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4 Types Of Narcissists All Empaths Should Keep A Lookout For

By
Riley Cooper

We’re all aware of what kind of people narcissists are, and yet, many fall into their toxic trap over and over again. And having been burned by a couple of narcissists myself, I know how easy it is to end up in a dangerous, toxic, life-sucking relationship that leaves you feeling drained and hurt.

Narcissists manipulate your thoughts, play with your feelings, and twist your perception of reality. They hide behind a self-inflated image of themselves. They appear charming, kind, and loving on the outside, but, in fact, they’re uncaring, self-absorbed, indifferent, and cruel.

On the other hand, we know what kind of people empaths are. They’re caring and compassionate. They feel other people’s feelings and energies, and when they notice someone is hurt or feels sad, they do their best to help them and alleviate their pain.

Due to their highly sensitive nature and need to help others, empaths often have a hard time establishing clear boundaries for themselves, and this often negatively affects their mental, emotional, and physical health. Moreover, this also makes them an easy victim for people who want to take advantage of them.

With that being said, can you put narcissists and empaths together? No, I don’t think so. So, why is it that these two diametrically opposed types of people feel such a powerful, magnetic attraction towards each other? There’re different theories, but at the heart of it, I believe that this is the way life creates balance.

Both narcissists and empaths face their opposite selves and both are forced to experience pain, learn from each other, and grow. And what all empaths need to understand is that they can never “fix” or “heal” the narcissist in their life. The only person who can “fix” a narcissist is themselves.

There are 4 types of narcissists all empaths should look out for, but before we present them, let’s take a look at the two main types of narcissists:

Vulnerable Narcissists

These people tend to be shy and quiet. However, to compensate for their feelings of unworthiness and self-hatred, they create an idealized image of themselves.

They have no respect and consideration whatsoever for other people’s feelings and opinions. Their greatest fear is being rejected and abandoned, which is why they’re incapable of loving someone honestly and unconditionally.

All they care about is to get attention and admiration from others.

Invulnerable Narcissists

These people are extremely self-confident, self-centered, and unsympathetic. They have a strong need to be the center of attention, and they relentlessly seek recognition,  praise, power, and pleasure.

They consider themselves as superior to everyone else and they’re incapable of creating meaningful, deep relationships with others.

And here are the 4 subtypes:

1. The Elitist Narcissist

These people reflect the traditional image of narcissists: that of an entitled, highly self-confident people. This kind of narcissists is prepared to do anything to climb the social ladder, and, of course, get to the top.

They’re convinced that they’re better than and superior to everyone else due to their successes or backgrounds, and they feel a strong need to dominate others.

No matter how absurd and even funny it may sound, but Elitist Narcissists believe they were born as the smartest, most beautiful and capable people, and therefore they deserve special treatment. And this unrealistic and unmerited expectation of favorable treatment by others is present in every area of life, from family environment to work.

2. The Amorous Narcissist

This kind of narcissists measures their self-worth and power by how many sexual partners they’ve had in their life. They use their charm and attractiveness as well as gifts and flattery to lure their prey into their trap.

Yet, once their needs and desires are satisfied, they dispose of their victim like a puppet without feeling any shame or guilt.

That’s why these narcissists have the reputation of being the ultimate heart-breakers.

3. The Compensatory Narcissist

In order to compensate for their weaknesses, failures, and past traumas, this kind of narcissist emphasizes their achievements and present themselves as being the smartest, most capable and successful people.

In order to regain control over their life, these narcissists look for emotionally vulnerable people who will listen to their stories about how accomplished and successful they are and how amazing their life is.

4. The Malignant Narcissist

The behavior of this kind of narcissists often matches that of people with antisocial personality disorders, such as sociopaths and psychopaths. They lack moral principles and values and they’re incapable of feeling guilt and remorse for their actions.

If you have something that they want, they’ll stop at nothing to get it, and they won’t bother at all whether their actions will hurt you.

Malignant Narcissists can often be found in gangs, prisons, and drug rehabilitation centers.

Don’t Lose Hope – What Is Meant To Be Yours Will Come To You

By
Stephanie Reeds

I am a person who doesn’t like to settle.  I’m a fighter. I fight things that don’t make any sense. I don’t accept half-assed things. I want it all or nothing. I get frustrated and paranoid when something I worked hard for goes out of control.

So, you could probably say that I’m not the spontaneous, live-for-the-moment type of person. I like to make things my way.

But, silly me often forgets that as long as I breathe and live on this planet called Earth, there won’t be such thing as perfection.

You see, we can fight for the things we think we deserve, we can bend over backward to achieve something, but if something isn’t meant to come our way, it won’t.

Simple, yet very disappointing, huh?

I know, but that is the truth.

If there’s something I learned throughout these years, it is that life doesn’t always go according to our plan. It doesn’t follow our dreams and it simply doesn’t walk the same road we do.

Hey, I’m not saying that there aren’t moments when everything falls into place and we’re thrilled to have finally hit the jackpot in life. Fortunately, these rare moments exist.

But, then again, so does those hopeless ones.

We fall in love with the most wonderful person, we believe that our love will last forever, and then in the blink of an eye, everything we once knew shatters in front of us. We work hard for the dream job we hoped, we get it, but then all of sudden, nothing makes sense like you thought it would.

We rise, but then we fall down. And then, after a certain period, we rise again. Only this time we’re stronger than before.

In a nutshell, that is life, showing us that those things were never meant to be ours.

I know, those moments often leave us wounded, confused, insecure and sometimes even unable to move forward. They don’t give us all the answers we need. We don’t understand what’s happening, where are we going and what should our next move be. Before us, is the unknown and we’re strangers to that darkness. We’re terrified.

We scream we shout, we cry, we doubt our potential, we’re angry at the world because it suddenly feels like the whole world comes crashing down.

But, the truth remains. No matter how hard it was, they weren’t meant to happen to us.

The most important thing we have to remind ourselves is that we have to keep our faith. We have to keep moving on. We have to accept the failures as our lessons and continue our road.

Because what is meant for us, will eventually find its way to us.

It might drift away, and it might take some time to arrive, but ultimately it will find its way back to us. You have to be sure of it.

So, please. Don’t stress. Don’t overthink. Don’t blame yourself. Don’t give up. What is meant to be in your life, will happen at its own pace. It might not happen today, or tomorrow, but it will happen soon.

You just have to believe it.

5 Tips to Choose the Perfect LTL Freight Carrier

By
Elizabeth Williams

It could be a difficult and tedious task to find the ideal LTL Freight Carrier for your shipments. There are several things to be considered right from the correct determination of the weight of your items to finding the lowest possible rates.

What’s more? Most freight carriers shell out more attention to FTL shipments and in such cases, the LTL freight’s priority becomes an issue. To help you out, in here, we have provided a few tips that would help you in choosing the perfect LTL freight carrier and would ease you off by shedding all the worries

Choose the Perfect LTL Freight Carriers: 5 Key Tips

There are some important tips to efficiently choose the LTL carrier that is aligned with your shipping requirements. However, several factors like weight, freight class, and stow-ability need to be considered beforehand. The tips given below provide you assistance for a smoother experience and help you ensure that you find the best rates for your LTL shipment.  

1.Go for regional carriers

We recommend you to consider regional carriers according to the destination of your shipment. Mostly, the density of the truckloads of regional carriers is much higher; therefore they are willing to offer lower rates.

Regional carriers even have more insights as far as embargoes are concerned. While you are considering a regional LTL carrier, ensure that they provide proper customer service. Furthermore, such carriers must also inform you about any changes, problems or anything regarding the shipment.

2. Track your freight

Make sure that your freight carrier provides you with access to tracking your shipment. Be it pick up or drop off; ensure that you can view the whereabouts and the status of your freight. Hence, be sure that the freight carriers you have chosen provide easy tracking.

Freight carriers who render various options for transportation are ideal. It could be that a particular means of transportation could be more suitable for your freight, so the carrier should provide you with the best means available.

3. Pay attention to fees and billing

It is important to pay close attention to all the details while you are filling the bill of lading or the BOL. Even by mistake, there is a discrepancy; it could be bad for the entire process.

Make sure that the freight quote involves all the correct details, be it in regard to how the freight is being shipped or what is actually being shipped. Also, appropriately prepare your entire shipment so as to avoid any extra fees or charges.

Whether you want to properly determine the freight class or have to secure the goods in a pallet, any kind of problem or issue, in this case, could result in extra charges from your carrier.

4. Do proper research as per your goods

You must understand what freight class is actually and what freight class will actually suit your requirements. In total, there are 18 distinct freight classes, therefore you must do your research beforehand. You can use various freight class and density calculator available in the market.

Additionally, shippers are expected to package the items to avoid any further extra charges properly. And the more properly you package your freight, you shall be charged lesser. If you are placing the freight on the pallets, ensure that all the items are firmly stacked as well as are tight and secure. Do wrap them properly as well to make sure there is double the safety for your goods.

5. Negotiate

Negotiating is always recommended. There are a few carriers out there who are willing to work on freight rates, especially if you are willing to enter into a contract with the shipper.  So, do not be afraid to ask, maybe you can find some luck on this side. It could be as little as waiving or reducing the extra charges.

Whenever you are approaching a freight carrier, make sure to compare the best ones before approaching any. Whether you want to transit times or management system, either can help you make a spreadsheet, compare costs and utilize transportation as well as tell you about insurance policies.

Bonus tip if you are seeking LTL carriers

We recommend you to avoid 3PL’s or the third-party logistics. Even though the third-party logistics can be beneficial for some, that’s not what the case is with LTL shipments. Various shippers who are seeking LTL freight may consider the third-party logistics, but the lack of control over deliveries and the upfront costs could be a major disadvantage.

In addition to distribution, this is often due to warehousing and therefore, they aren’t a good solution for LTL shipments. So, if you would not need warehousing or don’t have a good volume of the shipments then third-party logistics is not a viable option.

Learn What Are Endodontists, Prosthodontists, and Periodontists?

By
Ana Miller

Everyone should have a family dentist. Regular dental visits allow for catching problems before they get in the advanced stages. They allow your dentist to check for problems that you may not see or feel. These checkups may reveal cavities, oral cancer, and gum disease.

You should also know that dentistry has a variety of specialities. Some offices, like the team at 9 West Main Dental, can handle various situations in addition to general dentistry. You can usually look at your dentist’s website to see what types of services they offer.  Read on to find out what endodontists, prosthodontists, and periodontists are.

Save Your Teeth With Endodontists

An endodontist is a dentist with a speciality. This occupation requires an additional two or more years of training outside of dental school. The extra training focuses on performing root canal procedures, doing procedures on the tooth interior and diagnosing tooth pain.

When a cavity is left untreated, it eventually affects the centre of your tooth. The centre is known as the pulp of your tooth. It contains blood vessels and sensitive nerves. If the pulp disease is not treated, then it can spread to the supporting bone. This results in losing your teeth. (1)

However, you should treat a diseased tooth before it gets to complete tooth loss. A diseased tooth has a better chance of being saved with endodontic treatment. One of the most common procedures used is a root canal. It involves removing the diseased pulp, cleaning the pulp chamber, cleaning the root canal and sealing the tooth.

Your Teeth With Prosthodontists

A prosthodontist is a dentist who has completed three additional years of advanced training. You also have to complete an ADA-accredited prosthodontic graduate program. Prosthodontists are experts on anything that needs to be replaced on the inside of your mouth. These replacements include the gums, a single tooth, multiple teeth or all of your teeth.

Specialists in this field have advanced training in replacing and restoring teeth. They can fix facial and dental problems relating to jaw structures. If you have missing teeth, then the prosthodontics field performs a variety of procedures to replace them. These procedures include dentures, bridges, crowns, and dental implants. They are highly trained in cosmetic dentistry and treat temporomandibular disorders as well.

These specialists are also the leaders of your dental treatment plan. They work with health professionals, specialists and general dentists to develop dental solutions for patients.

Diagnose Disease With Periodontists

A periodontist is a dentist who has three additional years of advanced training in periodontal disease. Specialists in this field specialize in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal disease. They are also experts in the placement of dental implants and treating oral inflammation. (2)

You would see a periodontist for complex dental cases. A dental problem can become complicated with a complex medical history and with severe gum disease. A visit with this specialist involves examining your gums for recession, checking the bite and looking for loose teeth.

Periodontists perform a variety of procedures, such as root surface debridement and scaling and root planing. They stay updated on the latest technology for treating periodontal disease and performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

This specialist treats severe cases of gum problems using surgical procedures. Soft tissue grafts are a procedure carried out in this field. It helps with replacing gum tissue that was lost from your gums receding. The replacement gum tissue comes from the root of your mouth. Periodontists also have advanced training in the maintenance, placement, and repair of dental implants.

If you ignore dental problems, then it allows the condition to spread and become more severe. You should never minimize the significance of gum disease. It has been linked to major health complications, such as stroke, pancreatic cancer, and heart disease. You should consider scheduling a dental appointment now.

Is Gout a Serious Disease? Some Facts About the Disease Decoded

By
Ana Miller

As one grows older body starts to show symptoms of wear and tear by way of pains and aches. While these pains and aches can be very bothering, timely action by way of accurate diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in helping the body recover and stay healthy. Most often we treat pains of muscles and joints as casual sprains and try to get relief by either consuming painkillers or applying pain-relieving topical ointments. But what happens if the pain is a symptom of an underlying serious medical ailment. Hence, if the pain is unusual and long driven, timely medical intervention is extremely crucial to treat it. (1)

What is Gout?

A disease that is characterized by pains and aches of muscles and joints; Gout is a disease that is very similar to arthritis. Gout is a disease commonly diagnosed among men and generally involves sudden spurs of burning pains, muscle stiffness, and joint swellings. These painful spurs are recurring in nature unless the disease is treated completely. When left untreated for long, Gout can result in harming the joints, tissues and ligaments making even basic day to day activities seem painful.

Can Gout strike you?

Check out the common causes of the disease:

The presence of excessive Uric acid in the blood can lead to Gout. It is usually common to find high uric levels in the bloodstream of individuals but for some individuals, the Uric acid levels increase beyond control. Extremely high levels of uric acid in the blood can lead to the uric acid components formation of hard crystals in the joints which in turn causes gout. Individuals eating excessive amounts of meat, consuming too much alcohol or those who are obese; stand higher risks of being diagnosed with Gout. Meat and particularly plates of seafood like fishes are high on a chemical compound is known as purines which is one of the major factors resulting in Gout. Medications such as water pills or diuretics can also lead to gout.

What happens to the body when Gout strikes?

Gout though shows up suddenly in most cases, it is a result of prolonged reasons. It takes years for the uric acid to build up as crystals around the joints and tissues thereby causing Gout. Typically, a gout attack begins at night with some pain that grows into acute pain as the symptoms progress. A usual gout attack involves symptoms like swelling, excessive pain, redness around the affected skin area and inflammation around the joint affected. Most often the symptoms are seen around the big toe. In most cases, Gout symptoms will last for a specific period of time and then recur. Mostly gout symptoms are known to settle down in a week’s time. The milder painful episodes may last up to one or two days and are hence often misconstrued and a sprain or a muscular catch. In severe cases of Gout, the muscle soreness and tenderness can last up to a month. The reoccurrence of gout symptoms can be anywhere between 6 months up to 2 years. The intervals between attacks could also extend up to a year. When left untreated, the frequency of gout episodes could be higher.

The Gout disease progresses in an individual’s body in three steps:

Step 1: In the first step of this disease, the body has high levels of uric acid but does not show any symptoms of the same. The levels may continue to remain high without showing the physical symptoms. The crystals could in some cases also result in kidney stones before triggering the first episode of a gout attack. (2)

Step 2: In the second step of gout the attacks begin as the uric acid crystals form, generally seen around the big toe. After the first attack settles the patient may feel normal. The time between the episodes of gout may be short or long and the severity of each gout episode may also vary. The attacks may either be concentrated around one area involving any one particular joint or may involve more than one joint.

Step 3: In this step, the symptoms of the attack may either last longer or just stay on. The effect could be seen on more than one joint. This stage of gout is rather serious, but most people never get there due to advanced treatment options that are available. There are unpleasant nodules that appear under the skin in this stage. They are called Tophi. In case not treated on time, these tophi could spread to the external ear or to the tissues around the joints. This can lead to pain, swelling, redness of the skin and inflammation. This can further advance to the destruction of the bone tissues, impairing them permanently. (3)

Risk factors associated with Gout

There are a number of factors that may result in Gout disease or increase one’s chances of acquiring this disease. Some of the known associated risks of gout are:

  • Men are more likely to be affected by the gout disease
  • In many cases, gout is seen to be a hereditary disease affecting those with a family history of gout
  • In some individuals, there is a birth defect whereby the body automatically is prone to high uric acid in the bloodstream. Such people by default fall under the risk zone of acquiring gout disease
  • Certain medications such as aspirin, diuretic medicines, chemotherapy medicines or immune suppressants such as cyclosporine are known to cause gout in some cases

Symptoms of Gout

The common symptoms associated with gout include:

  • The first part of the body that starts showing symptoms of gout is generally the big toe. The patient can feel a warm, painful sensation around the joints. Most patients face these symptoms at night and they can get worse rather quickly. The pain could be so intense that any pressure that the patient feels can be very painful and difficult to manage.
  • Discoloured skin (mainly reddish or purple) around the joints that are most affected by the gout pain
  • Restricted movement of the joints or feeling intense pain when trying to move at all
  • The skin may feel itchy or scaly as the condition improves.

An important thing to remember about gout is that people feel varied symptoms of the disease at different points.

  • In some cases of gout, instead of gout attacks, patients may feel the pain due to gout all the time. In the case of older adults, it becomes difficult to classify gout as it is often confused with arthritis.
  • The gout disease can spread to cause discomfort and pain around the feet joints, ankles, knees, fingers, wrists and elbows. (4)

Diagnosing the symptoms of gout

To diagnose gout, the onus first lies on the patient to understand the pain of gout is different from a normal muscular pull or sprain. The patient must visit the doctor as soon as the severe pain is felt in any one particular joint that can come and go very quickly.  Also, a visit to the doctor is necessary where the joints feel swollen and tender and there is slight redness around the skin. If the pain subsides also, the patient must visit the doctor for a complete analysis of the condition as the uric acid buildup which results in gout can cause serious complications eventually.  When diagnosed and treated on time, the uric acid buildup can be corrected through medications and the symptoms of the disease can be reversed.

Following tests may be recommended by the doctor for a complete diagnosis of the disease:

  • A test that involves examining the joint fluid (arthrocentesis) is recommended to confirm gout. This test confirms the presence of uric acid crystals present in the bloodstream.
  • The doctor obtains a complete medical history (including the family history of the patient) followed by a physical examination before confirming gout.
  • In the case for any reason if the doctor is not able to obtain the joint fluids, then the uric acid levels are tested for in the bloodstream by means of a blood test.
  • Urine tests are also recommended to measure the uric acid levels present in the body.

Treatment and Medications

The good news as far as gout disease goes is that it can very much be treated and managed under medical supervision. The treatment aims at managing the pain and preventing further gout attacks. The mode of treatment is largely through medications and certain home measures that help in effectively managing the pain and other symptoms.

In the case of acute and severe gout attacks, medications such as Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Colchicine and Oral corticosteroids are prescribed by the doctor. These medications are usually temporary and recommended to manage the first signs of gout. Resting the joint that has felt the impact of gout is also very crucial in managing gout. Patients are advised to refrain from indulging in high-intensity activities such as running, gaming etc that can put pressure on the affected joints thereby causing pain and discomfort. Ice packs and cold packs are recommended to soothe skin inflammations. Painkillers are usually recommended to bring about relief from the pain and aches.

If Gout is not treated on time, it can continue as a long-term disease that can cause immense discomfort due to the pain and other symptoms. It can also become chronic affecting more than one joint. To manage the symptoms of gout one must complete the medication prescribed. If there are long-term drugs indicated by the healthcare practitioner that can effectively reduce the reoccurrence of the attacks, then the patient must complete the entire course. Further medication with regards to controlling uric acid in the blood may also be required to be consumed for the long term.

Although gout is a disease that put a persona through a lot of pain and discomfort it is not really a life-threatening disease. However, ignored symptoms can lead to quality of life getting affected. Hence, to manage the disease and from preventing it one must make an early diagnosis and take the treatment to get relief from the disease at the earliest.

Internet psychotherapy or online therapy – Taking a closer look at it

By
Ana Miller

Nowadays with the tap of an app or with the click of a mouse, you get immediate and quick access to an online therapist without having to visit the office of the therapist. All you need is a computer or a smartphone and an internet connection. The majority of people these days are comfortable with using the internet and for all of them, seeking the help of an online therapist is certainly more convenient than sitting in front of a therapist and sharing their problems. (1)

Due to the fact that this kind of therapy is delivered through different telecommunication devices and tools, psychologists usually refer to this as telepsychology. While there are several online resources like e-counseling.com/online-therapy/ where you can get to seek the help of the best therapists, there are still a few things that you should know.

What makes people love online therapy?

Online therapy resolves to offer several types of benefits as compared to face-to-face psychotherapy. Here are a few reasons why people love online therapy.

  • It is convenient: As you don’t have to take leave from the office in order to meet the therapist and you don’t have to worry about the traffic, this is a more convenient option.
  • It is less costly: As against in-person therapy, online therapy is also cost-effective. Each online session might seem to be considerably low priced as compared to the in-office visits.
  • It is more comfortable: There are many who feel hesitant to share their issues with someone unknown by sitting in front of them. For such people, communicating online is a better option.
  • It is more accessible: For all those who are not able to visit the office of the therapist due to any health or mobility issue, they can find it helpful to sit back at home and enjoy the services of an online therapist.

A word of caution before choosing an online therapist

In spite of the fact that online therapy offers so many benefits before you choose, you should consider whether or not this is the best option for you. You have to understand whether the tool is appropriate for you and one more thing to check is whether or not the therapist is licensed. You should ensure seeking the help of a licensed therapist so that you can be sure about the quality of the services that you’re offered.

Therefore, whenever you’re eager to seek the help of an online counsellor or a therapist, you should take into account the vital points mentioned above.

It’s Scary How Two People Who Once Loved Each Other Can Easily Become Strangers

By
Stephanie Reeds

It is truly scary how two people who once were everything to each other, can easily become strangers. It saddens me how indifferent we are sometimes.

Last night, I was on the phone with my friend who just parted ways with her boyfriend of 5 years. She told me, she saw him in the street and pretended like she didn’t know him. And while I, as her greatest confidant, her best friend did my best to understand her reasons for doing so, I couldn’t help but wonder…

How can we be so heartless? How does one develop such apathy?

I know what you’re going to say. Sometimes life doesn’t give us much choice, sometimes it is for the best, sometimes we’re too hurt to show our real feelings, and sometimes we’re so broken that we cannot even open our mouths to say Hello.

But, what happens with the people who did nothing wrong?

We are strangers, we fall in love with each other. We experience some of the best moments in life with these people. We share our hopes, dreams, fears, and insecurities with that person. We undress our soul and let them find shelter inside our world. Our whole life revolves around that one special human being who loves us more than anything, and then one day, BAM! Everything stops.

Your soul aches and your body hurts, but you pretend to not care at all.

Your heart screams, your eyes glisten, but you would rather avoid them, than greeting them with a friendly hello.

Can someone please tell me, where does the love go? Does it go to the next partner? Or does it become this void in our hearts that we eventually learn to live with?

It seems so natural for us to learn to forget. To force ourselves to forget. Still, the truth remains. You never really stop knowing a person you’ve opened your soul to. You never really forget the way they’ve touched you, or how they’ve made you feel, no matter how hard you try to repress those feelings.

Because there are always those memories that stay to haunt you. There are always those tiny fragments that stay stuck with you forever. Those little pieces that linger. We hear a song that reminds us of them and we realize that the feelings inside of us are still alive. That maybe they never stopped. Despite our big efforts to bottle them and throw them as far as we can.

Sadly, in the end, it usually comes down to one thing. We part ways and we pretend like nothing ever happened.  And, I guess for some people, it seems easier to avoid, than to confront.

If you ask me, I believe that you either love someone forever or you never really loved them at all. So, maybe those scars and wounds that we have are still open.

Maybe they itch and burn. Maybe it’s not that they don’t matter anymore, but it’s because we’re too afraid we’d fall in the same cycle and we’d hurt ourselves even more.

5 Things That Happen When You Finally Kick A Manipulative Narcissist Out Of Your Life

By
Riley Cooper

Being in a narcissistic relationship is hard but leaving it is even harder. The sneaky bastard destroyed your self-esteem and made you lose your self-respect. What he put you through drained you mentally and emotionally. And after you are done with this entitled and conceited skilled manipulator, you find it hard to trust people and move on with your life.

You might think you’ve finally set yourself free from his toxic claws, but maybe you should give this a second thought. Because he won’t let you go without a fight, you can take my word for it.  

Only after you completely heal yourself from the emotional pain you had to endure in the relationship and after you realize that the breakup wasn’t your fault, will you be able to get your life together. Are you wondering why this is so?

Well, the reason is pretty simple actually: Narcissistic relationships are draining and humiliating. You get used to always being a second choice and receiving crumbs of attention.

You’re dating someone who takes on the persona of a charming, kind, supportive, and loving person when he wants to manipulate you into falling in love with and trusting him, and the persona of an innocent, responsible person when he wants to make you believe his lies and lame excuses, and shift the blame onto you.

You’re dating someone who can manipulate you into thinking that what you’re hearing, seeing, and experiencing doesn’t exist. He can make you believe that the hurtful comment he made about your looks was really just a joke.

You’re dating someone who rewrites reality every single day so as to suit his needs and hide his true colors and manipulation tactics.

But, every person has limits. Every woman gets sick and tired of being treated like this and finds the tiny bit of strength left inside her to put an end to the torture eventually.

So, if you, too, have decided to kick that sneaky narcissistic boyfriend out of your life,  congratulations! You were brave enough to take the first step. But, now comes the hard part.

You’ll have to counter all his efforts to bring you back. He won’t allow himself to lose someone who has the kindness, empathy, emotional intelligence, and genuine confidence that his fragile ego and false mask could never achieve. And in order to prevent this from happening, he’ll be literally prepared to do anything.

Here are 5 things you can expect when you finally kick a narcissist out of your life:

1. He’ll harass you.

He’ll never understand that the reason why you left him was that the relationship caused you more harm than good. He’ll see your leaving as a personal defeat and he’ll feel abandoned. And this is what hurts him the most. No one abandons him since, in his opinion, he’s the best, he is perfect.

He can’t stand the fact that he lost the person who provided him with constant attention, admiration, and praise, and therefore he’ll do anything to get you back.

Thus, he’ll stalk you on social media, call and text you, come to your home, or even use another person to try to manipulate you into getting back together with him.

2. He’ll put the blame on you for everything.

To clear his name and fool himself into thinking that he never did anything wrong, he’ll shift all the blame onto you. He’ll come up with the most unreasonable and pathetic excuses so as to make you feel and look responsible for your failed relationship.

He’ll do his best to make you feel guilty for all the problems and difficulties you had in the relationship and take full responsibility for the breakup.

3. Post-breakup triangulation.

Once he finds a new victim, he’ll want you to know it. Whether by going to places he knows you always go to or by posting photos on social media, he’ll make sure you know how “happy” and how much he “loves” his new girlfriend.

That’s why you need to make sure you avoid going to places where you could meet him and block him on all social media. Going no contact is the best because even if he fails to make you jealous, there’s always the risk that this will bring back your self-doubt and self-respect.

4. Smear campaigns.

If you discarded him without warning first, get prepared to hear all sorts of bad, degrading things about you because he’ll do anything to make you look bad and tarnish your reputation. He’ll do this because by breaking up with him, you revealed his true colors and the way he mistreated you, and this is his greatest fear.

He’ll try to slander you in all ways possible. He’ll talk about your shortcomings and bad habits to his family and friends and spread rumors about you. He’ll reveal secrets from your personal life and bad mouth you on social media.

5. He’ll guilt trip you into coming back to him.

To manipulate you into getting back together with him, he’ll promise that he’ll change. He’ll pretend that he feels guilt and remorse for treating you the way he did and that he truly misses you.

He’ll remind you of all the amazing things he did for you while you were together. And even if he really did good stuff for you, unfortunately, there was always a hidden motive behind every one of them.

Because whenever he did something good for you, he wanted something in return: attention, praise, admiration, information, or even money.

Give Yourself A Break: 7 Self-Healing Methods That Will Help You Cope With The Loneliness

By
Stephanie Reeds

Humans. Despite our differences, we all yearn for that unconditional understanding and compassion from another person. It is simply in our nature to crave a real connection. Our whole life gravitates around finding someone who would love us just the way we are.

But, unfortunately, life doesn’t always follow our paths. Most of the times it runs its own pace and leaves us utterly disappointed.

We hope, we build our expectations, we convince ourselves that miracles happen, and then when we least expect it, life strikes us with the unpredictable.

Eventually, these disappointments make us feel like we’re not good enough. Those kinds of thoughts usually lead us to even more terrifying conclusions.

“What if something is wrong with me?”; “What if I never find love?” ; “I’m such a loser.”

But, even though these signs of insecurities are considered a normal reaction to life, it is important to understand that choosing to go down that road will never help us.

Love might not come right away, but that is fine. There’s no reason why we should suffer in the meantime. Loneliness and sadness are still feelings. They might not be the most desirable ones, but they are still a part of us.

So, the most important thing you can do in this situation is to accept those painful feelings and give yourself the love you need. Be aware of whatever thoughts and feelings you’re experiencing and give yourself the break you need!

Here are 7 self-healing techniques that will help you cope with time alone:

1. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOURSELF

Do you feel like you’re in a constant hurry? If the answer is yes, then please steady yourself. Find time to be alone and reflect on yourself. Listen to your thoughts, no matter how disturbing they sound. Let your emotions flow and allow yourself to experiment with your creativity.

Open a diary and each day, challenge yourself to write everything that goes on inside of you. Be it your fears, a short story or your to-do list for the week.

The whole point is to spend more time with yourself.

2. JUST BREATHE

Put on your favorite music, set the mood in your room and just breathe. Focus on the sensation of your breath and feel how your body is moving to the rhythm of the air going in and going out. Become aware of this natural process.

Notice how the air slowly touches your nose, flows through your throat and goes directly into your lings. Let your thoughts drift away and focus both your body and your mind on these sensations.

3. CREATE AN INNER COMFORTER

You know that voice in our head that constantly tells you how wrong you are? Well, get rid of it. Our conscience is our greatest guidance in life, but once this little fella turns into a devil who likes to criticize everything we do, feel, or think, it is time for a change.

Create an inner comforter. A voice that doesn’t blame you, but encourages you. A conscience that accepts you just the way you are. Learn to cultivate a more compassionate self.

4. LET YOURSELF FEEL

Sit and try to relax. Use your learned mindful breathing to center yourself. And, soften. Try to picture the emotion you’re experiencing. Is it painful? Don’t run away from it.

Accept that feeling and let it flow through you. You did it. Give yourself a physical compassion and a mental hug. Empathize with your pain. Treat yourself as you would treat a friend in need.

5. LOVE YOURSELF EXACTLY THE WAY YOU ARE

Stand before a mirror and look at yourself. Look at all of your flaws, pimples, acne, imperfections, wrinkles and learn to love yourself exactly the way you are. You are incredible. You are an amazing human being.

Now, using your own name, challenge yourself to say this out loud every day. It might make you feel weird at first, but I promise, you’ll be surprised by the effect it will have on you in the long run.

6. START MEDITATING

If you are having trouble shutting off the irritating background noise, start meditating. Find a comfortable position, close your eyes and focus on your breathing.

Try to relax and think of a happy, warm and a loving memory. Direct your feelings toward it. Now think of someone you neither like nor dislike. Try to feel the same thing toward them. Fill yourself with positive emotions. Radiate love.

7. LAUGH UNTIL YOUR CHEEKS HURT

Last, but never least, laugh. Laugh as loud as you can. Laugh until you cry. Laugh until your stomach and your cheeks hurt. Don’t let life bring you down. Don’t let your feelings of sadness determine your path in life. Embrace them as a part of you and learn to cope with every emotion you experience.

It’s time to give yourself a break.

7 Popular Sleep Myths Debunked

By
Elizabeth Williams

Until recently, or to be precise when the CDC declared sleep deprivation a public health epidemic, people mostly took sleep for granted. In order to fight this severe epidemic, we need to educate ourselves about sleep in every way we can. Sleep education also includes addressing the most common misconceptions. Make sure you ask yourself how many of these statements have you heard before and how many you thought were true. Counting Sheep sleep research has helped us bust the top 7 sleep myths.

Brain Shuts Down During Sleep

Sleep is completely opposite of a passive state. In fact, this is the time when our brains are the most active. Among many other things that happen during sleep, our minds sort and process information gathered during the day and cement some of the data into our long-term memory. This can help you realize why rest is so vital for learning and memory.

The Body Can Be Trained to Function on Less Sleep

Well, that would be great, but things are not that simple. Forcing your body to get out of bed earlier every day and thinking you will become accustomed to it is wrong. You will only end up sleep deprived. Forcing yourself to sleep less will also have negative consequences on your health. You concentration abilities will be reduced; you will be less alert, confused and distressed. Long-term effects include a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and diabetes.

You Can Catch Up on Sleep

It is possible to return your sleep debt if you make up for it the next day. However, making for lost sleep over the weekend for the entire week is not possible. Studies show you can quickly recover from 2 or 3 night of lost sleep, but you can’t catch up that easy if you have lost more than 20 hours of sleep in a week.

Spending More Time in Bed Help to Fall Asleep

Spending more time in bed doesn’t mean you will fall asleep faster or stay asleep for longer. If you have insomnia, this actually makes things worse because it boosts the negative association between bed and sleep. For better sleep, it is best to spend less time in bed and use your bedroom only for rest and sex.

Daytime Naps are a Waste of Time

If you have insomnia, most sleep experts recommend avoiding naps during the day. However, that doesn’t mean napping is bad for your health. Studies have shown that short 20 minute naps can refresh you and make you more productive during the day.

The Brain Adjusts Quickly to New Sleep Schedules

If this were the truth, then we would never experience issues like jetlag. Sleep is controlled by our circadian rhythm or otherwise known as an internal body clock. This internal clock is regulated by sunlight. This is why we are the sleepiest between midnight and dawn. Lifestyle changes and changes in sleep schedules affect our circadian rhythm, and we usually need some time to adjust to the new change. Until we adjust, our sleep quality suffers.

Elderly People Need Less Sleep

Our sleep needs are relatively stable once we become adults. Children, as you certainly know, require plenty of sleep, but as they grow up, they need less and less sleep. Once kids become young adults, the amount of sleep they need to function normally will stay the same for the rest of their lives.

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