with social anxiety disorder, it is completely reasonable that their trust in others is lacking because they have large amounts of personal experience demonstrating that it is not okay to trust others. Because of this basic lack of trust, life becomes very miserable for the person with social anxiety disorder. The only way to start rebuilding trust is to begin taking risks and trusting others with small things. Overall, this is the general outline you might use in order to begin rebuilding trust in people. <a href="
Stress Management: How to Reduce, Prevent, and Cope with Stress Identify the sources of stress in your life Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sure, you may know that you’re constantly worried about work deadlines. But maybe it’s your procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that leads to deadline stress. To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses: Do you explain away stress as temporary (“I just have a million things going on right now”) even though you can’t remember the last time you took a breather? Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control. Start a Stress Journal A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way you deal with them.