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Science Explains 9 Deficiencies That Create Mood Disorders and Mental Illness

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Everyone feels sad or irritable once in a while, but you know how debilitating it can be for your life if you suffer from a mood disorder. Mood disorders affect your ability to function at school, home, or work. If you struggle with a mood disorder, you may be low in certain nutrients.

Although eating foods rich in these nutrients won’t cure your mood disorder, they may help you feel better. Here are some nutrient deficiencies that can contribute to mood disorders.

What are the five common mood disorders?

Doctors use the term mood disorder to describe several types of depression and bipolar disorders. People of all ages have mood disorders, and the symptoms can differ depending on your age. So if this sounds like you, know that you are not alone.

These disorders can be difficult to diagnose, especially in kids.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness identifies dozens of various mental health disorders.

nutrient deficiencies

However, some of the most commonly diagnosed types of mental illnesses include these mood disorders:

  • Depression:  This type of depression affects all your activities. You may feel hopeless and sad for extended periods of time.
  • Dysthymia: This is depression mixed with irritability. To be diagnosed with this disorder, it must last more than 2 years.
  • Bipolar disorder: If you have bipolar disorder, you’ll have different periods of elevated moods and depression.
  • Certain health conditions: Health problems can lead to mood disorders such as cancer, infection, chronic illnesses, or severe injuries that can trigger mental health problems.
  • Substance-induced mood disorder: This is a mood disorder that resulted from drug abuse, alcoholism, toxin exposure, or effects of medication.

Who suffers from mood disorders?

Mood disorders and mental illnesses span across the entire globe. The National Institute of Health says that approximately 9.7% of adults in the United States have a mood disorder. Females were more likely to suffer from a mood disorder than males.

Can nutrient-deficient cause mood disorders?

Poor nutrition affects your overall health. Eating a diet high in fats, sodium, and processed foods will make you feel tired and sluggish.

This makes you feel worse if you already struggle with a mood disorder. Your diet plays a huge role in your good gut and brain health, which doctors say are connected to some disorders like depression. Because nutrient deficiency can lead to mental health issues, it’s good to know which vitamins and minerals you should include in your diet to help your mood disorder.

But here’s the excellent news–you can reverse these nutrient deficiencies by learning the root cause. Let’s take a look.

Nine nutrient deficiencies that can affect your mood disorder

Your family doctor can test you for these nutrient deficiencies. These vital data can help you plan how to recover and reclaim your mental health.

1 – Zinc

If you struggle with a mood disorder, you may experience waves of sadness and anxiety. In 2020, researchers noted a “significant connection” between zinc and depression.

Zinc is an essential mineral that helps your body’s immune system fights viruses and bacteria that attack your body.  Your body also uses zinc to create protein and DNA in your cells. Studies have also found that people who lack zinc are more prone to depression and mood disorders.

Adding zinc to your diet might be what the doctor ordered to help reduce your depression symptoms. Eating foods high in zinc may help you find relief. Try adding these foods to your diet.

  • Oysters
  • Beef
  • Crabs
  • Beans
  • Nuts
  • Whole grains
  • Dairy products
  • Mushrooms
  • Spinach
  • Broccoli
  • Kale
  • Garlic

Most of your daily zinc intake should come from the foods you eat, so read food labels to find the foods highest zinc. You may want to add a zinc supplement to your diet to help you fight your mood disorder. Adults should take no more than 40 mg. a day.

Be careful if you’re already taking medications. The zinc may interact with them. Ask your doctor before you add a supplement to your diet if you’re on medication.

Other benefits of zinc include:

  • Keeps your skin healthy
  • Fight off colds by boosting your immune system
  • Fights off macular degeneration
  • Fights diarrhea
  • Healing of wounds

2 – Omega-3 fatty acids

Mood disorders can be debilitating, so it’s important to eat foods that give you the best nutrition to help your body. Omega-3 fatty acids are powerful anti-inflammatory resources. Studies show that omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies contribute to mood disorders.

Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are important fatty acids. Your body doesn’t make these fatty acids, so you need to eat a diet high in certain foods.

Besides mood disorders, eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids helps reduce your chances of having inflammatory diseases such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lung disease, and kidney disease.

Over the past couple of decades, researchers have realized the important role of omega-3 fatty acids benefits for those suffering from all kinds of mood disorders such as these:

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Border-Line Personality Disorder
  • Substance dependence
  • Anorexia Nervosa

 Good food sources of omega-3 fatty acids include:

  • Salmon
  • Tuna
  • Herring
  • Flaxseeds
  • Chia seeds
  • Walnuts
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Leafy greens

If you’re low in omega3 fatty acids, you may have other health problems such as the following:

  • Extreme tiredness
  • Joint pain and cramping
  • Allergy symptoms
  • Heart problems
  • Skin, hair, and nail problems
  • Women can have menstrual cycle problems.

Researchers aren’t sure if taking a fish oil supplement is as beneficial as eating foods high in these nutrients.

3 – Vitamin D

Some call Vitamin D the sunshine vitamin because the sun’s rays are a great source of this vitamin. Vitamin D  helps individuals with mood disorders and other types of depression. Studies found that individuals who suffer from depression have fewer vitamin D levels than other people. Your body gets vitamin D from sunshine, and certain foods, including the following:

  • Cod liver oil
  • Cheese and dairy foods
  • Egg yolks
  • Fatty fish such as mackerel, salmon, or tuna
  • Beef liver

Try taking a vitamin D supplement every day to boost your levels. Be sure to buy a good quality brand of vitamin and keep your does at around 600 to 800 IU per day. Too much vitamin D will cause nausea.

4 – Vitamin B12

Nutrient deficiencies can distort your moods, causing you to feel sad and irritable one minute and happy. It may feel like there’s nothing you can do to control your emotions.

In fact, a 2016 study noted a possible link between Vitamin B12 and the neural pathways in the brain leading to depression.

Fortunately, many nutrients can help you find relief from mood disorder symptoms. B-12 vitamins and folate are two important vitamin-mineral combinations that can help you feel better. Add foods that are rich in these nutrients, including these:

  • Eggs
  • Dairy products
  • Seafood
  • Fortified cereals

Like all vitamins and minerals, it’s best to get these from your food. If you can take a supplement, be careful not to take too much. If you take too much, B 12 can have an adverse effect causing anxiety, worry, and restless sleep.

mental health meme5 – Folate

Similar to vitamin B12, folate is essential to help fight mood disorders like anxiety. Choose foods rich in folate to boost your levels, such as

  • Brussels sprouts
  • Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and collard greens
  • Beans like pinto beans, kidney beans, or chickpeas
  • Fortified cereals
  • Citrus fruits

6 – Iodine

Iodine is essential for the proper function of your thyroid gland. Low iodine levels can cause thyroid problems, leading to mood swings and your metabolism not working well. Kids that don’t get enough iodine have poor brain development.

Fortunately, in the United States, iodized table salt has iodine added to it to guard against low iodine levels in kids and adults. If you don’t use table salt, you’ll need to develop a way to increase the iodine levels for your family. Add foods to your diet that contain iodine, like these:

  • Tuna
  • Seaweed
  • Shrimp and other seafood
  • Dairy products like cheese, milk, and yogurt

7 – Protein

Your body needs protein to function properly. Protein contains important amino acids that promote good brain health. Amino acids have been found to help treat depression. Add protein-rich offerings to your diet, such as these five foods:

  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Dairy products
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Beans and legumes

Try to add more protein like plant or meat protein to your diet to improve your moods and emotions. Lack of protein has been linked to disorders like

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • ADHD
  • Epilepsy
  • Certain types of autism

8 – Iron

Low levels of iron can also affect your mood, according to an article in BMC Psychiatry. To avoid certain types of depression and mood disorders, try to add these iron-rich foods to your diet, including

  • Lean meats
  • Fruits like raspberries and dried apricots
  • Chicken and turkey
  • Seafood
  • Legumes like peas and green beans
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Beans
  • Whole grains
  • Leafy greens like spinach, asparagus, and leeks

As always, it’s best to get your iron from the foods you eat. You can take an iron supplement, but taking too much can result in constipation and other problems.

9 – Selenium

Low levels of selenium can worsen your mood. It’s an important nutrient for good thyroid health, DNA production and acts as an anti-inflammatory. If you’re low in selenium, you will have poor brain function. Add selenium-rich foods to your diet every day, including foods like

  • Poultry
  • Eggs
  • Dairy products
  • Seafood
  • Beef

You shouldn’t take selenium supplements unless recommended by your doctor because of the risk of selenium toxicity.

Final thoughts on the nine nutrient deficiencies that might cause mood disorders

Mood disorders can change your life, making it hard for you to function at work, school, and home. If you suffer from a mood disorder, you know the challenges of learning how to live with it. If you have a mood disorder, be sure to get the help you need, plus add these important nutrients to your diet. Although they won’t eliminate your mood disorder, they can help with some of your symptoms.

Try to avoid a diet high in sugar, fat, or processed foods. This type of food makes you feel sluggish and tired, which will only add to your mood disorder’s struggles. Eating a healthy diet, exercise and finding helpful counseling can all be tools to help you feel better and lead a happier life.

8 Behaviors People Don’t Realize They Display Because They Are Zen

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“Flow with whatever may happen, and let your mind be free: Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.” – Zhuangzi

Stress seems to be a permanent fixture in our modern life, mostly due to our “always on” culture. The stress epidemic stems from many sources but boils down to one main problem – our obsession with productivity. Many people don’t even know how to relax anymore because it’s become so ingrained in us to remain busy at all times. When we DO happen to get down time, a lot of us don’t even know what to do with this gift.

Most people live solely in the past or future, and entirely skip the present. This creates a constant feeling of anxiety and depression, because the mind can never relax – it is always either reminiscing or dreaming. Now more than ever, people need to learn how to cope with stress in a healthy manner so they can thrive, not just survive. To some, this comes easily, and to others, it takes some practice and dedication to learn how to remain calm in the midst of chaos.

With that said, we’d like to discuss some habits that emotionally stable people have so that you can learn to incorporate them into your daily life.

Here are 8 common behaviors of zen people:

1. They control their emotions.

Easier said than done, we know. It seems that life always demands a reaction from us, because we have so much stimuli to sift through. However, not everything in life needs a reaction, despite what you might think. If someone cuts you off in traffic, for example, your initial reaction might be to curse them out, give them the finger, and try to get in front of them. Next time that happens, though, try to do the opposite. Just allow them to get in front of you and take a few deep breaths. See, that wasn’t so hard, was it? It might hurt your pride a bit, but you will save a lot of unnecessary stress and emotion by keeping your cool.

You can apply this technique to anything in life. Remember, once people have gotten under your skin, they have control over you. Once a situation has your blood boiling, you have already lost the battle. It’s important to learn when a person or situation warrants a reaction – otherwise, you live in constant fight-or-flight mode, and this is neither healthy nor effective.

2. Zen people practice deep breathing.

Did you know most people breathe wrong? Yes, you read that correctly; even though we’ve been doing it since birth, most of us breathe much too quickly and shallowly. Instead, zen people practice deep breathing, which offers many benefits to the human brain and body.

According to an article by the Mayo Clinic: “The benefits of deep breathing extend beyond in-the-moment stress relief. Many studies have found that deep, yogic breathing helps balance the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary bodily functions, such as temperature control and bladder function. This may help ease symptoms of stress-related disorders and mental health conditions such as anxiety, general stress, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.”

3. They take time for self-care.

It seems quite absurd that we tend to put ourselves last when the only person who can truly take care of us, is ourselves! We have to live in our bodies and minds our whole lives, and they take a lot of abuse. So, why do we feel that we can only treat ourselves to relaxation and indulge in peace when we “deserve” it? If you didn’t get the memo, you don’t have to do anything to deserve self-care. You exist, so therefore, you require some TLC from yourself, and lots of it!

Zen people don’t apologize for putting themselves first at times and putting the chaotic world on pause. They carve out time each day for things that bring them peace and joy, such as a relaxing Epsom salt bath, creative activities like drawing or writing, or maybe just going for a walk.

remain calm

4. Zen people stay away from drama.

To them, drama = stress, and they have no room for it in their lives. Calm people maintain their cool by choosing to eliminate drama, negative people, and stressful situations as much as possible. If they can’t avoid it, they use Habit #1 to help diffuse the situation so it doesn’t take control of them. Toxic people tend to engage in drama and gossip often, but zen people know that negativity will only kill their vibe, and don’t want any part of it.

5. They don’t hide their true selves.

A big part of having inner peace comes from bringing your authentic self wherever you go in life, and not holding back for the sake of others. The most zen people have mastered the art of being themselves, and have learned to not care what others think of them. You can’t possibly live a stress-free life if you put a mask on and pretend, so zen people have practiced the habit of doing and saying what feels right to them at all times. They’ve accepted themselves as they are, but also know where they need to improve and can admit their flaws. They don’t judge themselves too harshly however, which helps them accept others as well.

6. They accept reality as it is.

“What you resist, persists.” – Carl Jung

While they may not like it, zen people know that fighting reality will get them nowhere. In fact, it will just add more stress and anxiety to their daily life, which will get them even further from where they want to be energetically. Even the most zen people among us have their moments; however, they don’t allow themselves to remain stuck in a negative place for too long. They know that pain and stress are simply a part of life, and allow any negative emotions to come and go without judgment. Simply put, they don’t try to control reality; they just go with the flow.

7. They know how to say “No.”

Zen people know that they have a limited amount of energy and resources, and therefore, they don’t spread themselves too thin. They allocate their time and energy as needed, and they don’t do something if they simply can’t. If their boss asks them to stay late and they already have an obligation, they don’t feel bad about saying “Sorry, I can’t.” Even if the other person gets mad, the zen person knows that they only have control over their own emotions, and others have responsibility for theirs. Zen people have learned to move past people-pleasing behavior, because that only leads to dissatisfaction and stress.

8. Zen people look after their health.

They know that they can’t possibly remain calm if their mind and body don’t get looked after properly. Many studies have linked good gut health to better mental health, so zen people make sure to keep their guts happy by eating plenty of fruits and veggies, staying hydrated, and keeping active. They know that their bodies and minds need good fuel to thrive, so they don’t deprive themselves of their right to health.

Final thoughts

Being “Zen” might seem difficult in today’s world, but really, it just comes down to incorporating simple habits into your daily routine. After practicing them for a few weeks, you’ll start to feel calmer, happier, and more in control of your emotions, too!

Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/decrease-stress-by-using-your-breath/art-20267197?pg=2
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201404/the-gut-brain-connection-mental-illness-and-disease

What Does Your Zodiac Sign Reveal About Your Love Life?

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All people experience love differently and want different things out of relationships, but at our core, we all need the same basic things in our romantic partnerships. Astrology can tell us a lot of things about what we need in our love lives, so read on to find out what your zodiac sign reveals about your relationships.

Here’s what your zodiac sign says about your love life:

AQUARIUS

Aquarius, you live life by the seat of your pants and crave intelligent conversations. In relationships, you need spontaneity and thought-provoking conversations, or else you get bored pretty quickly. You want someone who will keep you on your toes and show you a new perspective on life. The perfect person for you would take you on trips unexpectedly and just tell you to pack your bags without informing you of where you’re going. Your love life is a bit chaotic, complicated, and passionate, but you wouldn’t have it any other way. If you are interested in psychic reading, you can check this full article and understand how it works and what one must do to find a reliable psychic to help and guide them.

PISCES

Pisces, you’re sensitive, have a huge imagination, and live inside your head a lot. You don’t take relationships lightly, and don’t open up to someone until you’re totally comfortable and can trust them wholly. You aren’t one for flings, and would rather be single than stay in a relationship that doesn’t satisfy you. You need a deep, passionate connection with someone or else you don’t see the point of a relationship.

ARIES

Aries, your independent, headstrong nature calls for having someone in your life to keep you in check when you start to get a little too hot to handle. You never feel that you need anyone to complete you, however, as you know how to master your own life without someone else directing you. You need a passionate, goal-oriented, independent partner who knows how to listen and can handle your feisty nature without trying to change you.

TAURUS

Taurus, you’re stubborn and stuck in your ways, but you truly care about your partner deeply and want the best for them. Underneath that tough exterior, you have a lot of emotions that you don’t show. You want someone who can take care of you after a long day at work, and someone who can help you open up to show your sensitive side. You’re not big on words, but you surely know how to show someone you care about them.

GEMINI

Gemini, you definitely have a split personality, because sometimes you want to settle down with someone, and other times you want to play the field. Your love life is ever-changing depending on your current mood and goals with romance. This can make it confusing for your partner, but you just see it as “trying out” different people and personalities until you find your true match.

CANCER

Cancer, you have a lot of love to give, but you often give it to the wrong people who only want to take advantage of you instead of sharing their love with you. Because you wear your heart on your sleeve, you tend to get hurt very easily. In love, you want someone who you can fully trust and who can handle your sea of emotions. You want someone who won’t try to change your sensitive, caring soul, but instead will embrace you and serve as your anchor when you drift too far out to sea.

LEO

Leo, you have a loud, outgoing personality, and need someone who will join in your party rather than raining on your parade. You have a lot of goals in life, and aren’t afraid of going after them. You need someone who will support you and can keep up with the fast pace of your life. You have a fun, caring personality, and want someone who looks at life through the same optimistic lens as you.flirting

VIRGO

Virgo, your specialty in life is overanalyzing and making decisions based on pure logic, so you’d do well to find someone more laid-back and emotional to balance you out. You have a hard time talking about your emotions, so you need someone who can help you open up a bit. Also, you like to have everything planned out to a T, so you need someone who can help you be less rigid and more flexible.

LIBRA

Libra, you need balance in your life like plants need the sun. It’s your method of survival, and you don’t do well when the seas get turbulent. You’re a natural peacemaker, so you need a relationship that will promote those feelings instead of causing you stress. You have a calm, yet fun-loving personality, so you need someone grounded and steadfast to help keep you feeling stable.

SCORPIO

Scorpio, you don’t like to admit it, but you’re a highly emotional, sensitive creature. You like to hide your emotions, however, because sharing them makes you feel vulnerable, and you don’t like people to know too much about your inner world. In a relationship, it’s vital for you to have someone who makes you feel comfortable sharing your emotions instead of giving you a guilt trip about being too “moody.” You have a lot of passion, and need a relationship that ignites your flames.

SAGITTARIUS

Sagittarius, you’re always on the go. You love to go on adventures and don’t like to stay in one place too long. You’re a big jokester and don’t like taking life too seriously. You need a high energy partner who can keep up with you and who also doesn’t have the need to plan things out too much, because that seriously drags you down!

CAPRICORN

Capricorn, you’re a loyal, dedicated person to whatever comes your way in life. However, you tend to work yourself to death, so you need a partner to show you a good time and drag you away from your work. You tend to be a homebody, so you need someone who will take you out on the town and make you laugh to help balance out your serious personality. In a relationship, you give someone your whole heart and don’t want someone who’s just interested in playing games.

https://youtu.be/4GfHZOO1aNc

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved
Sources:
http://thespiritscience.net/2016/02/14/how-does-your-zodiac-sign-influence-your-love-life/
https://www.powerofpositivity.com/what-does-your-zodiac-sign-reveal-about-your-love-life/

How to Make ‘Ginger Tea’ To Help With Weight Loss And Digestion

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Have you ever wondered what ginger does to your body?

To help answer these questions, here are a few facts pertaining to Zingiber officinale, aka, ginger:

  • Ginger is the rhizome, or stem, of the Zingiber officinale plant, and it has been used for centuries as a food, spice, and medicine…” – Owen Bond
  • It is a vasodilator – a fancy word for saying that it widens your arteries and enhances blood circulation. This vasodilation effect increases body temperature (called the ‘thermogenic effect’), stimulating metabolism and burning calories.
  • It increases the production of gastric juices, which helps to enhance digestion and burn calories.
  • Animal studies demonstrate that it increased metabolism rates by as much as 20 percent.
  • “Ginger promotes digestion and stimulates metabolism, which leads to increased calorie burning.” ~ Owen Bond: “Does Ginger Burn Fat?”
  • Besides weight loss, ginger helps relieve upset stomach, constipation, and indigestion.
  • The ginger plant’s root or underground stem (rhizome) can be consumed fresh, powdered, dried as a spice, in oil form, or as juice. This root is part of the Zingiberaceae family, alongside cardamom and turmeric. It is commonly produced in India, Jamaica, Fiji, Indonesia, and Australia.

ginger

Ginger is also tasty, which is good because we will stir up some ginger water. Ginger root is widely available, so finding the main ingredient should be easy.

So, are you ready to whip up some ginger water? Us too!

 

Juices for weight loss

Here are the five simple steps for making ginger water:

1. Get either some dried root powder or some fresh ginger. (Note: If using it fresh, slice it nice and thin!)

2. Bring two cups of water to a boil.

3. Pour hot water into a cup.

4. Add ginger powder or slices. (Note: If using slices, wait 15 minutes until drinking.)

5. (Optional) Add a slice of lemon or a bit of honey to give it some extra taste. Bonus: both honey and lemon are excellent natural remedies for burning body fat. WIN!

To maximize the fat-burning effectiveness of ginger water, drink a cup 2-3 times a day. Remember: ginger – and ginger water – isn’t just great for weight loss; it helps support digestion and metabolism, too.

(Here are more health benefits with drinking and eating Ginger!)

Megan Ware, RDN, LN, states that other potential health benefits of ginger include loss of appetite, relief from motion sickness, and pain relief.

Ginger is available in fresh or dry form and as an extract or oil. Whole food stores and nutrition establishments sell ginger in supplement form.

Foods that contain ginger include cookies, ginger ale, gingerbread, and ginger snaps. You may also be able to find ginger as a capsule, tablet, or tincture.

Psychologists Explain 7 Reasons Compulsive Liars Think It’s Okay To Lie

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Compulsive liars have an aversion to telling the truth.

According to psychologist and author, David J. Ley, Ph.D., compulsive liars “get so accustomed to lying that they do so even when there is no clear purpose, and when their lies are easily disproven, leaving everyone scratching their heads over the point of their deceptions.”

Even if lying doesn’t make the situation better, compulsive liars feel compelled to lie. But why? Chances are, we’ve all known a compulsive liar in our lives, and their lies stretched from big to small. Psychologists have studied the compulsive liar, and they have figured out a few reasons why they lie. Or, rather: why compulsive liars think it’s okay to lie.

Here Are 7 Reasons Why Compulsive Liars Think It’s Okay To Lie

“Liars begin with making falsehood appear like truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood.” – William Shenstone

1. Lying keeps them in control

When you have control over the truth, you can control a situation. Compulsive liars tend to lie because it keeps them in control of the narrative. It doesn’t matter if the lie is good or bad. Giving up the lie means that they will also have to give up control of the narrative, and that is scary for them.

“The truth can be “inconvenient” because it might not conform to their narrative,” adds Dr. Ley. Not all compulsive liars do it maliciously, but that doesn’t stop it from still being a compulsive behavior. Lying to stay in control is one of the main reasons they think it’s okay to lie.

2. They don’t think they’re lying

For compulsive liars, they often twist the truth so much that they no longer know what is real and what isn’t. So, when a compulsive liar lies, they may be doing it because they no longer believe that it’s a lie. In fact, they may very well think that they are telling the truth.

“It has been observed that pathological liars believe their lies to the extent that the belief may be delusional,” says Dr. Charles C. Dike, MD, MPH, MRCPsych.

If they’ve told themselves and everyone else around them that they had a goldfish that died, even if they didn’t, they may begin to really believe that they had a goldfish that died – and if they really believe it, they no longer believe that they are lying.

signs of compulsive liar

3. The lies don’t matter

At least, in their eyes, they don’t. Even if the lie has the potential to change someone’s life, to them the lie simply doesn’t matter. This is how they continue to tell themselves it’s okay to keep lying, because the lies that they tell don’t really matter.

“Pathological liars will look at a situation entirely from their own perspective. They have no regard for another’s feelings about what might happen as a result of their lies,” states professor of psychological and brain sciences, Robert Feldman, PhD.

Unfortunately, for many compulsive liars, if something doesn’t affect them in any way, then they are not likely to care about it affecting other people. Psychologists have found that compulsive liars tend to keep lying the more they convince themselves that they’re not hurting anyone.

4. They want the lie to be true

On the flip side of the compulsive liar really believing their own lies, they also lie because they want their lies to be true. In fact, they want them to be true so bad that they’ll continue to repeat the lie as a statement of fact until they get their way. This often works with trying to ostracize someone they don’t like from a certain group.

“Pathological liars seem utterly sincere about their lies, but if confronted with facts to the contrary, will often just as sincerely reverse their story. Their stories have a believable consistency, but they just do not seem able to monitor whether they are telling the truth or not,” says psychiatrist at the U.C.L.A. School of Medicine, Dr. Bryan King.

A compulsive liar may tell a lie about someone bullying them over and over until other people believe the lie, and it becomes truth to the people around them. To them, the lie then becomes true.

5. Lying feels good

To a compulsive liar, lying is much like a rush or a high. They lie for fun, and because it feels good to get people to listen to them. They may lie about things that don’t matter in the long run, like an old college girlfriend or a trip they never took to Hawaii. For the most part, many compulsive liars continue to lie, and continue to justify it to themselves because it feels too good to stop. They like the attention and don’t want it to go away. Many continue to lie because they think people won’t find them interesting, otherwise.

6. To protect themselves

Much like lying to stay in control, compulsive lying can often be born out of a situation where the liar was once abused, either physically, verbally or emotionally. While this doesn’t excuse the lying, it does give a frame of reference for why they tell themselves it is okay to lie in the first place.

liars

In this case, the compulsive liar may have developed it as a coping mechanism to keep themselves safe from the abuser. Now that they are out of the situation, they may continue to lie because they feel the need to protect themselves.

7. They already started, so why stop?

For some compulsive liars, they justify the lying to themselves by thinking, “Well, I already started this lie, I’d better finish it.” This is because, “If a chronic liar admits to any single lie, they feel like they’re admitting to being a liar, and then you’ll have reason to distrust them,” adds Dr. Ley.

They convince themselves that they might as well see the lie through to the end, even though the end only happens when they get caught in the lie. This often also includes adding more lies on top of the original lie, until it just kind of snowballs out of their control and they get caught.

Final thoughts

“Pathological lying isn’t a clinical diagnosis, though it can sometimes be a symptom of other issues, such as a personality disorder or a manic episode,” concludes Dr. Ley. Thankfully, while being on the other side of the lies can be frustrating, a compulsive liar can be helped by therapy.

There are ways to work through a compulsive liar’s inability to tell the truth and come out on the other side. Psychologists are able to take these reasons as to why compulsive liar’s think it’s okay to lie, and work through them to help change their behavior.

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

5 Behaviors Awakened People Display In Their Relationship

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Unfortunately, many people stay in bad relationships just to avoid being alone or because they think no one else would want them. A British survey commissioned by money-transfer service TransferWise and carried out by YouGov on a sample of 2,031 British adults found that 6 in 10 people stay in relationships that are unfulfilling because they’re used to compromising. 

While these statistics only represent British people, they are likely similar worldwide. Granted, it’s understandable to be afraid of getting out of a relationship and being on your own again, especially if you’ve been with the person for a while, but your mental and physical health are the priority. If you are unhappy in a relationship and nothing is changing despite the two of you working on things, then it’s best to leave it behind and move on.

With that said, conscious couples tend to take relationships to their highest heights, and truly embody the term “power couple.” Both people have worked on themselves and healed their past wounds, and this allows them to fully give themselves to their partner and relationship. They see a relationship as an opportunity to grow, not a chance to control or bring down another person.

Here are 5 traits of conscious couples:

1. They care about helping each other grow

Being in a relationship provides a chance to grow individually, but also as a couple. Conscious couples not only care about the growth of themselves, but the growth of their partner, too. They don’t try to control the other person, but rather, allow them to flourish and blossom into whoever they desire to be. They help each other reach their goals, and truly care about their partner’s happiness and well-being.

The conscious couple never stops expanding and growing, because they know stagnation is the death of a relationship.

They don’t put out each other’s flames, but instead keep kindling the fire until the whole world shines a bit brighter.

2. Conscious couples don’t blame their partner for their wounds

Basically, the conscious couple takes responsibility for their past and have learned to put it behind them to start anew in their relationship. They don’t blame their partner for feelings of abandonment or neglect caused by their past, and therefore, they don’t expect these feelings to surface in the relationship. Of course, everyone makes mistakes and no relationship can feel happy all the time, but conscious couples have far less fights and misunderstandings than others.

They have simply agreed to use positivity to help their relationship grow rather than let the relationship die due to holding onto old pain.

relationship

3. They don’t try to stifle their partner

From a young age, we have all been conditioned to think we have to act, think, or talk in a certain way to get people to like us. It’s natural to want to be accepted, but so many people have buried their true selves in order to make other people like them – and nothing about this is healthy. In a conscious relationship, there are no filters, no expectations, and no hiding. Everything gets thrown onto the table, out in the open, and both people are perfectly okay with that.

They would rather watch their partner be their authentic self, even if that feels a little intense, than make them feel like they have to put on a mask just to maintain the relationship.

4. Conscious couples make love the priority

The power couple always asks “How can I love you more?” “How can I bring more love into our relationship?” They don’t expect to feel rainbows and butterflies all the time, but they certainly try everything in their power to keep their partner happy and feeling loved.

They treat love as a habit, not as an occasional place to retreat to after a fight or on an anniversary. They put love first, because without love, what would be the point of a relationship? Conscious couples approach every circumstance in their relationship with the question “How can I be love?” In other words, they aren’t interested in using the other person for the sake of love; they want to take things to the next level and embody love themselves. 

Because each partner isn’t dependent on the other to provide this feeling, it’s ever-present, like the very air we breathe.

5. They practice active listening

Unfortunately, many people today have forgotten the art of simply listening. We live in such a fast-paced, loud, chaotic world that requires our attention be split in a thousand directions. This habit of being in such a hurry has led many of us to forget to slow down, stop thinking for a second, and just listen. In romantic relationships, stopping what you’re doing, allowing your partner to speak, and fully listening to what they have to say leads to better conversations, deeper understanding, and a stronger bond.

According to an article by Diana Raab, PhD, on Psychology Today, “The goal of deep listening is to acquire information, understand a person or a situation, and experience pleasure. Active listening is about making a conscious decision to hear what people are saying. It’s about being completely focused on others—their words and their messages—without being distracted.” 

Final thoughts

Relationships require a lot of nurturing to stay alive, but, like anything in life, what you get out of something depends on what you put into it. If you want a thriving, healthy, happy, vibrant relationship, you have to view love as a practice and an opportunity to grow with your partner, rather than trying to “fix” or change them.

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved
Sources:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3330752/Stiff-upper-lip-gone-far-60-stay-bad-relationships-poor-customer-service-save-face.html
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-21277/the-4-qualities-of-a-conscious-relationship.html
http://thespiritscience.net/2016/09/09/12-conscious-habits-people-in-healthy-relationships-do/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-empowerment-diary/201708/deep-listening-in-personal-relationships

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