Tag Archives: low self-esteem

Dependent Personality Disorder: Difficulties in Relationships

Posted on by

Apart from the pain and anxiety that a sufferer of Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD) suffers on a daily basis, there are also considerable interpersonal problems that accompany this disorder. For family and friends, there is a constant need for reassurance and approval required that can lead to frustration and even rejection of the sufferer. Rejection by others is greatly feared by sufferers; ironically it is their need for support and constant reassurance that either causes arguments or actually drives people away. Both are fearful results for the sufferer. The constant changing of the mind and continual requests for advice are … Continue reading →

Oh, That Low Self-Esteem Demon!

I was talking recently with a couple friends and they were trying to figure out what makes “some people” do the things they do—go back with abusive spouses, get involved with “married” people, work at un-stimulating, low-paying jobs, etc. and I felt like I was reminding them of the obvious when I quietly said: “Don’t you think that we get into a cycle of low self-esteem and we just can’t see the forest for the trees? We can’t believe that we actually deserve better than what we are settling for…” Surely single parents do not have the market cornered on … Continue reading →

Stop talking dirty to yourself!

In Do you indulge in Stinkin’ Thinking, we looked at all the ways we tie ourselves up in knots by the way we think. Today we look at how to go about untying those knots, so that we can let go of self-limiting thoughts and behaviors and get on with our lives. • Identify negative thoughts Write them down so that you get them out of your head and down on paper where you can actually scrutinize them more carefully. Just seeing your thoughts written down can be the first step in recognizing them for what they mostly are: lies … Continue reading →

Do you indulge in “Stinkin’ Thinking”?

Stinkin’ Thinkin’, otherwise known as thinking negative thoughts, is a common but unhelpful pastime. Imagine all the extra energy and creativity we could muster if we weren’t bogged down by thoughts of doom and gloom. Let’s have a look at some of the most common forms of “Stinkin’ Thinking.” • Black-and-white thinking In this form of self torture, everything is either black or white, good or bad. Common examples include: “It’s really bad that we didn’t get that house at auction.” Yes, it might be disappointing that you couldn’t afford the house, but another house will come up, and it … Continue reading →

Dealing with negative people

Do you know someone who never has a good thing to say about anything or anybody? Nothing ever seems right for these people; the weather is either too hot or too cold, or they complain that others are never doing the right thing. Over time these people can really bring you down. Yet we may be forced to deal with them on a regular basis. They may be friends, work colleagues, or family members. What can we do to reduce the impact that interactions with these people can have on us? Ethel was known by all her neighbors as “Mrs. … Continue reading →

What is Borderline Personality Disorder?

Although this disorder has a high profile, particularly in the media, there is often confusion about what this condition really is. As it is one of the most common of the personality disorders, manifesting in roughly 15% of the population, let’s firstly investigate some of the classic symptoms of borderline personality disorder. We’ll start by having a look at the typical lifestyle of Lila, aged 39, who was diagnosed in her late teens with Borderline Personality Disorder. Lila leads a tumultuous life. There always seems to be some drama happening that is causing her distress, but on closer inspection, an … Continue reading →

Depression in children and adolescents

In Depression in babies and young infants we looked at how symptoms of depression can develop in babies as young as three months. In today’s article, we will look at the occurrence and signs of depression in children of elementary school age as well as the teenage years. Estimates on the occurrence of depressive states in children and adolescents fluctuate from study to study, so it is hard to get a handle on a percentage value of the number of clinically depressed individuals in this age group. However, research has illuminated one fact: depression is less frequent in children than … Continue reading →