Author Archives: thinkagainjenn

Trauma and Parts of Self: Understanding Narcissistic and Self-Sacrificing Managers in Ourselves

This post explores conceptualization of Narcissistic and Self-Sacrificing or Caregiving relationship styles through the lens of Internal Family Systems and managing parts-of-self.

Other-Directedness and Anxiety: Does Focusing on Others Help or Hurt?

This post explores the Other-Directedness domain schemas of Approval Seeking, Self-Sacrificing, and Subjugation and the impact that these schemas have on anxiety.

Guilt and Projective Identification: Bait for Narcissists

This post explores Self-Sacrifice Schema and the impact of projective identification, particularly related to guilt and self-absorption, on ones tendency to be manipulated by others.

Combat Dread and Anxiety by Combatting Vulnerability to Harm Schema

This post explores Vulnerability to Harm schema, which often plays an integral role in provoking feelings of anxiety and dread in clients with chronic experiences of anxiety. This post provides techniques for retraining the amygdala and overcoming irrational thoughts that provoke and maintain chronic anxiety.

Narcissism, Caregiving, and Trauma: Facing Uncomfortable Feelings Results in Healing

This post explores the importance of feeling and understanding our emotions in combatting Mental Health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress syndrome, and addiction. This post argues that in order for healing to take place or intimacy to occur, we must be able to feel our feelings and learn from them.

Running From Guilt and Shame Means Running Towards Narcissism and Caregiving

This post explores characteristics of individuals who have a tendency towards caregiving behaviors versus those who have a tendency towards narcissistic behaviors.

Option and Obligation: Boundaries Mean Letting Others Choose

This post explores the way that boundary problems can impact the way that we are in relationship with others. Often boundary problems cause us to attempt to read other people’s minds in attempt to help them or put them first. Rather than asking them for their thoughts or feelings we can fall into the trap of protecting others rather than allowing them the opportunity to have their own experiences, identify their thoughts and feelings, and respond themselves. This inhibits others from growing in their ability to be vulnerable and prevents us from experiencing authentic intimacy with others.

Intimacy: When Your Strength Overshadows You

This post explores the impact of the Early Maladaptive Schemas Self-Sacrifice and Emotional Inhibition in caregiver and codependent type individuals, often leading them to attract Narcissistic individuals and one-sided relationships and to feel unseen and unvalued.

Reactivity Destroys Conversation: Success is in the Approach

This post explores the concept of Amygdala Hijacking, a physiological response to real or perceived threat, which results in loss of memory and impaired cognitive functioning. Amygdala Hijacking prevents productive conversation, impacting relationships negatively, as well is at the root of anxiety, panic disorders, and PTSD.

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