Personality Disorders in the Cluster B

Personality Disorders in the Cluster B. The DSM-IV-TR (2000) defines Personality Disorders in the Cluster BA as an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates from the expectations of the culture. There are ten distinct personality disorders in the DSM (Paranoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-compulsive) and one catch-all category, Personality Disorders NOS (Not Otherwise Specified). Clusters are not valid theoretical constructs and have never been rigorously tested or verified. Cluster B includes Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, and Schizotypal Personality Disorder. Borderline is characterized by emotional lability, self-image is volatile, self-worth is erratic, affect is unpredictable, and impulse control is impaired.

Narcissistic and Antisocial are characterized by fantasies of grandiosity, brilliance, perfection, and power. Histrionic is characterized by a desire for attention, but it is usually limited to sexual conquests and displays of the histrionic's ability to seduce others.

A personality disorder is defined as "an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individuals culture (and is manifested in two or more of his or her areas of mental life:) cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning, or impulse control," according to the DSM-IV-TR (2000).

A pattern like this is rigid, long-term (stable), and recurring. It appears in all aspects of life (it is pervasive). It is not the result of substance abuse or a medical condition (such as head trauma). It makes the subject dysfunctional "in social, occupational, or other important areas," causing distress.

There are ten distinct personality disorders in the DSM (Paranoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Avoidant, Dependent, Obsessive-compulsive) and one catch-all category, Personality Disorders NOS (Not Otherwise Specified).

Personality disorders that share significant similarities are classified as clusters.

The Paranoid, Schizoid, and Schizotypal Personality Disorders are all part of Cluster A (the Odd or Eccentric Cluster).

Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders are included in Cluster B (the Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic Cluster).

Avoidant, Dependent, and Obsessive-compulsive Personality Disorders are all included in Cluster C (the Anxious or Fearful Cluster).

The Clusters are not valid theoretical constructs and have never been rigorously tested or verified. They are merely a convenient shorthand and thus provide little additional insight into the personality disorders that comprise them.

We begin our tour with Cluster B because the personality disorders it contains are common. You are far more likely to have encountered a Borderline, a Narcissist, or a Psychopath than a Schizotypal.

First, a summary of Cluster B:

Instability characterizes Borderline Personality Disorder. The patient is an emotional roller coaster (this is called emotional lability). She (the majority of Borderlines are women) struggles to maintain stable relationships and dramatically attaches to, clings to, and violently detaches from an apparently endless stream of lovers, spouses, intimate partners, and friends. Self-image is volatile, self-worth is erratic and precarious, affect is unpredictable and inappropriate, and impulse control is impaired (the patient's frustration threshold is low).

The Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by a contemptuous attitude toward others. The psychopath disregards or actively violates the rights, choices, wishes, preferences, and emotions of others.

The Narcissistic Personality Disorder is built on fantasies of grandiosity, brilliance, perfection, and power (omnipotence). The narcissist lacks empathy, is exploitative, and obsessively seeks narcissistic supply (attention, admiration, adulation, fear, etc.) to bolster his False Self - a fabricated "person" aimed at inspiring awe and extracting compliance and subservience from others.

Finally, the Histrionic Personality Disorder is characterized by a desire for attention, but it is usually limited to sexual conquests and displays of the histrionic's ability to irresistibly seduce others.

Read More

Characteristics of Soul

 

The most important details in this text are the three elements of a flower: the surface, the root, and the flower spirit. The surface is nurtured, protected, and born from the ground, while the root grows from the ground up and into the sky above. The root is the plant's connecting feature, and the root is our singular ability to live and grow in ways that no one else has, is, or will ever be able to. The flower spirit is the radiance and color that it emits, which can be felt when looking at a flower. A flower's spirit is the life force that flows within and through it, and it is the essence of a flower that corresponds to your spirit.

Take the time each spring to notice how a part of you is opening up to new life, and cultivate these inner qualities of attention until they take root and flourish in our daily lives. We create a presence of awareness by opening like the pedals of a flower to the world around us, and the beauty or lack thereof in full bloom touches the lives of everyone around us.My children remind me of the joy of anticipating new life at the start of spring.

They will usually see a flower or two that has made its way through the soil to another world. Nature's ability to evolve transforms what begins as a seedling or bulb.

An awareness, an identity, and the ability to grow beyond what we appear to be lie dormant within each of us. Every moment, we are challenged by others and circumstances to create a life that is greater than our current state of living.

Moving toward our highest good necessitates our willingness to let go of what we know in favor of what can be known in and through us. You and I are a part of the Created Order that we see around us, and we are participants in Creating Order from what we have been given to care for.

With this in mind, consider how our soul can be described in terms of the characteristics of a flower:

1. The Surface.

A flower is nurtured, protected, and born from the ground. Long before we can see it, life is taking root inside the earth's womb. Because we can't see a flower that has been planted in the ground, it doesn't mean that no life is being created. To be fully connected and rooted in the world we have been given, we must be full participants in it.

2. The root.

The stem grows from the ground up and into the sky above. This part of the flower serves as the plant's connecting feature. We exist in this world but are not fully a part of it, much like humanity. This gives our lives a sense of sacredness. It is our singular ability to live and grow in ways that no one else has, is, or will ever be able to.

The third element is the flower.

A flower in full bloom illuminates all the life that has come before it. Life is created by the radiance and color that it emits. Take note of how you feel when you look at a flower the next time you see one. You may feel your heart open and fill with joy. Alternatively, you may notice increased energy and clarity in your vision as a result of being blessed with great beauty.

4. The Flower Spirit.

A flower's spirit is the life force that flows within and through it. It is the essence of a flower that corresponds to your spirit. This part of you opens from within and merges with the spirit of a flower. It is the same energy that flows through you. You begin, like a flower, to radiate your own soul from the essence of your own being.

Take the time each spring to notice how a part of you is opening up to new life. We grow from the inside out, just like flowers. What shines in our lives began within us. We cultivate these inner qualities of attention until they take root and flourish in our daily lives. What we attend to or hold our attention on within us creates the growth that follows.

We create a presence of awareness by opening like the pedals of a flower to the world around us. The beauty or lack thereof in full bloom touches the lives of everyone around us. The world illuminates the seeds of awareness that have been contained within us for so long as our inner patterns of attention move through us. A life is born here. It is our soul's life.

Read More

Can't Give Up Gambling? Don't put your money on it

Some people who are obsessed with gambling may put more than money at risk. They could be jeopardizing their health, happiness, and the welfare of their family.

According to experts, problem gambling is defined as gambling behavior that causes a disruption in any major area of a person's life. It is estimated that 2 to 3% of the US population has a gambling problem. It can strike men and women of any age, race, or religion, regardless of social standing.

Some of the warning signs to look out for are:

Compulsively gambling and unable to stop

Gambling to recoup your losses

Lying to conceal gambling time or unpaid debts.

Fortunately, an organization is working to make assistance available. The National Council on Problem Gambling is the national advocate for problem gambling programs and services for problem gamblers and their families.

Its mission is to raise public awareness of pathological gambling and to ensure that treatment for problem gamblers and their families is widely available. It also runs the Problem Gambling Helpline Network, which provides a nationwide resource link.

"A problem gambler does not need to wait until they've 'hit rock bottom' before seeking help," says Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. "Anyone can call our Helpline. When their problem becomes your problem, you can call the Helpline to find out what resources are available."

One self-described problem gambler who sought assistance from the Helpline described its services as invaluable. Sandy Yakim, a 55-year-old teacher whose gambling increased following a series of personal setbacks, said the Helpline provided her with emotional support as well as information, counseling, and advice on how to get help.

Yakim stated, "I've been sober for over a year now. My savings account is funded. I can do some shopping. Life is good, I'm happy, and I've rediscovered my joy. The Helpline is extremely useful. They offer a shoulder to cry on, but more importantly, they offer advice on how to get help."

Read More

Can a Dream Predict the Future?

Since the first dreamer awoke and wondered what their visions meant, humanity has been fascinated by dreams. All we have to do is pay attention to and get to know our dreams. Dreams can provide us with insight and comprehension into our personal lives. They can also contain messages about the future. When we have a dream that we believe is prophetic or has a "meaning," we face the difficult task of interpreting what the dream means.

Dream symbols frequently have very specific meanings, but these meanings can vary greatly from person to person. To comprehend the significance of the symbols in our own dreams, we must first gain a better understanding of ourselves.

A lot has been written about dreams and their meanings or purposes. Since the first dreamer awoke and wondered what their visions meant, humanity has been fascinated by dreams. We have looked to our dreams for signs of what our future holds since ancient times. The first written dreams that we know of date back to 4000 BC. The earliest texts on dreams that we have are primarily texts on their religious and spiritual significance.

Most people will sleep for roughly one-third of their lives. Our dreams are a real part of who we are, but they are often ignored. Dreams can provide us with insight and comprehension into our personal lives. They will assist us in comprehending our past, present, and sometimes future. All we have to do is pay attention to and get to know our dreams.

Dreams can contain messages about the future.

We all have different kinds of dreams. Our dreams frequently contain imagery from our most pressing thoughts and/or personal experiences. Our dreams, on the other hand, can be unique at times. If we let them, our dreams can communicate with us. All we have to do is listen.

There are two kinds of prophetic dreams, in my opinion.

Those that come from our "deeper" self, who is far more aware of certain things than we are on a conscious level, and those that may have come from a "outside" source.

Here's an example from one of my own dreams:

I had a dream about dying. The only thing I remembered from the dream was seeing a hand laying in gravel. The ring on the hand was the most noticeable feature. It was my engagement ring. Without a doubt, I recognized it. Despite the fact that this was the only image I could recall from the nightmare, I knew it was about a death. When I awoke, I could feel it strongly. I'd almost forgotten about the dream's events, but the emotions lingered.

The ring was an Army Boot Camp ring designed to look like a class ring. I never wore it again after having the dream. I eventually sold it to a friend who had gone to the same boot camp as me. A few years later, I got a phone call. My friend had been killed. He was discovered laying in the dirt and rocks with that ring on his hand.

Did my dream foretell this event? It's a possibility, in my opinion. What was the dream attempting to convey to me? I assumed the dream was about my demise. I also assumed that the ring was somehow involved in my death. I stopped wearing the ring as if it would prevent the predicted death. Maybe the dream was just telling me that my friend would die with that ring on his finger.

When we have a dream that we believe is prophetic or has a "meaning," we face the difficult task of interpreting what the dream means. Dream symbols frequently have very specific meanings, but these meanings can vary greatly from person to person. That is why we should not rely too heavily on definitions found in Dream Symbol Dictionaries.

To comprehend the significance of the symbols in our own dreams, we must first gain a better and deeper understanding of ourselves. We must learn to understand what these symbols mean to us because that is how our dreaming mind perceives them.

A symbol can be anything in your dream. A snake is an example of a dream symbol. To different people, a snake can mean many different things. They, like all other dream symbols, can have different meanings for different people at different times in their lives. You must also consider the symbol in the context in which it appeared. What other symbols did you see in your dream?

Creating your own dream symbol dictionary is the best way to gain a better understanding of what your dream symbols mean to you. Keep a dream journal as detailed as possible. Not only should you write down a narrative of what happened, but you should also record your feelings and emotions. As you continue to write in your journal and re-read previous entries, you will notice parallels between your dreams and your life. You will gradually be able to recognize what the symbols in your dreams are trying to tell you.

Read More

Personality Disorder Axes

Personality disorders are just the tip of the iceberg. They are built on a foundation of causes and effects, interactions and events, emotions and cognitions, functions and dysfunctions. The DSM analyzes, classifies, and describes these data using five axes. The DSM acknowledges that the clinician's first impression of the patient is at least as important as any "objective" data gathered during the evaluation phase. The diagnostician's assessment of "the individual's overall level of functioning" is fraught with ambiguity and bias.

Personality disorders are just the tip of the iceberg. They are built on a foundation of causes and effects, interactions and events, emotions and cognitions, functions and dysfunctions that all contribute to the patient's identity.

The DSM analyzes, classifies, and describes these data using five axes. The patient (or subject) presents himself to a mental health diagnostician, who evaluates him, administers tests, fills out questionnaires, and renders a diagnosis. The diagnostician employs the DSM's five axes to "make sense" and meaningfully organize the data gathered during this process.

Axis I insist on him naming all of the patient's clinical mental health issues that aren't personality disorders or mental retardation. Thus, Axis I includes issues that are first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence; cognitive problems (e.g., delirium, dementia, amnesia); mental disorders caused by a medical condition (for example, dysfunctions caused by brain injury or metabolic diseases); substance-related disorders; schizophrenia and psychosis; mood disorders; anxiety and panic; somatoform disorders; factitious disorders; dissociative disorders; sexual paraphilias; eating disorders;

In the following articles, we will go over Axis II in depth. It includes personality disorders as well as mental retardation (an intriguing combination!).

Axis III is used to record medical conditions that affect the patient's mental health and state of mind. Some psychological problems are caused directly by medical issues (hyperthyroidism causes depression). In other cases, the latter coexist with or aggravate the former. Almost all biological illnesses can alter a patient's psychological makeup, behavior, cognitive functioning, and emotional landscape.

However, the machinery of life - both body and "soul" - is both reactive and proactive. It is influenced by one's psychosocial situation and environment. Life crises, stresses, deficiencies, and insufficient support all work together to destabilize and, if severe enough, ruin one's mental health. Death in the family or of a close friend; health problems; divorce; remarriage; abuse; doting or smothering parenting; neglect; sibling rivalry; social isolation; discrimination; life cycle transition (such as retirement); unemployment; workplace bullying; housing or economic problems; limited or no access to health care services; incarceration or litigation; traum

Finally, the DSM acknowledges that the clinician's first impression of the patient is at least as important as any "objective" data gathered during the evaluation phase. Axis V allows the diagnostician to record his judgment of "the individual's overall level of functioning". This is, admittedly, a broad mandate fraught with ambiguity and bias. The DSM recommends that mental health professionals use the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale to mitigate these risks. Simply administering this structured test forces the diagnostician to rigorously formulate his views and to eliminate cultural and social prejudices.

The therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker now has a complete picture of the subject's life, personal history, medical background, environment, and psyche after going through this lengthy and complicated process. She is now ready to proceed with the formal diagnosis of a personality disorder, with or without co-morbid (concurrent) conditions.

But, what exactly is a personality disorder? There are so many of them, and they all seem to us to be either similar or dissimilar! What are the strands that connect them? What characteristics are shared by all personality disorders?

Read More

Do You Have Mind Control? So why not?

Do You Have Mind Control? So why not?.Everything you do could be a response that perfectly fits into someone else's plans. Advertisers, politicians, spouses, and other manipulators use fear, anger, threats, and frustration to gain control of you. The solution is to do something deliberate and positive that is NOT a reaction to the outside environment. "Perfected Mind Control - The Unauthorized Black Book of Hypnotic Mind Control" is not about evil and control, but rather about personal liberation. Throughout the book, I encourage the reader to practice the hypnotic processes on themselves first in order to fully grasp the power.

How can you tell if you're being controlled by your mind?

It's an intriguing question that you can ask at a party or among your friends.

The truth is that you don't know. In fact, everything you do could be a response that perfectly fits into someone else's plans.

If you accept that possibility, you could simply give up and accept the fact that YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANYTHING, but there is a better option.

It's as simple as asking yourself, "Am I acting or reacting?"

If you are reacting, you are responding to something outside of your control and attempting to regain control, which could be a sign of mind control.

Nobody enjoys feeling powerless and out of control.

What is the solution? To do something deliberate and positive that is NOT a reaction to the outside environment.

I emphasize the word "positive" because an intentional negative/destructive act must act on or destroy something that already exists. It is something to which you are responding.

This is much more difficult than it appears because it necessitates four qualities that most "sheeple" find difficult to implement. They are as follows:

1) Considered.

In general, people dislike thinking. That is why we have an unconscious (reactive) mind, which performs the majority of our actions for us. Most of us rely on it excessively or incorrectly, allowing it to dictate our every move by allowing our emotions to guide us. Advertisers, politicians, spouses, and other manipulators are well aware of this and frequently use fear, anger, threats, and frustration to gain control of you. Thought necessitates determining what your best emotional response would be.

2) Originality.

Creativity can be difficult because it necessitates action that is unrelated to any external stimulus. This, of course, requires thought, but one can train their unconscious mind and themselves to be extremely creative. Consider what Salvador Dali was capable of. Nothing he did in the field of art could be easily compared to anything that came before him. The same could be said for his life.

3) Take action.

It takes effort to take action. People (sheeple?) prefer to react rather than act in order to conserve energy. What they don't realize is that taking creative action in the way described generates energy. To return to Salvidor Dali, his life was FULL of energy that he created. When his peers in the highbrow field of art attempted to control him, he would respond by creating a new form of performance art. In doing so, he would perplex those attempting to influence him while entertaining everyone else.

4) Bravery.

What is the point of bravery? Because when people realize they can't control you through fear and anger, they will escalate their efforts through threats and possibly violence.

It is not easy to break free from any form of mind control. But nothing so satisfying comes easily.

When I wrote "Perfected Mind Control - The Unauthorized Black Book of Hypnotic Mind Control," I wanted to appeal to people's most primal desires for control while also transforming the entire process into one of creating greater freedom, flexibility, and joy. Throughout the book, I encourage the reader to practice the hypnotic processes on themselves first in order to fully grasp the power.

Any wise person would realize that "Perfected Mind Control - The Unauthorized Black Book of Hypnotic Mind Control" is not about evil and control, but rather about personal liberation.

Read More

Are you afraid of dying?

Are you afraid of dying?. The majority of scholars believe fear is the most common reaction to death. Indifference was the word mentioned only once in a student's term paper outline. Those who have not completed all of their goals believe they should live until they have done so. Psychology is interested in people's motivations for their actions. Suicide is a sign of a very weak personality and should be closely monitored by family and friends.

When a person is trapped in a corner with no way out, he or she can give up and leave this world. Suicide is a terrible sin and no one has the right to commit it.

In your spare time, you relax in your armchair and read an exciting book. The clock abruptly strikes ten, and you carefully listen to each one. It appears that the last seconds of your life are passing you by, and a strange feeling appears deep within your gutter, but you are unable to define what it is. When you think of death, you get this feeling. So, what exactly is the truth? What do you think about the eventuality of that moment?

Many studies in psychology have been conducted to determine the most common reaction to death. The majority of scholars believe it is fear. Another emotion was mentioned only once in a student's term paper outline. Indifference was the word. We can figure out what causes the emotion. It certainly depends on a person's personality and outlook. Those who have not completed all of their goals believe that they should live until they have completed all of their goals in this life. When people imagine how they will die, they become afraid of death. Is it going to hurt? How will I react? They are outsiders because they are convinced that communication will bring them a slew of severe maladies, so they isolate themselves in their own little worlds. Love can also play a role. You will not agree to shorten your life if you know there is someone who loves you more than anything else and will not agree to leave you. Finally, a couple of factors can be found in those who are willing to die and desperately want it to happen quickly. This is also a good topic for a term paper. Psychology is very interested in people's motivations for their actions.

Why are people ready to bid farewell to life? There are several reasons for this. If a person is tragically unhappy and finds nothing in his or her life to satisfy him or her, he or she will commit suicide. This is a sign of a very weak personality, and if discovered, they should be closely monitored by family and friends. Because of extreme circumstances, a person may decide to commit suicide. When a person is trapped in a corner with no way out, he or she can give up and leave this world because the situation is unbearable. When a person has suffered a significant loss, he or she is also ready to commit suicide. This is the simplest way for them to end the pain inside and rejoin whomever they have lost. People who are mentally ill can also commit suicide. They don't consider what they leave behind because their brain functions are disrupted. They decide to relieve themselves of the misery their ill mind creates when they have a clear conscience. Those who already know they don't have much time left may have suicidal thoughts, though some may value every second left over anything a normal human can imagine. Suicide is a terrible sin, and no one has the right to commit it, because we were given a life and are not to waste it, even if difficulties arise. Those who are brave, open-hearted, and successful are not afraid to look her in the eyes and are always ready to do so. Those who do not think about it are indifferent, while those who are stressed and constantly think about it will eventually become afraid. It is better to accept the future rather than try to deceive yourself. You will perish one day. Isn't it preferable to die happy?

Read More