The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

By: Brian Murray LMHC, NCC A person with a victim mentality is someone who is experiencing negative feelings and tries to hold others accountable for these feelings. They hold the belief that nothing can be said or done to improve their circumstances, which keeps them stuck in victim mode. They feel vulnerable around people and believe that others have malevolent intentions towards them. A victim mentality is also one of the key traits of a behavioral condition known as Codependency and also Dependent Personality Disorder.   Accountability and responsibility are absent in this person’s life. They do not take ownership of themselves. Instead, they try to get others to be responsible for them and their feelings. For example, “you make me angry” is a very common phrase they use. The truth is nobody makes you angry. People may say and do things that make you feel angry, but the anger belongs to the person experiencing it. So, if you are angry, you are the one who is accountab...

By: Brian Murray LMHC, NCC Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition that manifests in an overinflated sense of self-importance. Roughly 70% of those who have the disorder are men. In the United States, it is estimated that roughly 6% of the general population has the disorder.   NPD in a clinical setting is typically rated on a spectrum from mild to severe. In order to be diagnosed with NPD, a person must meet the required number of symptoms as indicated in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual version 5 (DSM-5). This manual is a reference published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that lists diagnosable mental health conditions along with the criteria needed to meet the diagnosis.   The best way to interact with a narcissist is to focus on their behavior rather than on their words. Pay attention to what they are doing and look for patterns. If you focus only on what they are saying you stand a good chance of being gaslighted. Gasligh...

By: Brian Murray LMHC, NCC We are born into an unpredictable and weird world. For centuries we have been building a pattern of how life should go, in order to create a sense of normalcy. We are born, go through school, perhaps college or join the military, get married, build a family and work on our career or craft. Occasionally events happen that disrupt this flow such as a recession or a virus pandemic. So, what does this have to do with running out of toilet paper? Actually there is a simple reason that involves a more complicated answer. The simple reason is fear. The complicated answer to why shelves were emptied of toilet paper during Covid-19 has more to do with our first 2 years of life than it does with Covid-19 itself.     When we are born, we are in a constant state of trying to figure out the world we live in. Basically, an infant is trying to figure out if their world is safe. This sense of safety is achieved when they cry, and someone comes to their aid. It...