It is useful to identify the specific attitudes behind passive aggressive behavior: “I am right and not wrong.” “It’s never my fault.” “I want my way and I have a right to get it!” “It is your responsibility to give me what I want. When you fail, I have the
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Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger November 28, 2019
Ann came from a wealthy family in the suburbs. Behind the walls of her expensive home, her stock broker father was an abusive drunk. Her mother was a submissive victim. Her older brother was a sadist and her younger brother was a psychopath. As a child, Ann used her innate
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger November 28, 2019
Many people with clinical depression have tried an array of medication and still feel sick. Maybe they’ve tried different selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Maybe they’ve taken these antidepressants along with an antipsychotic (a common strategy to boost effectiveness). Either way, the lack of
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Shared by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., Contributing Blogger November 27, 2019
Anger is a healthy emotion in everybody’s life — when it’s expressed in an appropriate manner at the right time. Anger can help to energize and motivate us to work to address problems with another person or to change our life situation. However, there are potential negative consequences of anger when
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger November 24, 2019
Rejection, it’s what causes so many negative emotions from shyness, to depression, to anger and even despair. Rejection is never easy to accept. In matters of romance, rejection can do even more damage. When you are rejected by someone you deeply want, it can make you feel worthless, unwanted and
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger November 20, 2019
When you hold on to past hurt, you’re actually trying to relieve your pain by putting other people down and building yourself up. You may imagine that nursing old wounds is the way to be in control and prevent the humiliating exposure of your imperfections. You may even entertain vengeful
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger November 13, 2019
When we do not understand how to effectively deal with anger, we often choose coping methods that are harmful. Here are some unhealthy ways of coping with anger: • Putting anger down. We deny anger or repress it. Some of us like to keep our “nice person” image and not
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger November 5, 2019
Let me tell you about Mr. and Mrs. R, a couple I recently saw in my office. When they came in, they recounted an argument they’d had the previous Friday. They’d started the day in bed, cuddling and snuggling affectionately. But then Mr. R felt his wife resisting. He snapped
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger October 30, 2019
Accusing our loved one of being “overly sensitive” or having “no sense of humor” doesn’t change the fact that they are feeling pain because of something we have said or done. Guest blogger Stephanie Quattrocki shares her thoughts on the impact anger has on relationships and how to heal. “I
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger October 19, 2019
When we allow people to vent their feelings and bare their frustrations, we might feel that the conflict is just getting worse. Often we can benefit by staying with the conflict a little while longer. Reversing an old saying, we could be witnessing the storm before the calm. Once people
Read More Shared by Aaron Karmin, LCPC, Contributing Blogger October 10, 2019