"We camouflage our true being before others to protect ourselves against criticism or rejection.  This protection comes at a steep price.  When we are not truly known by the other people in our lives, we are misunderstood.  When we are misunderstood, especially by family and friends, we join the "lonely crowd."  Worse, when we succeed in hiding our being from others, we tend to lose touch with our real selves.  This loss of self contributes to illness in its myriad forms. "

Sidney Jourard

Posts tagged with 'hope'

The building up specific strengths exercise: a personal & practical exploration

22nd August 2016

"To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man" Polonius in Shakespeare's "Hamlet" I have been writing a series of blog posts about character strengths - most recently "Twelve practical suggestions for exploring our character …

positive psychology personal hope compassion strengths optimism

Recent research: eating disorders & PTSD, relationships & libido, and IBS

26th June 2008

Holzer, S. R., S. Uppala, et al. (2008). "Mediational significance of PTSD in the relationship of sexual trauma and eating disorders." Child Abuse Negl 32(5): 561-6. [PubMed] Mediational analysis suggests that sexual trauma often links to subsequent eating disorder via posttraumatic stress symptoms - particularly physiological arousal and avoidance. Therapeutically …

research ptsd relationships eating disorders trauma ibs sexual abuse sex libido approach couples acupuncture placebo confidence hope child abuse therapeutic alliance