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7 Signs of Restless Leg Syndrome

September 8, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Restless leg syndrome, or RLS, is a medical condition wherein someone feels an urge to move their legs.

Approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population is estimated to be affected by RLS. There is no at-risk demographic, though the condition is slightly more widespread in women than men.

Similar to many complex medical conditions, physicians commonly misdiagnose or – even worse – ignore RLS. Mild symptoms of RLS are often treated as an anxiety disorder, which is bad.

Though a minority of anxiety (and depression) patients report RLS-like symptoms, the proposed treatment (which generally includes anti-anxiety or antidepressant meds) is an egregious error. Especially since such medications are potent and addictive, among other reasons.

Understanding how we feel is up to us

Understanding your own symptoms and feelings greatly assists, if not trumps, those of medical experts in certain circumstances. Though doctors are often highly educated and bright, nobody can understand many of the nuances going on in your body and brain.

It behooves us to do two things: (1) write down any and all symptoms; don’t worry about what’s real and what’s not. (2) Explain clearly (again, writing it down if needed) what’s going on with you. With this information in hand, you’re ready to see your chosen professional.

Getting back to RLS

RLS, while it may seem like a relatively simple condition, is anything but. Misdiagnosis is potentially very dangerous. Prescription drugs (such as anxiety/depression meds) that alter your brain’s chemistry is something to take very seriously.

Thus, we’re going to take a look at seven of the most common signs of RLS. We hope this information proves both useful and beneficial to those who may be suffering from the condition.

7 Signs of Restless Leg Syndrome

1. An “irresistible” urge to move your legs

Of all signs, this is perhaps the most important. Though anxiety and depression may provoke a “nervous twitch,” someone with RLS continuously moves their legs to relieve the discomfort.

If you’re always feeling an insuppressible urge to move your legs, it most likely is NOT an anxiety/depression disorder.

2. Sleep deprivation

Molly McGarvey, now 62, explains her battle with RLS-related sleep deprivation:

“During my early 40s, I could not sleep through the night for about four years. I still wonder how I managed to make it to work and function. I’d come home from work, fall asleep on the couch, get up to go to bed, and then would be up all night.”

Sadly, McGarvey’s marriage ended due to her condition. She explained the reason for her divorce as…

3. Edginess and irritability due to RLS symptoms

That’s right, this woman’s marriage ended because of RLS. Then, she couldn’t deal with the chaos her condition was causing.

After visiting a sleep clinic, she received an RLS diagnosis. After receiving the appropriate medication, her symptoms began to improve dramatically. “I remember waking up the next morning, having slept an entire night and couldn’t believe I actually rested.”

4. Severe morning fatigue

Morning fatigue is too often a direct result of poor sleep quality. When you’re only able to get about 1-2 hours of actual sleep, you’ll inevitably wake up tired.

Of course, this fatigue is felt throughout the workday, which makes it literally impossible to perform even the most routine of tasks correctly. RLS sufferers feel this way because the human brain can not function to even a portion of its capabilities without adequate rest.

5. Trying to “calm your legs down.”

Julie Vaughn, 49, went through three doctors before finally receiving the correct diagnosis. Mrs. Vaughn, via her intuition, knew her RLS was related to back injury. Yet her pleas went largely ignored. Finally, she had enough.

“After listening to me jabbering about my back problem, a neurologist performed a blood test that detected extremely low levels of (vitamin) B12 and iron: the most common cause of RLS.”

You’d think one of three physicians would know the most common cause of a widespread condition, yeah? Apparently not.

6. Trying to coax your body into sleep

Donna McLellan, fearing she’d be judged due to her condition, remained silent for over 20 years. She took prescribed medications for her chronic migraines, which only made her RLS worse. Her story is eye-opening.

“That’s when (after days of not sleeping) I was up at three in the morning, riding my exercise bike, running up and down the stairs, or outside walking up and down the road.”

She concludes her brief testimony soberly: “It’s one of the most lonely feelings in the world at three o’clock in the morning when you’re trying to calm your legs down and there’s nothing to do.”

7. Patterns of disrupting your partner’s sleep

For individuals in a relationship, they might hear their partner complain about interrupted sleep…again.

“You kicked me twice, I had to move to the couch,” is one of many complaints that someone with RLS hears. Such innocuous dialogue eventually lead to devastating outcomes, such as the as the end of a marriage.

It’s common for someone with RLS to kick their pet while they sleep. “The dog sleeps with me, but I usually hear him yelp and jump off the bed as I’m waking up, so I knew I’ve been kicking him,” McLellan says.

In closing…

It’s so unfortunate that medical conditions deemed ‘not too serious’ can wreak havoc on a person’s life.

RLS is a complicated condition; one potentially exacerbated from any number of underlying neurological, physical, and mental issues. With this in mind, please seek the advice of someone who specializes in sleep or neurological disorders.

Your quality of life depends on your timely and sound judgment. Value your health with the utmost respect it deserves!

We at Power of Positivity wish you nothing but health and happiness!

5 Reasons Women Lose Hair (And How To Fix It)

September 8, 2017 by Power of Positivity

“If you’re able to get to the cause of the problem, then it is likely that the hair loss you experience will reduce or even stop altogether.” – Dr. Raghu Reddy

Hair loss isn’t something that only happens to men. In fact, a lot of women suffer from a loss of hair. In society, women have more stigma connected to their hair loss, and it can be difficult to manage. Emotionally, losing your hair as a woman can be a very devastating time.

Consultant dermatologist Dr. Wong states, “Hair loss is often trivialised as ‘just hair’ or ‘cosmetic’ because it isn’t life-threatening. Yet the psychosocial effects of hair loss due to any cause can be profound and are grossly under recognised. Many patients spiral into depression, anxiety and social avoidance behaviour.”

Men have taken the look of having no hair and made it attractive, but women are still battling to make it socially acceptable to have bald heads. While there are some women who are forgoing all social norms, and rocking the bald head, it can still be a tumultuous time in a woman’s life when hair loss starts to strike. Fortunately, once we know what can cause hair loss in women, we’ll be better able to either guard against it or reverse the effects altogether.

Here Are 5 Reasons Why Women Lose Hair

1. It’s simply because of female pattern hair loss

Much like male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss is one of the most common reasons that women may suffer from hair loss. About one-third of all women are genetically exposed to female pattern hair loss. “In fact, around 40% of women by age 50 show signs of hair loss and less than 45% of women actually reach the age of 80 with a full head of hair,” explains Dr. Leona Yip, Research Fellow, St Vincent’s Hospital.

It can strike anywhere from puberty to menopause, starting with gradually thinning a woman’s hair. It’s caused by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, which is found in both men and women, and an excess can cause the hair follicles to shrink, which causes hair loss.

2. It’s because of an autoimmune condition called Alopecia Areata

This is an autoimmune condition, meaning the body’s immune cells are prone to attacking one another. In this case, alopecia areata causes patches of hair loss because the immune system is attacking the hair follicles. While this can lead to just patches of lost hair, it can also cause total baldness. Other symptoms also include splitting of the nails, dents or white spots.

3. Hair-fall is likely due to PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

Bosley mentions, “Women suffering from PCOS have increased levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the androgens responsible for hair loss in both male and female pattern baldness.”

PCOS is a condition that can cause a range of problems with a woman’s health. It’s a condition that causes an imbalance in female hormones, and the ovaries overproduce testosterone. This can cause women to grow excess body hair where it isn’t wanted, and cause a loss of hair where it is – namely, a bald patch on the top of the head. An overgrowth of leg hair, body hair and facial hair is also common with PCOS.

4. Hair fall is also attributed to medication

Antidepressants, beta-blockers, and some anti-inflammatory drugs can cause hair loss in women. Of course, this isn’t always the case, and many women who experience hair loss with the use of medication are most likely already susceptible to hair loss in the first place. Changing medication can reverse or half the hair loss entirely.

5. Hair fall is also due to pregnancy

New York city based hair-restoration surgeon, Dr. Carlos Wesley mentions, “Estrogen levels rise and are at an all-time high, and that has a positive impact on skin and hair. About nine weeks after birth, you lose 30 percent of your hair. It does come back, but it comes back thinner, finer.”

When a woman becomes pregnant, her body undergoes enormous hormone changes. Fortunately, this is more of a temporary condition rather than a long-lasting one. Women can experience hair loss during any stage of the pregnancy, but most often hair loss happens soon after the baby is born, due to another flood of hormonal changes, as Dr. Wesley mentioned above.

While hair loss can be difficult to manage and even a little embarrassing to admit to, it’s something that many women deal with and it should be nothing to be ashamed of. There are plenty of ways to help stop, reverse and prevent hair loss.

4 Ways To Prevent Hair Loss

1. Hormone replacement

This treatment is often prescribed after menopause. Women who suffer from hair loss after menopause may find that hormone replacement can help with many side effects, like hot flashes. However, it’s also good for restoring hair loss.

2. Hair transplant

This is useful for women who find their hair loss happening closer to the front of their head, but the rest of their hair remains thick and healthy. This is where hair transplant makes a good option for women dealing with hair loss. For the best results, hair transplants must be done in two or three sessions, with about six months between each session. While expensive and time-consuming, it’s a good option for women struggling with re-growing their hair.

3. Aldactone

This medication is mostly used to reduce the amount of fluid in your body without reducing your potassium levels. It’s a good alternative for other diuretics. However, this medication is often an antiandrogen, which means that the dihydrotestosterone in a woman’s body can be tamed. It can help stop this particular hormone from attacking hair follicles and killing off a woman’s healthy hair.

4. Rogaine

This treatment is most well-known for helping men with their male pattern baldness. It isn’t just for men, though! Rogaine is a topical medication that also works for women. While this treatment can take months, the results are pretty promising. Rogaine isn’t known for restoring a full head of hair in severe hair loss cases, but it can be enough to help restore thinning hair and lost patches.

Hair loss in women doesn’t have to be a hopeless cause. Just because hair loss in men and the treatments surrounding it are more well-known, doesn’t mean that there isn’t hope for women who suffer from hair loss, too. There are plenty of treatments to common causes of hair loss that can help restore both a woman’s hair and her confidence.

4 Behaviors A ‘Chaos Manufacturer’ Displays Before Revealing Themselves

September 8, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Have you seen the 2008 movie The Dark Knight? If so, do you remember the brilliant performance by Heath Ledger as the Joker? If you answered yes, you already have a great frame of reference for this article. See, the Joker calls himself “an agent of chaos, ” and he most certainly is.

For novices, Joker is an uber-intelligent psychopath who wears makeup and an outfit that resembles a clown’s.

Here’s a short list of Joker’s shenanigans: robbing the mob, detonating a hospital, firing shotgun shells into a SWAT van, and torching around 100 million of cash (illegally obtained, of course.)

He is chaotic. Joker is an agent – a manufacturer – of chaos.

Ok, so that’s a bit extreme…

Yeah…most people, even the highly psychopathic and sociopathic, probably wouldn’t attempt any of the above-mentioned things. Many of them do, however, have the urge to do so. Reading through many confessions of both groups, such urges were quite evident.

Chaos is disorder. Someone who manufactures chaos gets a twisted thrill from disrupting the normal mechanisms of society.

Hence, a reason why a chaos manufacturer is often slapped with the Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) label. We’ll delve a bit more into potential signs that someone may have APD or a similar condition like Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). Psychopathy, it should be noted, has recently been reclassified as APD by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Some real stories about chaos

On Quora, the following question was asked:

“What is it like to be a psychopath?”

The responses in the thread seem. One of the replies, which serves as the primary source, was published in the well-esteemed Business Insider Science section.

In fairness, there are plenty of stories from individuals who were abused, mistreated, institutionalized and stigmatized for being “wired differently.” A minority of people diagnosed as psychopathic, narcissistic, or antisocial actively attend therapy and “blend in” with society.

As we’re all human beings, it’s important that such individuals are mentioned as to avoid the over-stigmatization that people within these groups already face.

The responses chosen are quite long, so only the pertinent sections are quoted word-for-word. We’ll use these quotations to contextualize the four signs of a ‘chaos manufacturer.’

The four behaviors that chaos manufacturers show before revealing themselves…

1. Manipulation

Many (most?) people with APD/NPD will habitually manipulate others to get what they want. Many individuals of these types are quite intelligent and cunning, which makes it quite easy for them to “get over” on unsuspecting people.

“My parents described my behavior as cold and distant. I had absolutely no sense of loyalty and would use people to get what I wanted,” said one participant.

“I have little trouble talking my way into and out of whatever I want, enabling me to do whatever I want,” said another.

2. Lack of empathy

Whereas most “normal” people possess some concern for others, this just does not apply to a chaos manufacturer. Even the most well-adjusted sociopaths and narcissists admit this:

“I have almost no ability to empathize with others, and even at the death of those close to me, I did not feel sorrow. Instead, I knew that I should be feeling sorry, and so I exhibited the emotions that I knew I should be feeling.”

Here is a response from a diagnosed psychopath:

“You are wired how you are wired. As much as we feign empathy and guilt, we feel none of it, and never will. It is without our ability to do so.”

3. Emotional detachment

It is not hyperbolic to say that sociopaths, narcissists, and psychopaths’ ability to register typical emotion is nearly nonexistent. More specifically, all three groups of individuals lack the cognitive apparatuses necessary to “feel” emotions aside from those that are self-derived.

“(Pretending) to feel things can be very taxing. I see it as more of a chore than a benefit. I choose to face it like an acting challenge. Every day I hone my skill a bit more, and my goal is to shed some genuine looking tears at a funeral someday.”

“I enjoy not experiencing emotions in the same way as others. Everything they seem to go through looks exhausting and stupid.”

4. Emotionally abusive

Deliberate manufacturing of chaos is a form of emotional abuse. All of the behaviors mentioned above, if intentionally exhibited for personal gain, falls under this category.

Some, though not all, narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths acquire escalating feelings of pleasure as they exploit increasing numbers of people. Mostly, these feelings serve to stoke these individuals’ ego, which is sizeable, if not insatiable. Here are a couple of testimonials to wrap things up:

“Being cold and heartless was always an advantage because I could skip from one friendship to the next, using all of them until they had no further use.”

“I can get almost everything I want. However, I have to be very careful not to step on too many of society’s laws. But like any psychopath, I can walk a certain line that lets me take what I want without putting me behind bars.”

On the extreme end of things, here is how one person describes their condition: “Chaos entertains you. Just imagine – being a spectator in a room full of people fighting with each other and knowing you were the source of it…”

Now, that sounds like the Joker.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/quotes

8 Reasons Some People Don’t Like You (And How to Change It)

September 7, 2017 by Power of Positivity

In the movie, There’s Something About Mary, a pleasant yet borderline-obsessed Ben Stiller hires a private eye (Matt Dillon) to locate his high school crush Mary (Cameron Diaz). In the end, many less-than-ideal suitors all vie for Mary’s attention. None can give a good reason exactly why they all like her.

Switching gears…

Let’s think about this question for a minute. Is a person’s personality – “something” that makes them who they are – a reasonable basis not to like them?

Yes and no.

The “Two Types”

On the one hand, there are the “rough outliers”– people who, for whatever reason – go out of their way to inflict pain and suffering on others. These types of characters are hard not to dislike. Think of the schoolyard bully who ends up in jail or prison for bludgeoning some innocent bystander.

Then, some are misunderstood. Think of the shy or socially awkward kid who had trouble fitting in at school. Such people often grow up thinking they’ll never be accepted – and are too often correct, sadly.

There’s a big difference between an extreme outlier and someone misunderstood, right? As far as Mrs. Clinton goes, we’ll leave that one up to you, dear reader! (Please refrain from rude and inappropriate comments.)

If any material covered resonates too closely, we’ve added a “fix” for each behavior. Enjoy!

8 Reasons Some People Don’t Like You (And How to Change It)

Now that we’ve distinguished the two types, we can discuss why someone may be ostracized.

1. You try to impress everyone

“Nobody likes a showboat.” Does anyone remember someone telling them this? (Probably your grandmother or mother!)

It’s true. People who rev their engines or walk like they’re in a fashion show aren’t going to resonate well. They’re likely to be called out as arrogant and childish.

Fix: Ask a few people for their honest opinion of you. Keep a list of things you’re grateful for – and resist the urge to seek external validation.

2. You’re smart

People can’t get enough of Will McAvoy’s (Jeff Daniels) speech in HBO’s former series The Newsroom.

Daniel’s character rails everyone, from millennials to America’s lack of progress and everything in between. In lamenting over the latter, Daniels quietly says “We aspired to intelligence … It didn’t make us feel inferior.”

He’s right.

We see this problem in schools, where smarter kids who think differently face constant bullying. Inexcusably, it’s also in the workplace, where bright and driven people are fearful of standing out.

Fix: Have a bit more confidence in yourself. Learn the fine art of not giving a damn about people who envy you in the first place.

3. You’re a “know-it-all”

Catch you off guard a bit? Sorry!

There’s a fine line between someone intelligent and someone who’s a know-it-all.

Firstly, intelligent people don’t usually brag about their gifts; this is one area where know-it-alls have trouble. They could care less if their idea has merit, practicality, or other underlying criteria.

Intelligent people are modest. Though they may be bright, know-it-alls risk having an object thrown in their general direction.

Fix: Maybe you’re trying a bit too hard. Work on practicing some self-restraint. You don’t need to prove your worth!

4. You’re a gossip

You may be the office gossiper if you’re upset about this one being on the list.

Here’s the straight-up truth: gossip should’ve disappeared from your repertoire the minute you left high school. Gossip gets you nowhere except in the bad graces of others.

Gossiping is a dumb behavior – something best left for the tabloids.

Fix: Don’t do it.

5. You’re controlling

Nobody expects nor deserves to be at the beck and call of someone else. Controlling (and manipulating) behavior is abusive, period.

Sarah Newman, MA, explains the rationale behind controlling behaviors:

“One (theory) is that people who can’t control themselves turn to controlling others … A person full of insecurities has to exact a positive sense of self from other people because their self-esteem is too low to do it for themselves.”

Fix: First, understand what controlling is and is not. Accept any underlying insecurities and regrets if you’re in the former group. Seek help from a therapist or practice mindfulness meditation.

6. You don’t listen

The sixth reason on our list – not listening – is something we all do from time to time. The human brain is wired for novelty, and listening can be, well … boring.

But active listening is a great and highly sought-after skill. We may not like what someone is saying, but if it’s something you need to hear, it benefits us to give our full attention to the speaker.

Fix: Active listening is a skill, and like any other skill, it is attainable. Understand the value (personal and professional) of being a good listener. Research, read, and practice active learning techniques.

7. You don’t think before speaking

Some people can talk off the cuff better than others. In fact, some people convey their thoughts better this way. For example, extroverts are typically much better at this than introverts.

Then there are the blabbermouths – people who have chronic diarrhea of the mouth. Such individuals who add their ignorant two cents all the time. Perhaps it isn’t their fault; after all, someone must learn before they can implement.

Fix: In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the late Dr. Stephen Covey says “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.”

The fix depends on your willingness to become a better listener. Don’t be afraid of uncomfortable silence. If you need some time to think about an answer, let the other person know!

It’s important, however, to hold yourself accountable. At the same time, don’t be too self-critical!)

8. You try too hard

Trying too hard – more specifically, wasting efforts on shallow things – is a behavior that many people either don’t appreciate or understand. Here are some examples:

– People who try too hard to fit in.

– Those who try too hard to look good.

– People who try too hard to “be the best” – and don’t back it up.

Fix: You may be afraid of being alone; you may be scared of being seen as inferior. As someone who’s dealt with the issue at hand, one solution is to practice self-compassion and self-acceptance.

Be you! You ARE worthy!

A parting quote …

The infamous Japanese swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, wrote in his book The Five Rings:

“There is nothing outside of yourself that will ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.”

Let us all take heed and carve our own life’s path.

5 Signs Your Partner Is Manipulating Your Relationship

September 7, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Having a partner who manipulates your relationship can be an isolating experience. In fact, it is one you may not even be aware that you’re going through. The act of manipulation is steering someone into the desired behavior. They behave this way to achieve a personal goal or hidden agenda. Manipulating is often a tactic of abusive partners, though it can also be the side effect of someone’s toxic behavior.

Psychotherapist and author Beatty Cohan states, “When we start to feel that something is off, we have to trust our instincts that something is just not okay. You feel like you are on a roller coaster ride. The earlier you get out, the better.” Because according to her, “so often verbal and emotional manipulation can turn into abuse.”

Noting the signs of a manipulative partner can be difficult, especially if you feel isolated in the relationship. However, once you’re aware of what consists of manipulative behavior, you’ll be better able to handle it and resist the manipulation or exert boundaries – even if that means walking away. The signs that your partner is manipulating your relationship can be both overt and subtle.

“Relationships with negative people are simply tedious encounters with porcupines. You don’t have the remote knowledge how to be close to them without quills being shot in your direction.” – Shannon L. Alder

Here Are 5 Signs Your Partner Is Manipulating Your Relationship

1. They’re always the victim

If you find that your partner cries foul in the relationship, they may be manipulating you. Even if they start the argument, or even if they’ve done something to hurt your feelings, you may feel like you’re the one who is always apologizing and always trying to make things better.

Conflict resolution specialist Dr. Mary Casey states, “Manipulators aim to control their partners by pressing the buttons that get them emotional, whether it be making them feel afraid, unworthy, stupid, insecure, angry or frustrated.”

Your partner may act as if they can do no wrong, and often cast themselves as the victim of every negative situation in order to gain sympathy or to guilt you into agreeing with them. If your partner often does this, it’s best to communicate to them what your perception of the given situation is, and to stand your ground if they continue to try and self-victimize.

2. Silent treatment is always on agenda when manipulating you

Don’t confuse aggressive silence with your partner’s need for space to themselves during an argument. In fact, they hope the silent treatment gets the other person to try and re-establish closeness. “Manipulators are actually very insecure in their relationships, and will engage in emotional tactics in an aggressive or passive aggressive manner to gain control,” says Dr. Casey.

Rather than communicating with you, your partner may shut down entirely and refuse to talk to you until you concede to a point or apologize for something that they feel that you’ve done wrong. This is a sign of manipulation, as it relies on punishing the other person with silence until they relent or concede an argument, rather than using communication to work through an issue.

If this happens, the best thing to do is to communicate to your partner that you won’t be playing the silent treatment game with them and that if they want to continue a discussion they’ll have to stop giving you the cold shoulder.

3. There are frequent violent outbursts

If your partner often behaves in wild and over-exaggerated manners, often coupled with outbursts of violence (yelling, throwing objects, etc.), this may be a sign of multiple issues, including manipulation.

Clinical psychologist Tom Cory states, your partner behaves “the way he or she does essentially for one main reason: he or she must be in complete control and must have all the power in his or her relationship.”

If your partner often tries to provoke an angry response from you, this is often called “baiting.” If you take the bait then your partner may often flip the script on you as soon as you do. This is manipulation because your partner behaves in a way to get you to respond with the same energy. If this happens, it’s best to call a timeout to the situation and remove yourself for both your safety and your partner’s.

4. Life will be filled with empty promises

Perhaps your partner is constantly promising that they’re going to change their behavior, or maybe even just promising to do things so that you’ll stop asking them, or so that you’ll do something in return. In the end, though, your partner never follows through. This is a form of manipulation, by promising you something in order to get something in return. However, when you follow through on your end, your partner never seems to be able to do so on theirs.

This is a big red-flag for your partner manipulating your relationship. As a result, you’ll want to stop giving in to things that your partner wants in return for empty promises. You may even decide that at this point it’s best to walk away from the relationship. Relationships are two-way streets. So if your partner is taking without giving in return, then it might be best that you no longer yield and give in to their wants.

5. You will notice obvious signs of self-harm

Now, self-harm in and of itself does not mean your partner is manipulating you. In fact, most time it means that the person in question is going through a terrible crisis. They need compassion and empathy. However, when manipulating turns to self-harm. In fact, they often do this in a way that’s overt and meant to generate distress and crisis with their loved ones.

Psychotherapist Lisa Ferentz mentions, “Typically, the self-destructive behavior is just the symptom of deeper, untapped, and unresolved issues that have not been identified, processed, or healed.”

Your partner may resort to self-harming when you deny them something. Additionally, they might try to garner sympathy after they’v hurt you. At this point, your partner needs more help than you may be able to offer them. Therefore, it is important that they see someone to help with their self-harming tendencies.

You must avoid a relationship where your partner is manipulating you. Having a support system in place to help you when it comes to dealing with a manipulative partner is important. There may be manipulative tendencies that your partner has that can be worked on with therapy. However, it’s important to know that your safety and well-being comes first. Besides that, if the manipulation is getting out of hand then it’s okay to step back from the relationship and reassess how you want to move forward.

5 Signs Someone Is Baiting You

September 7, 2017 by Power of Positivity

Toxic, manipulative, and abusive people have all kinds of tactics that are used to control the people around them. One of those tactics is baiting. Baiting is when someone deliberately acts to elicit either an angry or emotional response from the person they’re interacting with. When one wants to start an argument, this is often used between two people. So they engage in baiting to get their way.

The goal is usually to get the other person to start the fight to turn the tables on them. It’s a tactic used to gain an advantage in an argument. The other person is fully aware that they’re baiting, and the victim is often confused, hurt, and easily manipulated.

Marriage and family therapist Andrea Brandt says, “People who fight dirty often do it because they’re actually afraid of fighting, or don’t want to take ownership of a fight.”

Therefore, knowing the signs of baiting will help you be more fully prepared if you ever find yourself in such a situation.

“Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it.” – Thomas Jefferson

Here Are 5 Signs Someone Is Baiting You

1. They accuse you of something out of nowhere

This is a classic baiting move. Perhaps your partner suddenly accuses you of cheating on them, even if you’ve never done anything to suggest that you are or ever would. The accusation, whatever it may be, is designed to leave you off balance and struggling to defend yourself while the other person has already moved on to other ways to manipulate you.

According to author Stephanie Sarkis, “They are a drug user or a cheater, yet they are constantly accusing you of that. This is done so often that you start trying to defend yourself, and are distracted from the gaslighter’s own behavior.”

They’re trying to bait you into defending yourself while being able to turn the tables and act as the victim. Instead of trying to defend yourself against an accusation, try to figure out why they would accuse you of that, and dismantle their baiting by encouraging them to explain their thought process.

2. They damage something of yours

Baiting doesn’t always have to an argument. In fact, someone may be baiting you by purposefully damaging something that belongs to you in order to get a response of anger. Once you’re angry, the person baiting you can more easily manipulate the situation. Perhaps you come home one day to discover that your partner, friend, or family member has deliberately caused damage to something you own, or your property.

According to SafePlace “This behavior of breaking loved ones’ possessions or needed home items can be used as a punishment but is mostly used to terrorize the person into submission.” The deliberate destruction of something you own is a classic, red-flag sign of someone using a baiting technique.

3. They’re playing on your emotions

Baiting is almost always used to elicit an emotion from one person to the other. The person who is baiting you wants to be able to manipulate a situation. Indeed, they need you in a particular state of mind to be able to do so. They may use baiting to make you angry or to upset you significantly.

Licensed psychotherapist and author states, “The gaslightee begins to second-guess herself because she has allowed another person to define her reality and erode her judgment.” The point of using your emotions is to control you, however that might be done by the baiter.

When our bodies give over to a more primal, emotional response, staying in control of our higher reasoning is much harder. This is what the person who is baiting you relies on for better ease of manipulation.

4. They deliberately make you jealous

If your partner flirts with other people or cheats on you as a way to make you jealous, this is a baiting technique. If your partner flirts with people in front of you and compares you to their past partners or even just compares you to strangers, this is a sign they want to bait you.

Perhaps they want to bait you into an argument, or want to bait you into “proving them wrong”. Either way, this is a sign someone is baiting you. Thus, they are using your emotions to manipulate you. Your partner may even claim that it’s all in your head as a form of gaslighting.

5. They’re always the victim

They will always be the victim no matter what they did to bait you into your response. Even if they flirted with someone in front of you, it’s because you don’t pay them enough attention. If they destroy something that belongs to you, you make them angry.

Someone baiting you will never concede to the point that they’re the ones causing the argument or problem. If you find yourself in a situation where the other person deliberately elicited a response from you, but you’re still in the wrong, it’s a good sign that you’re being baited.

What Should You Do If You Find Yourself Being Baited?

Recognizing the signs is important. But there’s still more to do when it comes to being on the receiving end of someone’s bait.

1. Don’t take the bait

This is important. If you’re not responding, then the other person isn’t getting what they want from you. That means you’ll be able to move on from the bait and have a real conversation.

2. Don’t argue or try to appeal to reason

You may want to leave the room entirely. Is your partner baiting you? Then it’s good to give the other person time and yourself time to cool off. That’s especially necessary if the baiting is looking for an angry response.

3. Have a support system

It’s essential to have some outside perspectives when dealing with someone who uses baiting as a technique of manipulation. Whether this is friends, family or a professional therapist, it’s good to have support.

Understanding what baiting is, where it comes from, and how to handle it in all its forms is the best way to deal with a situation in which someone is baiting you. associate director at Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of The Gaslight Effect, Dr. Robin Stern says:

“Once you are not flooded with emotion, you can reflect rationally. Look at the conversation and see where it took a turn.”

Of course, it may seem difficult and even a little frightening. However, knowing how to handle the situation properly will make the whole thing smoother than taking the bait.

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Getting back to RLS

7 Signs of Restless Leg Syndrome

1. An “irresistible” urge to move your legs

2. Sleep deprivation

3. Edginess and irritability due to RLS symptoms

4. Severe morning fatigue

5. Trying to “calm your legs down.”

6. Trying to coax your body into sleep

7. Patterns of disrupting your partner’s sleep

Here Are 5 Reasons Why Women Lose Hair

1. It’s simply because of female pattern hair loss

2. It’s because of an autoimmune condition called Alopecia Areata

3. Hair-fall is likely due to PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

4. Hair fall is also attributed to medication

5. Hair fall is also due to pregnancy

4 Ways To Prevent Hair Loss

1. Hormone replacement

2. Hair transplant

3. Aldactone

4. Rogaine

Some real stories about chaos

The four behaviors that chaos manufacturers show before revealing themselves…

1. Manipulation

2. Lack of empathy

3. Emotional detachment

4. Emotionally abusive

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/quotes

The “Two Types”

8 Reasons Some People Don’t Like You (And How to Change It)

1. You try to impress everyone

2. You’re smart

3. You’re a “know-it-all”

4. You’re a gossip

5. You’re controlling

6. You don’t listen

7. You don’t think before speaking

8. You try too hard

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Here Are 5 Signs Your Partner Is Manipulating Your Relationship

1. They’re always the victim

2. Silent treatment is always on agenda when manipulating you

3. There are frequent violent outbursts

4. Life will be filled with empty promises

5. You will notice obvious signs of self-harm

Here Are 5 Signs Someone Is Baiting You

1. They accuse you of something out of nowhere

2. They damage something of yours

3. They’re playing on your emotions

4. They deliberately make you jealous

5. They’re always the victim

What Should You Do If You Find Yourself Being Baited?

1. Don’t take the bait

2. Don’t argue or try to appeal to reason

3. Have a support system

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Rise and Shine On! Master Your Day with the Ultimate Positive Morning Guide + Checklist

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