Search Results for: narcissism

Stop Hating Yourself Once and For All

…her narcissism is an epidemic in our nation. Yet, I would argue that it is narcissism’s evil step-sister that is causing the most trouble in people’s lives. Self-hatred is something we may not often say out loud. We prefer softer-sounding terms, like “low self-esteem” or “poor self-image.” The reality is, much of the time we are downright hateful toward ourselves. Throughout a given day, we experience a barrage of sadistic thoughts so smoothly and…

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Building a Healthy Sense of Self

…ding the conditional aspects of self-esteem and the destructive effects of narcissism. Finally, she will describe how differentiating from negative overlays from one’s past can help a person challenge their anti-self in order to live free of imagined limitations and create their own sense of who they really are as well as who they seek to be. Learning Objectives: Apply techniques to identify and challenge destructive thinking and negative self-tal…

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Social Anxiety vs. Shyness: The Difference Between Social Anxiety and Shyness

…s. Reverse Narcissism Individuals with SAD experience what I call “reverse narcissism”. While those with narcissism have an inflated sense of self and direct the spotlight onto themselves, people with social anxiety have a deflated sense of self and avoid this illusory spotlight. Because SAD sufferers believe all attention is focused on them with ready criticisms toward any mistake made (real or imagined), they often exert much effort to avoid soc…

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4 Ways to Stop Sabotaging Yourself

…the spectrum of self-perception, from self-loathing to self-confidence to narcissism, every one of us is divided. Part of us is on our own side, goal directed and positive. However, part of us, a part my father psychologist Robert Firestone refers to as the “anti-self,” is against us. The anti-self is like an internal enemy that resides in our minds. It speaks to us through a series of self-critical, self-denying or even self-soothing thoughts kn…

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I Hate My Body: Dealing with Poor Body Image

In the age of selfies and social media, we hear a lot about the rise of narcissism in modern society. Yet, with this increased importance placed on appearance, we need equally worry about the epidemic of poor body image. A survey by Glamour Magazine found that 97 percent of women questioned had an “I hate my body” thought on an average day. Other studies have shown that young men are increasingly experiencing similar critical attitudes and pressu…

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The Dharma of Politics

…on to include Donald? It is easy to see Trump’s egocentrism and ‘malignant narcissism’. The destructive expression of those traits can be seen in his reactivity to insult (‘narcissistic injury’ ) as well as in his need to be superior at the expense of others: racism, misogyny, and bullying at the cultural level. My therapist self reminds me that underlying narcissism there is always a great unmet need to be loved. Trump is driven by his need to be…

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What’s Wrong with Needing to Be the Best

…ure we now put on ourselves to be special or great can lead to insecurity, narcissism and an actual decrease in our performance and abilities. New studies of perfectionism reveal a darker side to this typically positive-seeming quality. Most likely because of their high levels of stress and anxiety, perfectionists are 51 percent more likely to die at an earlier age. Other studies show that in some cases perfectionism can contribute to suicide risk…

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The Making of a Murderer

…fering from profound sadness, depression, despair, self-aggrandizement and narcissism.” We are all born with the neural architecture and ability to develop empathy and compassion, but for this to happen we need to have a series of positive experiences and to avoid a series of negative experiences. We must have prosocial interactions that help us to become adjusted and socialized. We also need to avoid severe, emotionally damaging events. Traumatic…

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Are You Swiping Right on Your Attachment Style?

…omen have inevitably turned out to be self-centred, mirroring his mother’s narcissism. And, mirroring his relationship with his mother, he desperately has tried to make them happy, showering them with gifts and attention. Eventually, he realizes that he is unfulfilled in the relationship and starts looking again. Another friend of mine says that she wants a long-term relationship, but she consistently makes online choices that clearly have no futu…

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low self-esteem

Low Self-Esteem: What Does it Mean to Lack Self-Esteem?

…l problems for individuals. While high levels self-esteem can be linked to narcissism (read more here). Low levels of self-esteem can be linked to social anxiety, lack of confidence, and depression. The healthiest type of self-esteem is moderate self-esteem that is based more on valuing one’s inherent worth as a person and less about comparing oneself to others. In this sense, if your goal is to develop more self-confidence, it is better to focus…

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