Many years ago, when I was still in contact with my abusive family and seeking help from several mental health professionals, one psychologist in particular lit up with recognition when I described the situation. A family member had been previously diagnosed by another psychologist with “delusions of grandeur,” and even though the other family memberContinue reading “What ‘Drinking the Kool-Aid’ Really Means, And How To Avoid It”
Category Archives: toxic people
Recovery from the Pandemic Depends on How Safe We All Feel
We are collectively experiencing a traumatic event on a global scale. Some of us, because of past trauma, feel the effects more than others. All of us are impacted, to some degree. For some, this collective trauma may be a new experience. Some may notice that they feel more tired, less able to focus. PerhapsContinue reading “Recovery from the Pandemic Depends on How Safe We All Feel”
It’s Mothers Day, and All I Want is to Grieve
I dread Mothers Day, and the weeks leading up to it. Around the first of May, it begins. That uncomfortable feeling that swells up in me whenever I see some flowery advertisement featuring happily bonded mothers and daughters posed in their soft-focus, perfectly lit scenes of domestic life. But it’s so much more than theContinue reading “It’s Mothers Day, and All I Want is to Grieve”
Hey, HR: If You Want a Productive Workplace, Maybe Stop Advertising for Psychopaths?
Dear Human Resources Department, Your work culture is toxic. How do I know? Almost inevitably, your advertised job opening goes something like this: “Fast-paced company seeks flexible, self-starting multitasker with strong attention to detail who thrives in a chaotic environment.” Let me stop you right there, HR person, because what you advertise is not aContinue reading “Hey, HR: If You Want a Productive Workplace, Maybe Stop Advertising for Psychopaths?”
