Best of Our Blogs: March 21, 2014

Do you get sucked into the same arguments with the same people? Like a broken record, there you are again, stuck in the same place.
It could be as superficial as the way you dress or as personal as the way you act. Perhaps, it’s their lack of empathy for what you’re going through or your unrealistic expectation of them to be different than they are.
Time wears away at relationships when its focused on disharmony. Your father may never agree with your choice in career. Your mother may never understand what it’s really like to have your illness. Your partner may not get why you overreact in certain circumstances. And though you try, you may never understand what your friend with PTSD is going through.
But if you value the relationship, there are ways to get past those differences. It doesn’t matter if you don’t share the same experiences. Empathy and validation will help you to be more understanding and feel more understood. As our bloggers share this week, they are the bridge that will connect you to anyone you’re currently in conflict with.
{Etsy art by Valerie Lorimer}

Empathy’s Important Relationship with PTSD
(After Trauma) – What a great reminder in the power and importance of friendship! According to this, the key to less post-traumatic stress symptoms rests on how much social support you have.
Reducing Conflict with Validation
(The Emotionally Sensitive Person) – Do you find yourself attacking, defending or responding i...

Source: World of Psychology - March 21, 2014 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Brandi-Ann Uyemura, M.A. Tags: Best of Our Blogs ADHD and abuse Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Bipolar Disorder Child Abuse Conflict and validation Depression (mood) Emotion Major Depressive Disorder Managing Depression Manic Depression Posttraumatic Str Source Type: blogs