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	<title>Better Relationships &#187; COUNSELING</title>
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	<link>https://www.better-relationships.com</link>
	<description>Marriage &#38; Couples Counseling, Psychotherapy, Premarital Counseling</description>
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		<title>Overcoming Addiction – 6 Ways to Help Your Partner</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-addiction-6-ways-to-help-your-partner/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-addiction-6-ways-to-help-your-partner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2018 22:34:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ADDICTIONS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ACA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addicition support groups]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addiction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Al-Anon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alateen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alcoholics Anonymous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recovery]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4046</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Drugs, alcohol, porn, food, gambling—addictions run the gamut. And unless you suffer from one, it can be difficult to know what you’re up against. Use these five strategies to help your partner get their life back on track: 1. Acknowledge the Problem and Encourage Them to Get Help Many people are nervous to broach the subject of addiction with their loved ones, but it’s important to remember that you could very well be saving their life. When you do talk to your partner, make sure you’re coming from a loving place of concern, not a place of judgment. The first step in treating an addiction is identifying it. Early detection can make it easier to stop unhealthy behaviors before the addiction takes control. At the first sign of a problem, mention your concern to your partner. Communicating about what you see them doing can help both of you determine if their addictive behavior is their way of coping with a temporary problem you&#8217;re not aware of; or help them realize that they&#8217;re in danger of becoming an addict, or it can help them admit that they are in fact addicted. Remember, any step you take towards early detection is never a waste of time. Even if you&#8217;re wrong, you&#8217;re demonstrating to your partner how much you care about them and it&#8217;s unlikely that your partner will be angry. Before talking with your partner, it will be very helpful if you learn about addition treatment facilities and therapists who specialize in treating addiction in your area. Your partner will probably already feel scared and alone in their struggle so it will be helpful if you have a strategy in mind when you first talk with them. Don’t be discouraged if you learn that your partner has struggled with their addiction for longer than you thought &#8211; it’s never too late to begin helping somebody. 2. Be Understanding Each of us has our own flaws, problems, and struggles. Nobody is perfect. But unfortunately, this is the battle that your partner has to fight, alone. Research your partner’s addiction so you know what [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Self-Compassion: Why it’s Much Harder Than Compassion for Others</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/self-compassion-why-its-much-harder-than-compassion-for-others/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/self-compassion-why-its-much-harder-than-compassion-for-others/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2018 00:54:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FORGIVENESS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compassion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self compassion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self help]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=4000</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Do you find it easier to forgive others than yourself? Are you able to accept others’ mistakes but not your own? Practicing self-compassion can actually be very difficult. This is especially true if you learned as a child to care more about others, or if you have a hard time forgiving yourself. People are not born with a loathing for themselves. They learn it from their environment and life experiences. Perhaps this is you. Were you told as a child that you were somehow less-than-worthy? Was this reinforced by your experiences with other people? Sadly, oftentimes it is parents who plant the seeds of these beliefs. The damaged caused only amplifies over the years into adulthood. However, there is a way to mend the situation. What Is Self-Compassion? Self-compassion is a set of practices aimed at being empathetic and affirming to you. In layman’s terms, you could say it’s, “giving yourself a break.” Yet, at the same time, it is much more than that. It encompasses the following attributes: Acceptance: Being OK with who you are—warts and all. Forgiveness: Showing compassion and mercy to yourself for past actions or behavior. Kindness: Treating yourself with love and empathy. Understanding: Having an awareness of how you think and act—and why. As a whole, self-compassion sounds like a pretty good thing. It’s very similar to showing compassion to someone else. Yet, why is it often so hard for us to practice self-compassion, even when we have no problem extending it to others? Consider some of these possibilities: Having Impossibly High Standards for Yourself One reason why it is hard to have self-compassion is that you may have really high standards for yourself. Now, on the one hand, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Everyone should strive to be their personal best. Yet, we all experience setbacks, too. There are times when we even fail. You may be someone for whom a failure becomes a personal crisis. For you, failure is not an option. Yet, this kind of thinking isn’t realistic. Everyone has weak moments from time-to-time. The important point of failure is: [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>When Partners’ Sex Drives Differ – 7 Coping Tips</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-partners-sex-drives-differ-7-coping-tips/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/when-partners-sex-drives-differ-7-coping-tips/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2018 00:12:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ARGUMENTS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIP THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[different sex drives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intimacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[making love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex drive]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3997</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sex and sexual desire is a key part of many relationships. It provides a certain aspect of intimacy. So, what happens when your partner’s sex drive differs from yours? First, this doesn&#8217;t have to be an obstacle. Consider these tips to help you cope with this difference and still maintaining a healthy relationship. Tip #1: Communicate Expectations to Your Partner Communication is important for so many facets of a relationship. This includes intimacy. Have honest conversations with each other about your expectations in the bedroom. And don’t just make it a one-time discussion. Revisit the issue frequently to make sure you both remain on the same page. Hopefully, you had some of these discussions when you first started seeing each other. However, expectations can change over time. So it’s important to maintain an open dialogue. Tip #2: Listen to Each Other’s Perspectives Another important tip is to actively listen to each other. Keep an open mind and hold back from making prejudgments. For instance, if you want to have more sex than your partner does, listen to their point of view. (You can make sure you heard them correctly by repeating back what you heard.) As with many aspects of a relationship, when couples actively listen, they have a better understanding of each other. This means that they can still respect one another while holding different points of view. Tip #3: Refocus on the Relationship Although what happens in the bedroom is important, it’s not all that’s important in a relationship. If the relationship isn’t healthy, then your sexual experience won’t be healthy either. As mentioned above, you can start by communicating and listening. However, it may be necessary to get help with this from a professional therapist. A therapist can advise you on all aspects of the relationship, including intimacy. Tip #4: Don’t Nag or Guilt-Trip Your Partner If you are the one who wants to have more sex, don’t nag or guilt-trip your partner. Trying to convince your partner to have sex just isn’t sexy. It should be something that both of you enjoy equally together. Otherwise, when [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater? Myths and Facts</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/once-a-cheater-always-a-cheater-myths-and-facts/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/once-a-cheater-always-a-cheater-myths-and-facts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Apr 2018 22:31:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COMMITMENT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FORGIVENESS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INFIDELITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional affair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forgiveness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infidelitiy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online affair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unfaithful]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3990</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Clearly, whenever you’ve been cheated on, there are many feelings that arise. However, some of these emotions could be based on myths about those who cheat. And that can cause you to make decisions based on faulty information. If you are trying to cope with a partner’s infidelity, get the facts and reject the myths. Myth: “My partner cheated, which means they don’t love me anymore.” FACT: In reality, many people who cheat report that they did not cheat just because the relationship was bad. It is completely possible that despite your partner&#8217;s infidelity, they still feel very strongly toward you. In fact, their reasoning behind the affair may have had nothing to do with how they feel about you and much more about how they feel about themselves. Myth: “People who cheat once will cheat again.” FACT: That kind of thinking only sets up your partner to fail again. Yes, they made a mistake. But that doesn’t mean they are doomed to make it again. Everyone has the capacity to make decisions that affect their future. Your partner made a poor decision for your relationship by cheating. However, what they do afterward can mean a lot. You can see their attitude, for example, if: Your partner takes responsibility for their behavior and thee pain it&#8217;s caused. They sincerely apologize and asks for forgiveness. They have permanently cut all ties to the other person. Your partner wants to participate in therapy with you. They make an earnest and sincere effort to repair your relationship. Myth: “If I stay, our relationship will always be defined by the affair.” FACT: Certainly, the affair will have an immediate impact on the relationship. A major factor is trust. With any affair, the wounded partner will feel a loss of trust to the other. Yet, the cheating does not have to define the relationship in the long-term. If both of you want to make things right it will take a lot of work and commitment to change. For your partner, this means putting in a sincere effort to rebuild the lost trust. Of course, this [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Overcoming Shyness and Social Anxiety &#8211; 7 Practical Tips</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-shyness-and-social-anxiety-7-practical-tips/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/overcoming-shyness-and-social-anxiety-7-practical-tips/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2018 23:47:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shyness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social anxiety]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3985</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Living with social anxiety and shyness can be difficult in our modern world. Unless you live in a remote cabin, you may be interacting with people all the time. Plus, there are social situations that you may be obligated to attend (such as meetings or a work party) that require human interaction. However, all hope is not lost. There are ways that you can conquer your social anxiety and lessen your stress without becoming a hermit. Consider these 7 tips:  1. Remember to Breathe When stepping into a room with a lot of people, the first feeling you may experience is being overwhelmed. Your muscles tense, your breathing becoming more rapid, and your heart is beating faster. There is one mindfulness practice, though, that can be really helpful in that moment: breathing. Specifically, being conscious of when you breathe in and when you breathe out. The idea is that, by focusing on your breathing, this helps you to stay in control when your breathing is regulated. That way you don’t begin to slip into panic mode. 2. Use Logic to Tackle Negative Thinking Another issue that comes up for people with social anxiety is negative thinking. That is, believing that other people have preconceptions about them. Yet, in reality, these notions are false. For example, you may be saying to yourself, “Everyone knows I don’t belong here.” But this assumption only exists in your mind. When confronted with these thoughts, try to turn them around. Use logic to counter them. For instance, you could say to yourself, “That’s ridiculous, this is a party that I was invited to. Of course, I belong here.” Sometimes a dose of logic can be really helpful. 3. Acknowledge Your Anxiety When you begin to feel your anxiety creeping up, don’t ignore it. That will actually make it worse. Instead, what you need to do is acknowledge the feeling, yet not dwell on it. So, when an anxious feeling wells up, allow yourself to feel the emotion—like a rising wave. Once that’s done, let the feeling slip away—like an ebbing wave. Don’t hold on to [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>From Single Life to Stepparent: 5 Tips to Help You Adjust</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/from-single-life-to-stepparent-5-tips-to-help-you-adjust/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/from-single-life-to-stepparent-5-tips-to-help-you-adjust/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2018 22:56:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PARENTING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stepchildren]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stepdad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stepkids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stepmom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stepparent]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3977</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Marrying the love of your life is always exciting. And while it’s very possible to achieve happiness, giving up your single life is a huge adjustment. Becoming a stepparent at the same time can make the challenges even greater. Consider these 5 tips to help you adjust. 1. Don’t Assume You Know How to Stepparent While you may be eager to assume a parenting role, keep in mind that you’ve remained single up to this point and you probably know very little about day-to-day demands that most children make on parents. Although you may have spent nights or weekends together, everyone in the home still has to adjust once you move in, and this change probably won’t happen overnight. It will take time for the children and your spouse to adjust to seeing you there every day and adjusting  to your new stepparent role. Even though you’ve already spent time with the children, once you move in each one will require different parenting approaches and each may want their own unique relationship with you. Boys and girls have different emotional, relational and psychological needs and this varies depending on their age. Depending on their age, it&#8217;s normal for stepchildren to expect you to understand what they need and to provide it. You can help them (and yourself) realize that this will take time. 2. Be Consistent with Your Partner on House Rules As it is with most parents, it’s important that you and your spouse agree on house rules and how these will be enforced. It helps if both of you, together, meet with the children and make sure everyone understands boundaries and consequences. Your spouse needs to clarify to the kids when you have full authority to set limits and when you can discipline them.  Children have a unique talent of trying to ‘split’ parents, and clarifying rules and boundaries up front can help prevent this. For example, let’s say your spouse isn’t home and the house rule is lights are out by 10 PM. The kids may try complaining that the other parent let them stay up later. [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Extreme Grief After a Job Loss Is Real – Look for These Symptoms</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/extreme-grief-after-a-job-loss-is-real-look-for-these-symptoms/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/extreme-grief-after-a-job-loss-is-real-look-for-these-symptoms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Mar 2018 01:54:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GRIEF & LOSS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career counseling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grief and loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[job loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3943</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Losing your job hurts—plain and simple. For some, it&#8217;s devastating. Not only can it hurt your financial welfare, it can cause emotional pain and suffering. Depending on your reactions to this crisis, it can severely impact your relationships with family and friends. In fact, for some people a job loss is similar to hearing about the death of a loved one. And there are reasons why you may feel this loss so deeply. It’s a common practice in much of today’s society to place our identity in our job and in our career. For example, you may have based your self-worth and self-esteem on your job responsibilities, or on your coworkers’ respect for you, or on your job title, or your workplace relationships, and losing any of these can mean losing part or all of your personal identity. The grief that follows a job loss is a natural and very real. Like most significant losses, the side effects can be painful and often happen unexpectedly. But there is a way through this loss that can create growth and healthy changes. Let’s look at how this might happen and what steps to take going forward. Denial of Job Loss The days and weeks after a job loss can be the most difficult. Being in a state of shock is typical. Many people report not being able to find their way home after hearing that they’ve been terminated. Some try to escape from this shock by denying the painful feelings of loss. For example, you may try to pretend that life goes on as usual. Despite no longer having an income, you carry on as though nothing happened. Or, when people ask you how you are, you say that you’ve never been better. But it’s all a facade—a brave but futile attempt to conceal how you’re really feeling. Avoidance of Social Situations When someone loses a job, others are naturally concerned for them. For example, people may ask you about your plans for the future or try to assure you that you’ll quickly find a better job. While they have good intentions, [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jan 2018 01:47:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compulsions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[habits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hoarding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[obsessions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obsessive Compulsive Disorder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OCD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[patterns]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rituals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3859</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), you’re not alone. Many of us usually don’t realize how many of the people around us suffer from the same condition and how it can affect a relationship, career, family and reputation. OCD was once thought to be a fairly rare but serious mental problem. Specialists saw it as serious mainly because the behavior of a person with this disorder appears quite abnormal to other people. About one in forty people suffers from OCD, and many cases go undiagnosed, so we now know that it is not so rare a condition. The more researchers discovered about OCD, the more they saw that people with this disorder are normal in most respects. All of us have habits or patterns of living that make our lives infinitely easier. Our morning grooming routine, for example, repeats itself in just about the same way each day. Think about how chaotic and difficult our lives would be if we didn’t have well-learned habits to rely on and instead had to create a new routine every morning. For the person with OCD, however, this habitual behavior interferes with the smooth flow of everyday living – and these habits cause them anxiety and worry. People with OCD often feel that they are losing their minds, although this is far from the truth. They realize that their thoughts and behaviors might be seen by others as bizarre, so they try to hide these patterns. This part of their lives is led in secret and they try to present themselves on the outside as being as normal as possible. They might feel that no therapist, and certainly no friend or relative, could possibly understand what they experience privately every day. It is when the rituals become so time-consuming and the person is no longer able to function on the job or at home that the victim of OCD seeks help. Thus, the number of people with OCD far exceeds the number who actually receives treatment for the disorder. Happily, OCD does not need to be a debilitating life condition. Although there is [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Toxic Communication Patterns</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/toxic-communication-patterns/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/toxic-communication-patterns/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2017 02:40:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[ARGUMENTS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COMMUNICATION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CONFLICT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[COUPLES THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARRIAGE COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIP THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIPS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[counseling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dirty fighting in relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[supportive communication]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3793</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dirty fighting can weaken and ultimately break a relationship in the same way that rust weakens a piece of metal. Dirty fighting breaks the bonds of intimacy and causes cracks in the foundation of the relationship. These cracks spread and just like rusty metal eventually breaks apart, at some point the relationship collapses. Both of you ultimately suffer. Here are some toxic communication patterns to avoid: Timing You try to catch your partner off guard. You look for a time when your partner is least able to respond or least expects an argument, for example you call them at work and start an argument. Escalation You quickly move from the main argument to questioning your partner’s personality and then move on to wondering if the relationship is worth it. Overwhelm Instead of sticking with the original issues you bring up as many issues as possible in great detail. You try to overwhelm the other person so that they can’t argue effectively. Exaggerate You draw the worst possible conclusions regarding the relationship. The issue gets blown out of proportion and you talk about catastrophes. Question You treat your partner like a child, making them feel like they are incapable of an adult relationship. “Why can’t you just love me like he loves her?” Complain When your partner complains, you respond with a complaint of your own instead of addressing the issues. “So what if I forgot to make the bed. What about all the times you haven’t helped me clean?” Over-Generalize Instead of focusing on the issue at hand, you use words like “never” and “always” and try to force your partner to defend themselves. “You never do anything in the relationship.” Blame You take the position of &#8216;victim&#8217;. You don’t admit to your part in the conflict and refuse to change. “It’s always your fault. If our relationship is going to improve you have to change – not me.” Mind Reading You become the expert on what your partner is thinking or feeling. “You’re not really angry.” This way you avoid talking about your partner’s anger or taking responsibility for [&#8230;]]]></description>
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		<title>Hypnosis</title>
		<link>https://www.better-relationships.com/understanding-hypnosis/</link>
		<comments>https://www.better-relationships.com/understanding-hypnosis/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2016 00:17:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jim Swaniger]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[COUNSELING]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HYPNOSIS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RELATIONSHIP THERAPY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WOMEN'S ISSUES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hypnosos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hypnotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hypnotic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.better-relationships.com/?p=3230</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What is Hypnosis? Hypnosis is a procedure in which a psychotherapist makes suggestions to a person so that they experience changes in perception, thoughts or behavior. It is a proven method of helping people move through unconscious barriers to self improvement, enabling a person tap into their natural abilities, use more of their potential and gain more self-control. Hypnosis (sometimes referred to as &#8216;hypnotherapy&#8217;) is a therapy tool normally used in individual therapy but it is not a stand-alone, separate type of therapy. It cannot, by itself, help people with psychological or physical problems. If the therapist thinks hypnosis will be beneficial, this option would be thoroughly discussed before the client is asked to consent to this treatment. Applications of Hypnosis Hypnosis can be used in psychotherapy to treat many disorders and unwanted behaviors including: Anxiety Panic Disorder Depression Self Esteem Moodiness Anger Management Problem Drinking Smoking Cessation Overeating Pain Management Obsessive Behavior &#38; Thinking Hair Pulling Nail Biting Preparation for Medical &#38; Dental Procedures A common misconception is that hypnosis can make you behave in a way that you normally wouldn&#8217;t. The fact is your mind will only accept suggestions that fit well with your personal morals, values and principles and will ignore those suggestions that do not. Clinical hypnosis is not a form of entertainment, and is only used by licensed healthcare professionals who are educated and trained in the procedure. Examples of Hypnosis in Daily Life Many of us have experiences during our daily life that are &#8220;hypnotic.&#8221; For example, when you watch a good movie, you can get &#8220;absorbed&#8221; into the story and characters&#8217; lives while you ignore your immediate surroundings. Then after the movie is over, you once again notice where you are and the other people. Or, say you&#8217;re gardening and cut your finger, but you&#8217;re able to keep working. Your mind  is able to ignore the pain because you&#8217;re focused on the task of gardening. After you stop gardening you feel the pain in your finger. Or, after driving home from work you realize that you don&#8217;t remember the trip. Your conscious mind was focused on [&#8230;]]]></description>
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