The Overwhelmed Brain

Emotional Intelligence for Better Relationships

Stop Justifying Your Poisonous Beliefs – The Curse of Denial

How many times in your life has something happened that was so hard to believe, that it actually hurt to believe it? You know what I mean… it’s that truth you don’t want to hear. It’s like the people who can’t believe the holocaust happened because it was just so atrocious. Or, like the email I got from a woman who found out her husband is cheating on her. It’s very hard to accept a truth that hurts us, but if we don’t, we systematically destroy ourselves.

Denial is the topic for the day.  [Read more…]

Closing the Past to Open the Future: Thoughts You Can’t Let Go

When you have negative thoughts and emotions floating around in your head more often than not, the choices you make going forward in life are going to be influenced.

After all, whatever is swimming around in your head at the time of a decision is what typically affects that decision. If you are carrying around old baggage, it’s time to drop those emotional bags off so that you can create a future without fears or worry. [Read more…]

Codependency: The Subtle Erosion of Love and Connection

Codependence is when two or more people fulfill a need for each other that strengthens a dysfunction between them.

You’ll often see this kind of dynamic between several different types of people:

  • The Rescuer and the Addict
  • The People-Pleaser and the Abuser
  • The Highly Sensitive and the Insensitive

There are many more types and they all have a complimentary nature to them. Recognizing them is usually fairly easy as well. Just look for someone who seems to give a lot to the relationship but never receives enough. Toxic relationships such as this almost always build resentment because the giver becomes tires of always trying to satisfy the needs of the taker. 

It’s the perfect imbalance of love and energy.

No matter what type of codependent relationship it is, the theme is usually the same: The dysfunctional behavior of one person supports the dysfunctional behavior of another.

(after you read this article, be sure to tune into the Love and Abuse podcast for more on unhealthy relationship behaviors)
[Read more…]

The Manipulative Man: Are You a Manipulative Person?

The Manipulative ManDr. Dorothy McCoy wrote the book, The Manipulative Man, which helps us identify the traits and characteristics of manipulative people. Are you a manipulative person? Do you know a psychopath? Would you know it if you worked, or lived, with one?

Dr. McCoy reveals how clever manipulative people are at influencing us, to the point that we think we’re crazy! Find out what it takes to be a manipulative person, and how you may actually have a hand in causing their behavior to continue. [Read more…]