MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'dysfunctional'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:31:54 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5131058&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fchildren-of-dysfunctional-parents%2F Recently I published an article about Children of Hoarders an issue I was unaware of until I accidentaly stumbled upon their website. There was a large response to this article. It seems there are similarities between Children of Hoarders and Children of Alcoholism (ACOA). It highlighted my need to become aware of other groups of children with similar problems. Are there other similar ‘children of ……….’ conditions? Does the same pattern of psychological illness appear in these children of ……..? Do some of these children become codependent? Some that I can think of are children of …; Drug addicts Compulsive gamblers Mental health sufferers Sex addicts Workaholics Religious sects I’m particularly interested in self-help, mutual-help type groups or organisations as well as... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5131058 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 08:43:36 +0100 5131058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4724270&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Faffirmations-for-recovery%2F On Becoming Your Own Loving ParentAffirmations to be Repeated Each DayThese affirmations apply to recovering addicts, alcoholics, co-dependents, adult children of alcoholics / addicts and anyone working for recovery from a dysfunctional upbringing.Affirmations with other recovery program work are a powerful tool for addressing our critical nature toward ourselves and others. These affirmations represent the basic truths that most of us did not receive as children, but we can claim as adults. Read these affirmations out loud for several weeks.  You may also write down some of them and post them where you can read them. With affirmations, we begin to change our inner Critical Parent.  We learn to give ourselves a break.It is okay to know who I am.It is okay to trust ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4724270 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:32:00 +0100 4724270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305110&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-promises-of-acoa-recovery%2F Image via WikipediaAdult Children of Alcoholics is an anonymous Twelve Step, Twelve Tradition program of women and men who grew up in an environment of addictiveness (alcohol or other substances) or in other-wise dysfunctional homes. Our willingness and resiliency bring us together.We share our experience, strength, and hope to validate our experience as well as give some hope to the new member. We take positive action in our lives today. By practicing the Twelve Steps, focusing on “The Solution”, and accepting a loving Higher Power of our own understanding, we find freedom from the past and a way to improve our lives.These are The Promises of ACoA RecoveryWe will discover our real identities by loving and accepting ourselves.Our self-esteem will increase as we give ourselves approval ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305110 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 03:46:55 +0100 4305110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4143021&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fwhat-is-acoa-co-dependency-2%2F You can talk to a dozen experts, read a dozen books and get a dozen different interpretations of ACOA co-dependency.   Many accept it as a disease in as much as it has an onset, is progressive, predictable and in time potentially fatal, although other causes of death are generally cited.   It is assumed that all Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA’s) are co-dependents, but we each act out this illness in a different way.  Basically, there are two general concepts: As children growing up in an alcoholic or dysfunctional home environment, we learned to hide or divorce our feelings, our true selves (also knows as the "Inner Child") and we adopted a survival role in order to cope with the stresses.   The experts in the field of alcoholism have ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4143021 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:37:06 +0100 4143021 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4098058&cid=t_170374_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F21%2Fbefore-you-burn-out-%25e2%2580%2593-cbt-for-the-therapist-a-conversation-with-dr-john-ludgate%2F Do you ever wonder about how your therapist does it? If you are a therapist, do you ever have a day when it takes everything in you not to reach over and slap your patient silly? Or raise a white flag in defeat? Occasionally people ask me, “How do you listen to peoples’ problems all day long without becoming depressed yourself?” The answer is the same for whatever the job is: we need to pay attention to balance. I do my best to balance the hours I dedicate to work, for family time, and for just plain old time off and play. But to be perfectly honest, there are those days when I find myself severely stressed out. It could be I’ve over-booked myself too many days in a row, or had a series of challenging sessions or maybe just one person I wonder if I’m really he... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4098058 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:46:51 +0100 4098058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060551&cid=t_170374_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fdramatic-or-dull-10-tv-relationships-were-glad-were-not-in%2F Watching TV is such an ego boost. Look at all the crazy relationships they’ve got going on inside that small screen! Sure, the characters have perfect teeth, expertly maintained figures, and shelter-magazine-worthy homes. And of course we’re jealous of all that. But we sure as hell don’t envy their romantic situations, whether they’re as dull as a doorknob or as dramatic as a David Mamet monologue. However, they’re all addictively fun to watch, because they make us feel better and superior about our own lives and relationships. (Thank you, tee-vee.) Yes, we know it’s just acting (and sometimes bad acting at that, Brothers & Sisters and Parenthood), but we’d like you to meet 10 TV relationships we’re thankful we’re not having. ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060551 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:20:04 +0100 4060551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946694&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdefinition-of-codependency%2F Codependency is a condition that results in a dysfunctional relationship between the codependent and other people.  A codependent is addicted to helping someone. They need to be needed.  Enabling This addiction is sometimes so strong, the codependent will cause the other person to continue to be needy.  This behavior is called enabling.  The enabler will purposefully overlook someone abusing a child, will call in sick for someone suffering from addiction, will put roadblocks to prevent their child from becoming independent, or even keep a sick family member from getting the treatment that would make them well.  These are behaviors common to codependents.  A codependent often suffers from a ‘Messiah Complex’ where he sees problems with everyone ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946694 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:10:00 +0100 3946694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3876898&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fadult-children-of-alcoholics-can-practice-being-normal-2%2F “Sometimes I feel like I was raised by wolves,” sighed James, a 55-year-old man who grew up in a home with two alcoholic parents. "I know what it is to be codependent. I’ve gone through so much of my life guessing at what ‘normal’ is. It’s like trying to find your way through a dark woods without a compass.” According to Rosemary Hartman reactions like James’ are typical for people who grew up in dysfunctional families. But acknowledging that there were issues that deeply affected the whole family system is an important first step toward emotional and spiritual healing. Hartman said this acknowledgment frequently happens when adults have their own children. “They want to be good parents, but struggle with how to do it. They have some notions that are guided by prin... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3876898 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:57:00 +0100 3876898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3786273&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FWFi3vr4CYkc%2F Styles of Distorted Thinking Throughout addictive / alcoholic / codependent living one tends to pick up dysfunctional styles of thinking to cope with every day life. Using them often ends in some sort of confrontation. These are some that many have noticed. They are born out of anger, anxiety and denial; or just plain damaged thinking. Filtering: You take the negative details and magnify them while filtering out all the positive aspects of a situation. Polarized Thinking: Things are black or white, good or bad. You have to be perfect or you are a failure. There is no middle ground. Over-generalization: You come to a general conclusion based on a single incident or piece of evidence. If something bad happens once you expect it to happen over and over again. (If something good happens it is... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3786273 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:19:01 +0100 3786273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726785&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsex-and-healthy-relationships-in-recovery-2%2F This article will give many people in recovery food for thought. What is a healthy relationship and how does sex fit in? In the simplest terms, a healthy relationship is one that makes you feel good about yourself and your partner. Not only do you enjoy being together, but you can express your true self, and allow your partner to do the same. All relationships are different, of course, but healthy ones have at least five important qualities in common. The acronym S.H.A.R.E. can help you remember these qualities. Safety: In a healthy relationship you feel safe. You don’t worry that your partner will harm you physically or emotionally, and you don’t feel inclined to use physical or emotional violence against your partner. You can try new things (such as taking a night class)... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726785 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:23:59 +0100 3726785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714450&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fawakening-your-sexuality%2F – A Recovery Book With candor and compassion, Stephanie Covington reminds us that recovery is about living life fully and completely and sexual recovery is integral to the fullness of your life. With comprehensive scope and individual focus, she addresses the following questions: How is women’s sexuality shaped by a male-based society? How do dysfunctional families influence a woman’s sexuality? What did the sexual revolution do for women? How are women affected by alcohol, drugs, and AIDS? What is the connection between sexuality and spirituality? How can recovery groups address sexual issues? Most important, Awakening Your Sexuality gives women the tools to process their sexual histories, understand their sexual selves, and create the sexual lives they want. C... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714450 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:26:00 +0100 3714450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3707006&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Finjured-fantasies%2F Many people have dysfunctional beliefs. Not all of these are in one person but if there is a great many then that person may be dysfunctional. Alcoholics, addicts, codependents and Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA’s) may identify. Some of these dysfunctional beliefs are; That I can control my emotions. That I can control someone else’s emotions or actions or thoughts. That I deserve: . . .to get something good. . . .to get something bad. . . .to be punished for mistakes. . . .to be rewarded for perfection. . . .to be rewarded for good behaviour, intentions, thoughts, feelings, whatever. That I can "make" sense out of anything. That I am responsible for . . .for achieving other peoples success. . . .for other people’s feelings, thoughts... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3707006 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:53:21 +0100 3707006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560505&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FhGdGEkPS9Hk%2F A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehaviour and even abuse on the part of individual members of the family occur continually, leading other members to accommodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangement is normal. Dysfunctional families are often a result of the alcoholism, substance abuse, or other addictions of parents, parents’ untreated mental illnesses/defects or personality disorders, or the parents emulating their own dysfunctional parents and dysfunctional family experiences. Behavior patterns Dysfunctional family members have common symptoms and behavior patterns as a result of their common experiences within the family structure. This tends to reinforce the dysfunctional behavior, either t... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560505 Wed, 12 May 2010 21:07:41 +0100 3560505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3480940&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FUwBtgHpK-EA%2F Adult Children A recovery book for people outside alcoholic or addictive families. It is estimated that millions of people have grown up in alcoholic homes. But what about the rest of us? What about families that had no alcoholism, but did have perfectionism, workaholism, compulsive overeating, intimacy problems, depression, problems in expressing feelings, plus all the other personality traits that can produce a family system much like an alcoholic one? Countless millions of us struggle with these kinds of dysfunctions every day, and until very recently we struggled alone. Pulling together both theory and clinical practice, John and Linda Friel provide a readable explanation of what happened to us and how we can rectify it. - Order Today >> Adult Children of Dysfunctional Famil... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3480940 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 09:28:27 +0100 3480940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3454207&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fadult-children-of-alcoholics-can-practice-being-normal%2F Don't let the trust stop at birth “Sometimes I feel like I was raised by wolves,” sighed James, a 55-year-old man who grew up in a home with two alcoholic parents. “I know what it is to be codependent. I’ve gone through so much of my life guessing at what ‘normal’ is. It’s like trying to find your way through a dark woods without a compass.” According to Rosemary Hartman, supervisor of the Hazelden Family Program, reactions like James’ are typical for people who grew up in dysfunctional families. But acknowledging that there were issues that deeply affected the whole family system is an important first step toward emotional and spiritual healing. Hartman said this acknowledgment frequently happens when adults have their own children. “They want to be good parent... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3454207 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:25:00 +0100 3454207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3441067&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FUBRQnJKXiWM%2F In dysfunctional families, parents violate the boundaries of their children. Parents from these families; do not respect their children’s personal freedom and privacy, they discount their children’s feelings, do not honor their attempts at independent thinking and decision-making, and do not allow them to experience their impulses toward creativity, spirituality and self actualization. These deficits in the children’s development are revisited by problems in their adult relationships and careers, and with raising their own families. When parents disrespect a child’s boundaries, the child’s sense of self are compromised. This affects their; sense of autonomy, self-respect, feelings of effectiveness and making a difference. In place of a healthy sen... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3441067 Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:21:41 +0100 3441067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3385559&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FZdP47jjnadU%2F Recently I published an article about Children of Hoarders an issue I was unaware of until I accidentaly stumbled upon their website. There was a large response to this article. It seems there are similarities between Children of Hoarders and Children of Alcoholism (ACOA). It highlighted my need to become aware of other groups of children with similar problems. Are there other similar ‘children of ……….’ conditions? Does the same pattern of psychological illness appear in these children of ……..? Do some of these children become codependent? Some that I can think of are children of …; Drug addicts Compulsive gamblers Mental health sufferers Sex addicts Workaholics Religious sects I’m particularly interested in self-help, mutual-help type groups or organisations as well as... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3385559 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:23:00 +0100 3385559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3359226&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FOnt7PdMLEf8%2F ACOA's Adult Children of Alcoholics Ten years ago, Janet Woititz broke new ground in our understanding of what it is to be an Adult Child of an Alcoholic, sometimes called codependency. Today she re-examines the movement and its inclusion of Adult Children from various dysfunctional family backgrounds who share the same characteristics. After more than ten years of working with ACoAs she shares the recovery hints that she has found to work. Read Adult Children of Alcoholics to see where the journey began and for ideas on where to go from here. - Order Today >> Adult Children of Alcoholics (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3359226 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:20:00 +0100 3359226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346727&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FXf_-89VLmVU%2F Codependents sometimes feel trapped behind frosted glass Co-Victims of Alcoholism, some times called codependency Many of us found that we had several characteristics in common as a result of being brought up in an alcoholic or other dysfunctional households. We had come to feel isolated, and uneasy with other people, especially authority figures. To protect ourselves, we became people pleasers, even though we lost our own identities in the process. All the same we would mistake any personal criticism as a threat. We either became alcoholics ourselves, married them, or both. Failing that, we found other compulsive personalities, such as a workaholic, to fulfil our sick need for abandonment. We lived live from the standpoint of victims. Having an over developed sense of responsibility, we p... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346727 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:35:36 +0100 3346727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267207&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F8lWnTrijfao%2F Which letterbox has a dysfunctional family Growing up in an alcoholic family “Sometimes I feel like I was raised by wolves,” sighed James, a 55-year-old man who grew up in a home with two alcoholic parents. “I’ve gone through so much of my life guessing at what ‘normal’ is. It’s like trying to find your way through a dark woods without a compass.” According to Rosemary Hartman reactions like James’ are typical for people who grew up in dysfunctional families. But acknowledging that there were issues that deeply affected the whole family system is an important first step toward emotional and spiritual healing. Hartman said this acknowledgment frequently happens when adults have their own children. “They want to be good parents, but struggle with how to do it. They have s... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267207 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:32:33 +0100 3267207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3228013&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fco-dependent-defence-behaviours%2F Some behaviours seem to have us locked into unbreakable patterns Psychological and emotional defence mechanisms are used by all human beings and may be necessary for survival in some situations. However, people from dysfunctional families (co-dependents, adult children of alcoholics for example) may have developed defence behaviours that are increasingly dysfunctional. When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.- Alexander Graham Bell We’ve all used defences to distance ourselves from distressing feelings and maintain a sense of emotional stability. Our defence patterns began in childhood when they prevented us from becoming overwhelmed with anxiety. However, as an adult we o... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3228013 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:29:34 +0100 3228013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3208699&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fwhat-is-acoa-co-dependency%2F ACOA's often feel frozen in relationships You can talk to a dozen experts, read a dozen books and get a dozen different interpretations of ACOA co-dependency. Many accept it as a disease in as much as it has an onset, is progressive, predictable and in time is potentially fatal, although other causes of death are generally cited. It is assumed that all Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA’s) are co-dependents, but we each act out this illness in a different way.  Basically, there are two general concepts: As children growing up in an alcoholic or dysfunctional home environment, we learned to hide or divorce our feelings, our true selves (also knows as the “Inner Child”) and we adopted a survival role in order to cope with the stresses. The experts in the field of alcohol... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3208699 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:38:19 +0100 3208699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3182376&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FeK2YrNIPO7k%2F People can be isolated by dysfunctional beliefs People can have many dysfunctional beliefs. Not all of these are in any one person but if there is many then that person may be dysfunctional. Alcoholics, addicts, co-dependents and Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA’s) may identify. Some of these dysfunctional beliefs are; That I can control my emotions. That I can control someone else’s emotions or actions or thoughts. That I deserve: . . .to get something good. . . .to get something bad. . . .to be punished for mistakes. . . .to be rewarded for perfection. . . .to be rewarded for good behaviour, intentions, thoughts, feelings, whatever. That I can “make” sense out of anything. That I am responsible for . . .for achieving other peoples success. . . .for other people&#82... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3182376 Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:59:25 +0100 3182376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3136725&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FB-hnq6ziJDQ%2F Characteristics of Functional and Dysfunctional Couples Dysfunctional: Being together and unhappy is safer than being alone. Functional: Being together brings us joy and happiness. Dysfunctional: It is safer to be with other people than it is to be alone and intimate with our partner. Functional: Being alone and intimate with our partner is as safe as being with other [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3136725 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:45:16 +0100 3136725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3126799&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdysfunctional-families%2F Dysfunctional families maintain a false facade in public Dysfunctional Families; Types, Symptoms and Effect on Children A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehaviour and even abuse on the part of individual members of the family occur continually, leading other members to accommodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangement is normal. Dysfunctional families are most often a result of the alcoholism, substance abuse, or other addictions of parents, parents’ untreated mental illnesses/defects or personality disorders, or the parents emulating their own dysfunctional parents and dysfunctional family experiences. Behavior patterns Dysfunctional family members have common symptoms and behavior patterns as a ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3126799 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:03:22 +0100 3126799 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089344&cid=t_170374_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F15%2Fwhat-makes-a-family-functional-vs-dysfunctional%2F The other day I was responding to someone who was dreading the holidays with her ‘dysfunctional family’ (her words). It got me thinking about that word, dysfunctional, and how it implies that there is an opposite, functional, family somewhere. What does that look like? Is it a Perfect Family? Some Stepford-like pod of people who never fight, are always neat and smiling? Yeesh! That sounds horrible. In fact it sounds downright dysfunctional! So what is a functional family? How do we know if we have one? How would you define a functional family? The study of family dynamics, family therapy and treatment are complex and a whole field of psychology in itself. While I don’t have all the answers, I do have some thoughts. These impressions come as much from my experience as from... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089344 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:30:58 +0100 3089344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3079592&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsex-and-healthy-relationships-in-recovery%2F This article will give many people in recovery food for thought. What is a healthy relationship and how does sex fit in? In the simplest terms, a healthy relationship is one that makes you feel good about yourself and [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3079592 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:39:00 +0100 3079592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3029867&cid=t_170374_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F26%2Fhappy-thanksgiving-2009%2F It’s the last Thursday of November, and here in the States, that means our annual rite of giving thanks to our forefathers for “finding” America and making this a home for all of the outcasts in the world (e.g., “your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”). So Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. So it seems like a good time, as I’ve done in years past, to thank you, our loyal and thoughtful readers, for helping make Psych Central the great independent mental health resource it is today. Without you, there wouldn’t be much point in writing and publishing every day to bring you new insights and perspectives on mental health and psychology. I want to especially thank our members, too, who make our site a special and safe place to get support... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3029867 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:55:06 +0100 3029867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1242154&cid=t_170374_151_f&fid=36047&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FADozenSteps%2F%7E3%2F237597264%2F I can… I lived this also. Many of “us” have. Many of us found that we had several characteristics in common as a result of being brought up in an alcoholic or other dysfunctional households. We had come to feel isolated, and uneasy with other people, especially authority figures. To protect ourselves, we became people pleasers, even though we lost our own identities in the process. All the same we would mistake any personal criticism as a threat. We either became alcoholics ourselves, married them, or both. Failing that, we found other compulsive personalities, such as a workaholic, to fulfill our sick need for abandonment. We lived live from the standpoint of victims. Having an over developed sense of responsibility, we preferred to be concerned with others rather than ... A Dozen Steps blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1242154 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:40:05 +0100 1242154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1131741&cid=t_170374_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F211779382%2Fcost_of_new_yorks_dysfunctiona.html Today’s Democrat and Chronicle affirmed why New York business leaders should be concerned about numbers in 2008.In an article titled … New York's Numbers are Numbing … Jay Gallagher quotes stats from the Public Policy Institute:1. State-local tax burden: $5,260 average per person, highest in the country, and 53 percent above the national average.2. Private-sector employment growth, 1996-2006: 9 percent, 40th out of the 50 states. The national average was 14 percent.3. Manufacturing jobs: Dropped almost 29 percent between 1996 and 2006, a bigger drop than all states except North Carolina and Rhode Island.4.  Cost of doing business (measures wages, taxes, electricity and real estate): Second to Hawaii and 30.7 percent above the national average.5.  Average p... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1131741 Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:18:52 +0100 1131741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=908757&cid=t_170374_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F162025932%2Fbrains_under_pressure.html A fine colleague of mine just resigned from several boards ... and cut back on work hours. His doctor warned that stress has spiked his blood pressure to life threatening levels. Have you seen it happen? Long boring meetings … dysfunctional supervisors … demanding workloads … poor pay … workplace bullies ... too few staff … or workplace politics. Some people keep their cool as if candid cameras followed them around the workplace … while mental pressure cookers steam inside for others. What determines your panicked or  peaceful reactions?Or, why do you counter problems with wit and wisdom one day, but respond with fire and brimstone the next? Interestingly … your brain’s fueled by chemicals that influence how you cope with &he... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=908757 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:03:36 +0100 908757