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10 Ways to Increase Emotional Connection With Your Partner

April 21, 2023 by Lakeisha Ethans

Love and emotional connection are essential components of any healthy relationship. But it can be challenging to maintain over time. It requires effort, communication, and a willingness to be vulnerable with your partner. The importance of emotional connection in a relationship cannot be overstated. It allows partners to feel understood and supported, with emotions appreciated deeply.

Emotional connection is not just about being physically close to your partner or engaging in shared activities. Instead, it is about being emotionally present, understanding each other’s thoughts and emotions, and having open and honest communication. However, maintaining an emotional connection can be problematic over time.

To increase your emotional connection with your partner, you must put in the effort and prioritize your relationship. This may involve taking the time to truly listen to your partner, understanding their needs and concerns, and being supportive. It may also include being vulnerable and sharing your thoughts and emotions with your partner.

Connection is also about creating a safe and trusting space where you can be honest with each other. Doing so can deepen your understanding of each other and build a stronger emotional bond. Ultimately, you can create a fulfilling and meaningful relationship for both partners.

10 Ways to Increase Emotional Connection with Your Partner

1. Show Interest in Growing Your Emotional Connection

Showing interest in your partner’s life is one of the most important ways to increase emotional connection in a relationship. This involves engaging with your partner regularly and understanding their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. By showing an interest in your partner’s life, you can create a deeper sense of understanding and empathy. You can also establish a strong foundation for communication, love, and intimacy in your relationship.

One of the simplest ways to show an interest in your partner’s life is by asking about their day. By asking about their experiences, you demonstrate that you value their perspective and are genuinely interested in their life. It is important to listen actively, paying close attention to their responses. This can help your partner feel seen and heard and create a sense of closeness and connection.

2. Be Present

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get distracted by technology and other responsibilities, even when spending time with your partner. However, being present and engaged during these moments is essential to increase emotional connection in your relationships. One of the most effective ways to be present with your partner is to eliminate distractions. Don’t pay attention to phones or work during your time together.

Setting aside these distractions allows you to focus on the present moment and fully engage with your partner. This means actively listening to their words, paying attention to their body language, and responding to their needs and desires. You create a space for genuine connection and communication when you’re present in this way. This can help to deepen your emotional bond with your partner.

3. Show Empathy

Empathy is a key component of emotional connection in any relationship. It involves understanding and relating to your partner’s feelings and emotions. It’s about showing that you care about their experiences. By showing empathy, you can create a space for open and honest communication and build trust and understanding. It’s also a great way to deepen your emotional bond with your partner.

Listening actively to your partner and acknowledging their perspective and feelings is essential to show empathy. This involves putting yourself in their shoes and understanding their emotions about a situation. It may also include asking questions and trying to understand the reasons behind their emotions or reactions. Additionally, showing empathy can also encourage your partner to reciprocate. This creates a positive cycle of emotional connection and understanding.

4. Practice Open Communication

Communication is a fundamental aspect of any healthy relationship. And it is essential when it comes to building an emotional connection. Open and honest communication creates a space for mutual understanding and empathy. This can help to deepen your relationship and build a strong foundation for the future. Creating a safe space for sharing your thoughts and emotions is crucial to practice open communication with your partner.

This means approaching conversations respectfully and constructively, avoiding blame, and focusing on finding solutions or common ground. Practicing open and honest communication with your partner can create a deeper sense of intimacy and trust. Open communication can also help prevent misunderstandings or conflicts and create a space for resolving issues.

5. Share Experiences Can Increase an Emotional Connection

Shared experiences can be a powerful way to deepen your emotional connection with your partner. Engaging in new activities or visiting new places together can create a sense of adventure and excitement. They can also provide opportunities for learning and growth. These experiences can help to build memories, increase shared interests, and create a sense of mutual appreciation and respect.

Sharing experiences with your partner creates a sense of togetherness and a feeling of being on the same team. You work together to navigate new situations and support each other through challenges and triumphs. The shared experiences you create go beyond words and can help to build a deeper bond between you.

6. Practice Intimacy

Intimacy is a critical component of any relationship, but it doesn’t always have to be physical. Emotional intimacy, or the ability to connect on a deep emotional level, is just as important. One way to practice emotional intimacy is by sharing your fears, hopes, and dreams with your partner. Sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings with your partner can create a sense of vulnerability and openness.

This helps to deepen your emotional connection. It can also create a sense of mutual trust and understanding, essential for building a solid relationship. When you practice emotional intimacy with your partner, you create a space for open and honest communication. You demonstrate that you value their perspective and are willing to be vulnerable, which can encourage them to do the same.

7. Show Appreciation

You can strengthen your emotional connection with your partner by learning how to express gratitude. When you show your partner that you appreciate them, you create a sense of mutual respect and acknowledgment. One way to express gratitude is by acknowledging what your partner does, big and small. This can include thanking them for cooking dinner, taking care of the kids, or simply being there for them.

By recognizing and appreciating these actions, you demonstrate that you value and appreciate their contributions to your life. Expressing gratitude can also create a sense of positivity and optimism in your relationship. Focusing on what your partner does well creates a sense of mutual appreciation and support. This can foster a more profound sense of connection and understanding.

8. Practice Forgiveness

No matter how strong a relationship is, there will always be times when mistakes are made. Whether it’s a slight misunderstanding or a more significant breach of trust, practicing forgiveness can help. It can repair any damage and deepen your emotional connection with your partner. Forgiveness is not about condoning the behavior that caused the harm. Instead, it’s about letting go of negative emotions and moving forward positively.

It can be challenging, but forgiveness can create a sense of mutual understanding when done effectively. Forgiving always helps to restore trust and respect in your relationship. An essential aspect of forgiveness is time. So, remember to allow yourself and your partner time to process and heal from any hurt that has been caused.

9. Support Each Other

Supporting your partner through the good and bad times is essential to building an emotional connection. It means being there for them when they need you, offering encouragement, and being a source of strength and comfort. One way to provide support is to actively listen to your partner when they share their thoughts and emotions.

This means giving them your undivided attention, showing empathy and understanding, and offering reassurance when needed. Another way to support your partner is to provide encouragement and guidance when facing challenges or obstacles. This can involve helping them to problem-solve, offering advice or resources, or simply being a sounding board for their ideas.

10. Make Time

In such a busy life, letting time with your partner fall by the wayside is easy. However, making time for your partner is essential for building an emotional connection and maintaining a healthy relationship. And making time is not as complicated as it sounds. You can consider scheduling regular date nights or activities that you can do together. This can be as simple as cooking dinner together or walking in the park.

Or it can be something more elaborate, like taking a weekend trip or trying a new hobby together. It’s also essential to make time for quality conversation with your partner. This means setting aside distractions like phones or TV and engaging with each other on a deeper level. You can use this time to share your thoughts, discuss your goals and aspirations, or enjoy each other’s company.

Final Thoughts on Some Ways to Increase Emotional Connection with Your Partner

Building an emotional connection with your partner requires effort, communication, and a willingness to be vulnerable. The aspects discussed above can help deepen your relationship and create a strong foundation for the future. You should try to show more interest, be present, and make time for your partner.

These are just a few things you should keep in mind if you want to better the emotional connection in your relationship. By implementing these strategies, you can build a strong relationship and emotional connection with your partner. This can lead to greater happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction in your relationship.

Building emotional connections is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and attention. But the rewards are well worth it. A strong relationship and emotional connection can help you and your partner navigate the ups and downs of love and life together. It can allow you to create a partnership that is built to last. So, take the time to invest in your relationship and prioritize emotional connection. Your relationship will thank you for it.

8 Reasons Someone Can’t Find True Love. According to Karma

April 21, 2023 by Kristen Lawrence

Have you ever wondered how karma affects your relationships? If you struggle to find true love with a long-term partner, you may chalk it up to not meeting the right person yet.

Sometimes, finding someone you genuinely connect with takes a while, which may explain why you’re single. But people often overlook the impact of karma in their lives, which doles out rewards and punishments according to past actions.

Most people desire a supportive, loving partner to share their lives with, and waiting for that person to show up can feel frustrating. Especially if you’ve been in the dating scene for a while, you may feel impatient or hopeless about finding true love.

However, remember that the universe will always give you what you deserve. Perhaps it’s encouraging you to remain single until someone genuinely worthy of your time and energy comes around.

There are plenty of karmic reasons why you haven’t found Mr. or Mrs. Right yet, so don’t lose faith in love. You may meet your person when you least expect it, as the laws of karma work in mysterious ways. This article will provide clarity and support if you need help understanding why you haven’t found a serious relationship.

8 Reasons You’re Single, According to the Laws of Karma

1. You struggle with low self-esteem.

People tend to accept the love they think they deserve. So if you have a negative self-image, you will attract someone with similar energy. To find true love, you must first cultivate that feeling within yourself. Once you believe you’re worthy of a positive relationship, the universe will help you find your special someone.

2. You believe you need someone to complete you.

Unfortunately, many feel lonely or incomplete without someone by their side. Societal programming teaches you to seek happiness outside yourself, in people, food, entertainment, and myriad distractions. But once you have all these things, you will still feel unsatisfied since lasting bliss comes from the soul.

Find yourself first; life will beautifully unfold as you feel more peaceful and content. Remember that you are infinite love and joy already as the limitless consciousness expressing itself through you.

3. The universe may want you to heal from past karma first.

Perhaps you’re single because you need time to process painful emotions or past relationships. Having a healthy relationship is impossible if trauma or baggage weighs you down. The law of karma states that events will keep repeating themselves until you break this vicious cycle.

So, reflect quietly on what you’ve been through to understand why you keep attracting certain people or situations. Once you look inside for the answers, everything will become much more apparent.

You may not be ready for a serious commitment because you must devote all your energy to self-love. Always follow your heart and listen to your intuition, which will never lead you astray.

4. You’ve lost faith in finding true love.

You may no longer believe in true love if you’ve had a string of failed relationships. That’s understandable, but protecting your heart from pain will also repel happiness and positive people. First, ask yourself why you’ve become cynical about love. Is it because you haven’t met the right person, or you don’t have the energy to offer someone else?

Reconnect with your heart to help you navigate painful emotions and uncover the karmic reasons why you’ve given up on love. You may find that you can open your heart again after soul-searching.

5. You have a higher purpose, according to your karma.

Did you ever consider that you haven’t met your person yet because you have a different calling? You may have the karma of a healer, and the universe wants you to spend time elevating others. Perhaps you have a grand mission that requires you to stay single so you have the energy to help people. You may find fulfillment in this path and not even feel the need for a romantic relationship.

6. An unhealthy relationship blocks you from receiving the universe’s blessings.

If you’re in a toxic relationship, you can’t experience good karma and blessings the universe may have in store. People stay in turbulent partnerships for many reasons, such as familiarity with the person or fear of leaving them. However, remaining in an unsatisfying, draining relationship will keep you further away from true love. Once you let go of things and people that no longer serve you, you can allow abundance into your life.

7. You have yet to learn specific karmic lessons about love.

The karma of past relationships and partners still haunts you, so you keep attracting the same experiences. If you haven’t learned from your mistakes, you will repeat specific patterns until you break the cycle. Examine your recent relationships and notice if specific triggers or conflicts surfaced often. If so, you may have unresolved karma or lessons to learn with these romantic partners.

8. The karma of past relationships haunts you.

Some people have difficulty attracting love because they haven’t forgiven themselves for the past. They walk around with regrets hanging over their heads and can’t seem to find inner peace. You must practice self-compassion and stop ruminating over your mistakes to find the right person.

For example, if you broke up with your ex and hurt their feelings, know that everything happens for a reason. They have probably moved on and don’t resent the relationship ending.

If you’re the one mourning your ex, give yourself time to heal and avoid jumping into a rebound relationship. Research shows healing from a breakup can take three to six months and even longer in the case of divorce.

Final Thoughts on Reasons You Can’t Find True Love

Some people spend months or years trying to meet their soulmate. They might wonder what karmic reasons keep them from finding their special someone. Usually, low self-esteem, unhealed trauma, or a broken heart block people from experiencing true love. Their past karma may influence their luck in finding a successful relationship, which can quickly become frustrating. However, some soul-searching and self-love can help you uncover love within yourself, so it’s easier to attract a healthy partnership.

10 Calisthenics Exercises That Melt Away Fat

April 21, 2023 by Kristen Lawrence

Calisthenics is a strength training exercise that relies on body weight to build muscle and improve fitness. They help strengthen the entire body because each exercise targets all the major muscle groups. Since you don’t need dumbbells or other hand weights, you can perform these exercises anywhere. Each movement requires a few minutes of your time but provides an intense challenge.

Many people think health experts invented full-body resistance workouts in the modern era, but they began in ancient Greece. In Greek, calisthenics means strength and beauty, two essential facets of life in their culture. Spartans would train for war using bodyweight resistance training, combat sports, and wrestling.

Soldiers still rely on bodyweight training to build strength and increase stamina. But the exercises have become more mainstream. Now you’ll find anyone from fitness trainers to teachers doing these workouts to enhance their endurance and coordination.

Even if you’re already physically healthy, you should consider doing calisthenics workouts for beginners. These exercises will help you burn fat, build muscle, and improve your fitness.

An Explanation of Calisthenics

In essence, calisthenics is a bodyweight exercise that relies on the body for resistance rather than traditional weights. These strength training workouts improve functional fitness and endurance, build muscle, and burn fat. They usually include functional movements like squatting, bending, twisting, kicking, pushing, and lunging. These bodyweight exercises help you connect to your primal nature and move as you would in real-world situations.

10 Calisthenics Exercises to Melt Away Fat

All of these exercises are full-body workouts that you can do in the comfort of your home. It’s best to perform them in a circuit to achieve maximum benefits and improve overall fitness. Try doing ten repetitions for each exercise for three rounds to start.

NOTE: If you prefer to watch these, this YouTube Video can guide you through all ten exercises:

1 – Jumping Jacks

This classic movement is one of the best cardiovascular exercises since it improves endurance. Depending on your fitness level, you can do the traditional version or modify it by stepping from side to side.

2 – Pike Walks

You’ll need a couch or chair with thick armrests for this calisthenics exercise. However, you can practice on the ground and move your feet higher as you get more comfortable.

3 – Pushups (a classic calisthenics move!)

Pushups are crucial to any bodyweight training program since they utilize every major muscle group and increase overall strength. You can do these fat-burning exercises in various ways, such as against a couch, wall, or floor. You can even perform them on your knees for a modified version.

4 – Side Plank Raises

This movement targets the obliques, abs, hip adductors, hip abductors, back muscles, and shoulders. It’s also excellent for stabilizing and strengthening the spine. Try it on your knees and rest on your forearm before progressing into intermediate versions.

5 – Knee Raises

For this exercise, you’ll need two chairs to have plenty of room for leg mobility. This movement combines abdominal with support strength work for full-body training.

6 – Rows

You’ll need some furniture for this movement, such as two chairs or the edge of a table. If you want a comprehensive back exercise that targets your arms, consider adding this to your fitness regimen.

7 – Swimmers

These cardiovascular exercises target the back, glutes, and hamstrings for a whole-body workout. It also helps improve your posture by opening and stretching the spinal muscles.

8 – Easy Bridge

This simple movement improves shoulder mobility by stretching your biceps, chest, and front delts. If it’s hard on your wrists, you can lift your body halfway instead of doing the traditional movement.

9 – Squats

Fat-burning exercises like squats target the glutes, hamstrings, and quads. In addition, they enhance spine, ankle, and hip mobility, making them an excellent full-body workout. For a challenge, try one-legged squats or jumping squats!

10 – Lunges

Like squats, lunges strengthen the quads, hips, and glute muscles. Since they focus on one leg at a time, they improve balance, coordination, and stability.

The Benefits of Calisthenics Exercises

Bodyweight resistance training exercises have numerous benefits, such as increasing fitness and improving muscle building. According to studies, these workouts also promote fat loss and improved cardiovascular health. Because they consist of compound workouts that use several muscle groups simultaneously, they maximize calorie burning. Other studies show that full-body movements enhance posture and body composition as well. Finally, they can boost your mood, improve mental health, and increase flexibility.

How to Incorporate These Calisthenics into Your Fitness Routine

When creating workout plans, make sure to incorporate various calisthenics exercises. The movements listed above provide an excellent bodyweight training program for beginners. In addition, you can research other popular resistance workouts online if you want more options.

Consider doing calisthenics circuits instead of sets of each exercise, as this will keep your heart rate elevated and make it more challenging. Initially, try doing the circuit three times with a 30-second break between each movement. Rest for at least three minutes between each round as well.

Finally, employ progressive overload training to increase the difficulty of workouts and avoid plateauing. This training involves gradually increasing weight, frequency, and repetitions to improve fitness. Consistently raising the bar in your exercise routine will force your body to adapt and keep workouts engaging.

However, always remember to go at a comfortable pace and listen to your body. Going beyond your comfort zone too quickly could result in severe injury or strained muscles. If you have trouble performing specific exercises, you can modify them or try a different workout that matches your current fitness level.

Setting Specific Goals

As with any regular workout routine, you’ll want to set specific fitness goals to challenge yourself. An objective will help you stay focused and motivated to achieve your ideal.

For example, if you want to focus on strength training, practice progressive overload by increasing weights every few weeks. This can also apply to bodybuilding and weight loss goals since increasing resistance will force your body to work harder. As you build muscle, you’ll burn more fat as your metabolism increases.

You can also set micro-goals, like running longer distances or performing more reps in your workouts. Smaller objectives matter as much as an overarching goal since they’ll help you stay on track.

The main idea is to push yourself continuously so you don’t become complacent. Having new obstacles to overcome will encourage you to strive for improved health and fitness.

Final Thoughts on Trying These Fat-Burning Calisthenics Routines to Get Fitter

Fat-burning calisthenics routines like the above can help you gain strength, build muscle, and improve your fitness. Building muscle with bodyweight exercises may seem intimidating. Still, even beginners can perform them reasonably efficiently. You don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment for these exercises — just your body and a little patience! Hopefully, you’ll try these ten calisthenics exercises for increased fitness and fat loss.

10 Signs That Reveal a Toxic Mother

April 20, 2023 by Sarah Barkley

Dealing with a toxic mother is hard and can leave you overwhelmed or drained. When this occurs, your mother will hurt you, using negative words and behaviors.

A toxic mother will mistreat you and have an inconsiderate attitude. It often involves feeling unloved or controlled as a child. You may not have ever felt your boundaries got respected by your mother.

You might experience negative vibes from her, and she continually makes rude or unnecessary comments. She might even taunt you or criticize your work. It’s not always easy to deal with a toxic mother, but there are ways you can handle it.

When you recognize the signs of a toxic mother, you can understand what you’re dealing with and know what to do.

NOTE: We acknowledge that fathers can also display toxic behaviors, so we cover them separately.

Ten Signs of a Toxic Mother

Having a toxic mother can result in negative repercussions for you, including the following:

anxiety
depression
unhealthy coping skills
problems in romantic relationships
trust issues

Understanding these signs of a toxic mother can help you identify if that’s the issue in your life. Otherwise, it might simply be that you don’t get along well. However, if it’s toxic behavior that’s the problem, recognizing it can help you find ways to deal.

1 – A Toxic Mother Is Too Involved in Your Relationship or Marriage

When a mother is too involved in her child’s relationships, it’s a sign of toxicity. She shouldn’t offer unsolicited advice or tell you where to live and when to have children.

A mom shouldn’t feel the need to involve herself in every decision. However, if she’s toxic, she might try to persuade you from a relationship with your spouse. You might also notice that your mother is always around you and your spouse or partner. She’ll do this to know what you’re doing and where you’re going.

How to deal: Show her that you’re happy in your relationship.

Sometimes the best way to handle a toxic mother interfering with your relationship is to show her you’re happy. She might back off when she sees you and your partner supporting and being there for one another. That’s not always the case, but it’ll at least show her that her interference isn’t disrupting your happiness.

2 – Gifts Come with Conditions

When a toxic mother buys you something, there’ll be strings attached. She’ll want you to praise the gift and expect something out of you for it.

Gifts from her will never be something you can enjoy because you’ll always know that she wants something out of it. She might even buy expensive gifts to keep your children or partner on her side and to justify her mistreatment with the material items she provides.

How to deal: Recognize the issue and set boundaries

If your mom gives gifts with conditions, it’s a way of manipulating you. She often wants a larger requent from you and forces you to give in based on what she gives you. Recognizing the issue can help you set boundaries and tell her that you won’t let her extravagant gifts influence your life.

3 – A Toxic Mother Overreacts to Conflict

Having differing opinions is okay, but a toxic mother overreacts to them. She’ll expect you to agree with her and can become angry when conflict arises between you. You’ll notice she expresses anger negatively, often saying hurtful things or becoming abusive.

How to deal: Stop trying to change her.

You can’t change someone who doesn’t want to be changed is detrimental to your well-being. It leads to continually wondering why you can’t change your mother and why she doesn’t want to do better.

Rather than focusing on these negative aspects of the situation, you can stop trying to change them. You already know how your mother will react, so accepting the experience can work to your advantage and prevent you from getting hurt.

4 – She Often Brings Up the Past

Toxic people often bring up things from the past to embarrass you or remind you of your mistakes. It won’t matter how much time passes; your toxic mother won’t let you forget these things. They’ll also often do this in front of others to make you look bad.

If your mother is like this, she’ll hold grudges and seek revenge. You might do something wrong or annoy her, and she’ll find ways to get back at you.

How to deal: Don’t overshare with her

Sometimes your mother might make you think you can trust her. Then, when you share details, she holds them against you. If you tell her that you made a mistake or didn’t do something the way she would have, she’ll continually bring it up.

She’ll also bring up situations when you acted wrongly toward her, despite the mistreatment you were reacting to. Avoiding sharing information with her is sometimes the best way to eliminate the issue. If she doesn’t know about these situations, she can’t bring them up.

5 – A Toxic Mother Is Overly Critical

A toxic mother will always find ways to put you down. It’ll seem like she judges your choices and isn’t happy about anything you do. You might feel like nothing you do pleases her and that she doesn’t like you much. She’ll find faults in everything you do, even when you’re doing a great job.

How to deal: Don’t try too hard to please her

You won’t please a toxic mother no matter what you do. She’ll always have something negative to say, and trying harder will only cause more work for you. Continue doing things as you do now because her demeaning remarks might not be accurate. Plus, the harder you try, the more critical she may become.

6 – She Turns People Against You

A toxic mother will try to turn others against you. She’ll ask you to do stuff she knows you’re not good at to make it look like you’re incapable. Then, she’ll say hurtful things to others to highlight your imperfections or shortcomings.

If she thinks your presence threatens her place in the family, she’ll lie about you or exaggerate situations to make you look bad. She’ll want you to look bad so others like her more and so that they don’t see the mistreatment for the toxicity it is.

How to deal: Defend Yourself Without Attacking Her

You don’t have to let her attack you, but you shouldn’t come at her that way. Vocalize how you feel to help her understand your feelings, but don’t try to seek revenge. You don’t have to say hurtful things or act against her to defend yourself.

7 – She Won’t Admit Mistakes

Someone who won’t admit when they’re wrong or made a mistake is often toxic. They’ll keep arguing their point even with evidence that it’s incorrect. She always wants to be right, even when it interferes with something else. You’ll also notice that she argues to win and not to teach you something beneficial.

How to deal: Forgive her

If you choose to have a relationship with a mother who won’t admit her mistakes, you must forgive her. Without forgiveness, you can’t have a healthy relationship. It involves forgiving all the wrong she did and benefits your peace of mind.

8 – A Toxic Mother Gives Unsolicited Advice

A toxic mother always has something to say, even when you don’t want her to. It’s her way of proving that she’s superior to you, allowing her to maintain control over the relationship. She’ll offer advice on everything and anything, even when you don’t want it, often knocking your efforts in the process.

How to deal: Release the negativity

Your mother’s advice might annoy you, but you don’t have to let the negativity affect you. Don’t react negatively, even when tempting, because it won’t help the situation.

Instead, release the negative feelings her advice brings and continue doing things as you typically would. It’ll likely annoy her more, but it helps you feel better about the situation and remember that this is your life, not hers.

9 – She Acts Like a Victim If You Confront Her

Hen you call out your mother for her toxic behavior, she likely plays the victim card and blames the issues on you. She’ll change her demeanor to make it look like she was doing the right thing and you’re being unreasonable.

A mother like this also doesn’t apologize often. When she does, It’ll be in a way that makes you feel bad and implies that she didn’t do anything wrong.

How to deal: Don’t react to her negative behavior

She likely wants you to react negatively to prove her point when she plays the victim card. Rather than letting it play out this way, try not to respond to her toxic behavior. Avoid any opportunity for her to cause a scene in front of others.

10 – She’s Inconsiderate

A toxic mother will make you feel unimportant by being inconsiderate when planning family events. She might forget to invite you to family gatherings and leave little time to prepare when she remembers. Sometimes you might even notice that she plans things opposite to your schedule.

At family gatherings, she might talk to everyone but you. When she does acknowledge you, it’s often to tease or mock you. She’ll also ignore your suggestions no matter how good they are.

A mother like this will expect you to go along with whatever she wants and works for her. You must follow her wishes and submit to her demands to get along with her. Sometimes she’ll even want you to change your lifestyle to adapt to what she wants.

How to deal: Prepare for these situations

When you recognize inconsiderate behaviors from your mother, you can handle the experience by preparing for it. You can expect this behavior from her, so you can note the issues and avoid them. When her inconsiderate behavior doesn’t faze you, she’ll be annoyed, but it won’t affect you as much.

Final Thoughts on Signs That Reveal a Toxic Mother

Growing up with a toxic mother often affects you into adulthood. It can interfere with how you interact with your children and other people in your life. This lifestyle can lead to continuing the same patterns later, even if you swore you would. Visiting a professional for therapy can help you identify the issue and find ways to cope with it.

Dealing with a toxic mother can be tricky. But you are strong enough to handle it. Have faith in yourself and stay firm in your boundaries. You deserve respect, and it can help when you learn to deal with a toxic mother can help you entice it.

10 Signs That Reveal a Toxic Father

April 20, 2023 by Sarah Barkley

As you become an adult, you’re more likely to recognize the signs of a toxic father. While these things may have been prevalent throughout childhood, it sometimes takes independence to show you the issues.

If you have a toxic father, you’ve likely questioned some aspects of your upbringing. While no one experiences a perfect childhood, you might be healing from trauma or having current signs of going through it.

Recognizing the signs of a toxic father can help you heal from the situation. It can also help you avoid repeating the past with your kids. You don’t have to let these experiences with your father define your life. Recognizing them is the first step in learning how to deal with them.

NOTE: We acknowledge that mothers may also exhibit harmful behavior; we address the topic of toxic mothers in a companion article.

Ten Signs of a Toxic Father

No one is perfect, but having a toxic father can interfere with your life. Identifying the signs can help you find ways to handle them.

1 – He’s a Narcissist

Narcissistic fathers are incredibly toxic, often behaving as everything revolves around them. He’ll make you feel like his needs are more important than yours, expecting you to drop everything to be there.

Some of the signs of a narcissistic father include the following:

too much or too little communication
lack of warmth and care for his children
being hurtful regarding your decisions
taking over discussions
making you question your reality
mistreating others and blaming them for it
love bombing

How to deal: Seek professional help.

If you grew up with a controlling father, it takes a toll on your mental health. The issues stay with you into adulthood, affecting other relationships, including with your husband and in-laws. Seeking help from a professional therapist can help you heal and navigate the situation positively.

2 – He Needs Excessive Praise and Admiration but Doesn’t Give It in Return

A parent who constantly expects you to praise and admire them is often toxic. If you don’t do it, they might become angry or react with attention-seeking behaviors. They also don’t give you praise or admiration in return, so it’s a one-sided situation.

How to deal: Don’t live your life to please him.

If a parent always wants praise, you’ll desire it from them, too. However, living life to please your father will only make you unhappy and unfulfilled. Stay on your path and know that you don’t need his praise from him while following your dreams.

3 – He Compares You to Your Siblings

Having siblings is excellent, but it doesn’t feel good when your parents constantly compare you to them. You and your siblings are different, so expecting you to be like them is unfair.

You’ll likely feel attacked, and it can lead to insecurity when he tells you they’re better. It can also result in your father pitting you and your sibling against one another.

How to deal: Practice forgiveness.

Your father comparing you to your siblings can create resentment. Studies show that resentment can contribute to high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and an overactive nervous system.

On the other hand, practicing forgiveness can improve your health and lower stress. Resenting your dad won’t help either of you, but forgiving him for the comparisons and hurtful words can.

4 – He’s Disrespectful

A disrespectful father will make you feel you can never achieve his demands. He’ll make you feel unworthy and make comments that demean you.

A father like this won’t care how his behavior makes you feel because his goal is to diminish your self-esteem. He’ll also deny it but won’t try to change his behavior. Sometimes he’ll tell you that you imagined things and your feelings are invalid.

How to deal: Acknowledge your feelings and know they’re valid.

Your father might want you to think your feelings are invalid to avoid admitting he hurt you. However, your feelings and experiences are valid, and acknowledging them can help. Your emotions are not wrong, and you deserve to have them recognized, even if only by yourself.

5 – He Misuses Substances

Substance abuse is a sign of a toxic parent because it interferes with their personality and mindset. It often affects their ability to parent and manage other relationships. If you don’t recognize and handle the issue effectively, it could lead to a cycle where you take on substance abuse as a coping mechanism.

How to deal: Anticipate the situation and have a plan.

If your father misuses substances, you can anticipate it before seeing him. It might help to take a positive person in your life with you to help buffer the interaction.

You can prepare and ask your support person to step in if necessary. Make sure the person knows what you want or need from them, and don’t be afraid to leave if things get out of control.

6 – His Love is Conditional

Toxic fathers only show love when the child does what he wants them to. His approval and love only come when you fit his standards, often making you feel like you can’t be yourself.

Conditional love can also cause you to strive for acceptance and praise, interfering with your happiness and fulfillment. You’ll do things you don’t want to or head down a different path than your dreams to appease him.

How to deal: Surround yourself with loving and supportive people.

It can be hurtful when a parent only loves you when it’s convenient for them or if you meet their standards. However, it doesn’t mean you won’t have people who love you unconditionally. Finding a support system that loves you and wants you happy is one of the best ways you can deal with your toxic father.

7 – He Won’t Discuss Conflict

When your father gives you the silent treatment, he’s showing that he’s unwilling to discuss issues. With many healthy ways to communicate, he doesn’t have to resort to not discussing it entirely. It shows that he’s using this method to manipulate and punish you for not agreeing with him.

How to deal: Manage tour expectations and control your reactions.

You already know your father doesn’t discuss conflict, so it’s best to expect it. Rather than getting disappointed or lashing out when he won’t talk, you can practice acceptance.

It helps you control your reactions, preventing you from becoming even more upset. You’ll also have an easier time overcoming the situation when you know what to expect and maintain control of your emotions.

8 – He is Controlling and Wants You to Remain Dependent on Him

Most parents celebrate when their child becomes independent, but a toxic father won’t. He’ll do what he can to keep you dependent on him, often blocking your progression. It’s his way of maintaining dominance and control over you.

Dealing with a controlling father who wants you to stay dependent is essential. Experts indicate that having controlling parents make you more likely to experience depression and life dissatisfaction.

How to deal: Set and implement boundaries.

Children of toxic parents must create boundaries to prevent mistreatment and control. Rather than allowing him to control your life, you must gain and maintain your independence.

Your boundaries should involve telling him he can’t interfere with any aspect of your progress. Tell him what he can expect if he tries to cross the line, and follow through so he knows you won’t accept that behavior anymore.

9 – He Has Violent Outbursts and Blames Others

A toxic father regularly has violent outbursts, screaming at those around him. Afterward, he’ll blame someone else for his reaction, saying it wouldn’t have happened if they had behaved differently.

His outbursts are often unpredictable, although you might be able to identify some triggers. You’ll notice dramatic, hostile, aggressive, and cruel treatment from him when he’s upset or angry.

How to deal: Cut off contact.

This behavior is incredibly harmful, and it will continually affect your well-being. Cutting ties and releasing a family member might seem drastic, but you must take care of yourself and do what’s best for you. It can be challenging for someone to change this behavior, so protecting yourself by walking away is sometimes the best option.

10 – He Threatens You or Creates Fear

If your father threatens you, it’s a sure sign of a toxic parent. He’ll use threats and punishment to maintain control over your life. It often makes you want to engage in the behavior he prohibits, having the opposite effect of what he intended.

You might feel like you must walk on eggshells around him, indicating that he causes tension. It leads to fearing his threats and reactions, often leaving you afraid to say or do anything. The frequent hyper-vigilant state can last a lifetime and negatively affect other areas of your life.

How to deal: Live life on your terms.

While he’s attempting to force you to do what he wants, remember it’s essential to do what you want. This life is yours, and your father’s threats shouldn’t push you down any other path.

Final Thoughts on Signs That Reveal a Toxic Father

A toxic father can cause emotional and psychological damage to his children. Finding ways to handle him can make a difference in your life. Sometimes it requires getting professional help to heal from the trauma.

Your well-being is essential, and your father shouldn’t be the one negatively impacting it. You can find happiness and fulfillment despite his behavior. Don’t lose hope or let him continually mistreat you.

7 Behaviors of a Vulnerable Narcissist

April 20, 2023 by Kristen Lawrence

A vulnerable narcissist differs from an overt narcissist because they’re not as attention-seeking or arrogant. They still have the main characteristics of someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) but covertly display them. The vulnerable narcissist usually struggles with low self-esteem and comes across as shy and reserved. Instead of claiming the spotlight, covert narcissists may isolate themselves or avoid relationships due to fear of rejection.

People may feel more inclined to empathize with the hidden narcissist than the typical egomaniac. However, in some ways, the former can pose the greatest threat because of their ability to trick people into pitying them. They often have a victim mentality and believe others want to sabotage them. Because they have deep-rooted insecurities, the clandestine narcissist struggles to trust people.

At first glance, the covert narcissist may seem withdrawn and socially awkward but not conceited or insensitive. But once you get to know them, their true colors will emerge, revealing their narcissistic tendencies. That’s why hidden narcissism is so insidious since you usually don’t notice the traits immediately.

However, by understanding the behaviors of a vulnerable narcissist, you can protect yourself from their manipulation and toxicity.

What is a Vulnerable Narcissist?

Someone with a narcissistic personality disorder will seem self-absorbed, uncaring, and desperate for attention. They may appear charming and lovable at first to make a positive impression and get in people’s good graces. But their self-serving strategy and demeanor will soon become evident once they remove the mask.

The vulnerable narcissist can maintain the facade even longer because they use covert tactics and manipulation to deceive people. Unlike the grandiose narcissist, a hidden egomaniac displays patterns of self-victimization and self-pity. The former wants to hide their weaknesses at all costs, while the latter exposes them for their benefit. By accentuating their vulnerability, they believe it makes them more likable, trustworthy, and relatable.

After all, most people want to connect with others who seem genuine and comfortable with their flaws. Unfortunately, those with covert narcissism traits have underlying intentions, exploiting human nature and relationships to gain an advantage.

Seven Behaviors of a Vulnerable Narcissist

Seven common traits of a hidden narcissist include:

Emotional manipulation. A covert narcissist often manipulates and attempts to control others by guilt-tripping them. They may shift blame onto others and avoid taking responsibility for their actions. By making themselves look like the victim, they believe others will console and reassure them.
A common tactic of overt and covert narcissists involves manipulating people’s thoughts and feelings. They can gain control and power in relationships if they make others question their reality and perceptions.
Self-victimization. As stated, hidden narcissists reveal their inner nature by playing the victim. Most narcissists have insecurities and low self-worth, but vulnerable narcissists show it more frequently.
Hypersensitivity to rejection and ridicule. Another key trait of covert narcissism includes an inability to handle criticism or humiliation. One study found that concealed narcissists usually have an inferiority complex, which makes them highly sensitive to negative judgments. The research found that they also enjoy mocking others to boost their self-worth.
Social withdrawal and isolation. Many sensitive narcissists avoid or limit social interactions due to their self-perceived inferiority. Studies show a strong link between hidden NPD and introversion, as people with this disorder use isolation as a coping mechanism. They seek to protect their fragile ego from negative evaluations in any way possible, even if it means being a lone wolf.
Passive-aggressive behavior. Both overt and covert narcissists employ this tactic to manipulate and control people. They may utilize silent treatment, offensive, sarcastic remarks disguised as jokes, and other harmful communication strategies.
Neurotic antagonism. According to studies, concealed narcissism usually involves projecting unwanted, painful feelings onto others. Narcissists use this as a defense mechanism to avoid taking responsibility for their behaviors and insecurities.

The Impact of Vulnerable Narcissism on Relationships

As you might expect or have experienced firsthand, vulnerable narcissism often leads to toxic relationships. Since narcissists cannot think about others’ needs, having healthy, fulfilling bonds with them is impossible. Concealed narcissists frequently struggle with codependency and low self-esteem in relationships since their entire identity revolves around how people perceive them.

Their partner may not feel safe or secure in the relationship because of the narcissist’s instability. Most people with NPD don’t know how to establish healthy boundaries, which can erode their partner’s independence and self-worth. Having separate lives outside the relationship is also challenging if one partner feels utterly dependent on the other.

How to Recognize and Deal with a Vulnerable Narcissist

Protecting yourself from a vulnerable narcissist is crucial to maintain your mental health and overall well-being. Increasing your awareness and understanding of hidden narcissism, practicing self-care, and setting firm boundaries can safeguard you from narcissistic abuse. Once you know the signs to watch out for, you can avoid falling into their trap. If you have a kind, empathetic nature, you may want to help narcissists, but you must know when to put yourself first.

Why Vulnerable Narcissism is Difficult to Recognize and Address

Most people think narcissists are cunning, self-centered, and extroverted, which explains why they often overlook the more subtle form of NPD. Since covert narcissists often exhibit empathy and vulnerability, they can easily convince people to trust them. However, they eventually reveal their true nature once others get too close, so they lash out in fear and anger. Social norms that discourage speaking out against abusive behaviors and the mental health stigma make it challenging to address hidden narcissism. But you should never feel unsafe or trapped in a toxic relationship, so please seek support from trusted individuals if necessary.

Final Thoughts on Navigating Codependency and Toxic Dynamics in Relationships

Unlike grandiose narcissism, the covert version of this disorder usually goes undetected because of its subtle nature. People with narcissistic personality disorder can easily hide their insecurities and vulnerabilities, projecting an entirely different persona in public. But behind this facade lies a person with underlying intentions who wants to dominate and deceive others.

Usually, people with NPD have childhood trauma and genetic predispositions that make them more susceptible to mental illnesses. They may not intend to hurt people. But their behaviors can inflict long-term psychological damage and trauma on others and harms relationships. If you’re recovering from relationships with vulnerable narcissists, please seek support from loved ones and health professionals. You can’t turn back the clock, but you can reclaim your power and focus on a positive future.

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