Today, many “narcissist tests” exist that confirm the idea that someone you know (let’s face it, your ex) does indeed have a Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The most official of the narcissism tests, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), is commonly used to determine if someone displays narcissistic behaviors. But is it possible to read this test…
Understanding Codependency Codependency may be one of the most common yet widely misunderstood behaviors. In short, codependency means sacrificing your needs to meet the needs of someone else. But there is more to the story. An isolated act of self-sacrifice or kindness isn’t inherently codependent. Codependency isn’t a mental health diagnosis. Rather it is…
Trying to manage depression can be a beast. There are so many medications out there with serious side effects. But are there natural ways to fight depression? The answer is yes! Exercise, good nutrition and staying connected with friends can be a serious boon to help combat depression. Another way to fight depression is through…
We’re all familiar with substance addiction, but what is a process addiction? While substance abuse gets a lot of attention, it isn’t the only type of addiction out there. Behavioral or process addictions can mess with people’s lives just as much as substance addiction. A process addiction is a compulsion to engage in a specific…
Sex addiction is perhaps not as familiar to most people as substance abuse disorders may be. Sex is a natural part of human behavior, and an interest in sex is completely healthy. Most of us are aware that people’s sexual appetites and proclivities vary on a wide spectrum. It isn’t always easy to recognize…
Everyone adores the feeling of falling in love—but when is it a love addiction? Over the years, we’ve written thousands of songs and poems describing these precious moments. We’ve even created a holiday for it. But not all loves are created equal. Sometimes, we can hold on to that feeling for too long, becoming…
Rehab is a time in which you are learning to cope with the ups and downs of life without turning to substances. It may also be a time in which any new relationships you form can have an impact on your recovery. If you are compelled to continually be in a relationship and are always…
By Gina Marchando, DMFT, LMFT, CHT, CIT, Clinical Director at The Ranch Love and attachment are basic human needs. Like animals have packs, we instinctively gravitate toward other people. Loving others and wanting to be loved is natural and normal. But sometimes our concept of love becomes an unhealthy obsession that can lead us to…
Internet affairs can be easy to justify because they occur in the virtual world, but any time one partner keeps any kind of connection, whether physical or emotional, a secret from the other, the relationship is bound to suffer. Online infidelity occurs more and more these days. With access to social media, chat rooms and…
If you have an addictive, obsessive approach to relationships, you may be a love addict. You fall deeply in love repeatedly and often. No matter how many times you fall in love, you always have the thought that the newest person you are with is the only person for you. A new love interest gives…