Sexual addictions, hypnosis, emdr, spirituality, relationships, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, mood disorders, dissociative disorders, sexual disorders Research Papers (original) (raw)

The narcissistic ego continuously urges us to become addicted to various kinds of false cravings, often for unhealthy, unwholesome, toxic, substances, attitudes, and habits, as a way of escaping from a deeper, but unreal, sense of basic deficiency, inner emptiness, and fearful insecurity, which the ego tries to cover over by superimposing a distracting false façade of artificial pleasurable sensations and self-definitions, which can become rather grandiose and unrealistic, sometimes accompanied by destructively demonic energies and rather insane urges in the most extreme forms of selfish egoism. These various forms of ego-gratification are basically designed to provide quasi substitutes for the natural, genuine euphoria, excitement, vitality, security, wellbeing, and divine grandeur, that are intrinsic to our real being, and only imitated by the various intense, often addictive, compulsive, unhealthy, unwholesome, conditionally acquired, readily lost, sensations, substances, habits, and attitudes that the narcissistic ego or separate sense of self-awareness urges us to pursue.

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- Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Drugs And Addiction, Inner Alchemy
- by Kevin S Acott
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- Communication, Mental Health, Transactional Analysis, Solution Focused Therapy

Addiction to lust is common in many men today. This lust is often rooted in our yearning for emotional intimacy– yet finding ourselves unprepared, unequipped and fearful of that intimacy. Shame pathology results from our wanting relationships and genuine equality and mutuality with women, yet finding ourselves crippled by centuries of male sexism and by our emotional dependencies on the opposite sex. ‘Shame wounding’ continues to fuel this pathology by promoting both compulsivity and a fierce sense of self-loathing. This paper explores ‘shame’ as a concept; and considers some major causes of shame-based addiction. Some sound therapeutic approaches for treatment are also investigated.

Chpt in R. Kunzendorf (Ed.) Imagery: Recent Developments, NY: Plenum Press, 1991, p. 101-112.

- by Deirdre Barrett
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- Neuroscience, Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Applied Psychology

Brève introduction à l'Hypnose Ericksonienne

While studies have consistently observed an association between pornography use and depressive symptoms, data limitations have precluded understanding the nature of this relationship. Drawing on data from a representative panel study of American adults, and building on insights from stress process theory, this article demonstrates that the connection between pornography use and depressive symptoms hinges on (1) the (in)congruence between Americans' moral beliefs about pornography and their viewing practices and (2) gender. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses reveal that American men (not women) who believe viewing pornography is always immoral but watch it anyway are more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to others who do not report this incongruence. Results also suggest the connection between viewing pornography and depressive symptoms is bi-directional, contingent on men's moral evaluation of its use. For male porn users who morally reject it, pornography use predicts depressive symptoms at low frequencies, likely stemming from cognitive stress or dissonance. For those who do not morally reject porn, however, only viewing it at the highest frequencies is associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, which suggests reverse causation―depressed men likely view higher levels of pornography as a coping aid, especially they do not view it as immoral.

Brain SPECT imaging is a nuclear medicine study that uses isotopes bound to neurospecific pharmaceuticals to evaluate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and indirectly metabolic activity. With current available technology and knowledge SPECT has the potential to add important clinical information to benefit patient care in many different areas of a substance abuse practice, including in the area of process addictions. This article explores the ways brain SPECT has the potential to be useful to clinicians in helping to understand and direct treatment for complex cases of obesity and sexual addictions. Areas where SPECT can add value include helping clinicians ask betterquestions, helping them in making more complete diagnoses, evaluating underlying brain systems pathology, decreasing stigma and increasing compliance, and visualizing effectiveness via follow-up evaluations. In particular, SPECT can help in identifying and assessing the issue of brain trauma and toxicity in process addictions, which may be significant contributing factors in treatment failure. Three illustrative case histories will be given.

- by Daniel Amen, M.D.
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- Neuroscience, Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry

This qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of highly sensitive persons (HSPs) to better understand the way they experience careers. Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is the underlying personality trait and is present in approximately 20 percent of the population, equally distributed across gender and racial lines. SPS is considered a non-normative personality trait in some Western societies and subcultures. Thus, many HSPs experience difficulty finding an appropriate match between innate temperament and career.
This qualitative research perspective employed semi-structured interviews with 35 participants recruited through social media web sites and snowball sampling. Participants in the study were primarily from the U.S., but also from five foreign countries. Participants were chosen based on answers to a recruitment questionnaire and Elaine Aron’s HSP Self-Test. Major findings reveal a complex, interwoven dynamic interplay between nine major themes: (1) empathy, (2) childhood’s influence, (3) self-care, (4) a rich inner life, (5) creativity, (6) high sensation-seeking, (7) the sociological perspective, (8) the experience of work, and (9) the integral being. The significance of this study is that it is the first of its kind to investigate this topic in a systematic, scientific manner.

A key feature of depression is the internal monologue going on inside the depressed person´s head. When people are depressed, they spend a lot of time and energy on a daily basis telling themselves how crap their lives are, how much... more

[AMAZON LINK BELOW TO BOOK ITSELF -- TOC and book intro in downloadable .pdf]
Once thought pure entertainment akin to magic acts, hypnosis is now a growing field being practiced by psychologists, psychiatrists, and medical doctors. Across all ages—from children to adults and the elderly—patients are finding professional, therapeutic hypnosis can help them recover from mental maladies ranging from addiction to depression and psychosis, and from physical illnesses from chronic pain to obesity and skin disorders. Studies show hypnosis can even speed healing from broken bones, burns, and surgery. These unprecedented volumes, including some of the best-known experts in the field hailing from Harvard, Stanford and other top universities, cover the newest research and practice in this intriguing arena. Edited by a psychologist at Harvard Medical School, this set explains developments in hypnosis, from its colorful if misguided inception with Anton Mesmer, across clinical techniques developed for health care in the 20th century, to emerging research showing new potential applications to aide mental and physical health. Chapters also highlight what psychologists, neurologists, physicians, and scientists have discovered about how personality, cognition, and brain functions affect, and are affected by, hypnosis. An appendix explains how to tell the difference between an entertainer or charlatan and a practitioner who is trained, credentialed, and practicing research-backed hypnosis. Universities with hypnotherapy programs and courses are also included.

- by Deirdre Barrett
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- Philology, Neuroscience, Psychology, Abnormal Psychology

Mood disorder merupakan hal yang umum dan lazim (gangguan ini terbanyak ditemukan baik dipelayanan kesehatan mental maupun dalam praktek dokter medis umum). Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang dilakukan di Amerika Serikat dan Eropa, diperkirakan 9-26% wanita dan 5-21% pria pernah mengalami depresi yang gawat di dalam kehidupan mereka.
Hampir 2/3 individu yang mengalami depresi memikirkan untuk bunuh diri dan hanya 10-15% yang melakukan percobaan bunuh diri. Mereka yang di bawa ke rumah sakit karena percobaan bunuh diri akan lebih berhasil bunuh diri daripada mereka yang belum dirawat di rumah sakit. Hampir semua pasien (97%) mengeluh bahwa mereka kekurangan energi, sukar menyelesaikan tugas mereka, prestasi belajar menurun, prestasi pekerjaan menurun, kurang motivasi untuk menerima tugas atau proyek baru.

Since the invention of sexual addiction as a concept, researchers have demonstrated conflicting perspectives upon its definitions, terminology, and legitimacy (Reay, Attwood, & Gooder, 2013; Briken, Habermann, Berner, & Hill, 2007; Gold & Heffner, 1998; Carnes, Green, Merlo, Polles, Carnes, & Gold, 2012). After reviewing such perspectives, this paper begins to deconstruct the ways narratives and discourses of sexuality influence those who support and oppose the existence of sexual addiction. In breaking down the sex-negative behavior-first pathology of the most recent proposed criteria for “Hypersexual Disorder” in the fifth edition of the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Kafka, 2010), this research reveals the need for an integrative sex-positive person-first model to treat problematic repetitive sexual behavior and bring these opposing groups together.

- by Grant Gordin
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- Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Social Psychology, Psychiatry

Voice hearing (VH) is often regarded as pathognomic for schizophrenia. The purpose of this article is to review and integrate historical, clinical, epidemiological, and phenomenological evidence in order to suggest that VH may be more appropriately understood as a dissociative rather than a psychotic phenomenon. First, we discuss the lifetime prevalence of VH in the general population, which is estimated to range between 1% and 16% for adult nonclinical populations and 2% and 41% in healthy adolescent samples. Second, we demonstrate how the ubiquity of VH phenomenology, including variables like voice location, content, and frequency, limits its diagnostic and prognostic utility for differentiating psychotic from trauma-spectrum and nonclinical populations. Finally, we report on the empirical associations between VH, measures of dissociation, and trauma particularly (though not exclusively) childhood sexual abuse. There are 2 main conclusions from this review. First, we argue that available evidence suggests that VH experiences, including those in the context of psychotic disorders, can be most appropriately understood as dissociated or disowned components of the self (or self–other relationships) that result from trauma, loss, or other interpersonal stressors. Second, we provide a rationale for clinicians to use psychotherapeutic methods for integrating life events as precipitating and/or maintaining factors for distressing voices. Potential mechanisms for the relationship between trauma, dissociation, VH, and clinical diagnosis are described, including the relevance of literature from the field of attachment in providing a diathesis for dissociation. Suggestions for future research are also discussed.

- by Anna Madill
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- Christianity, Cultural Studies, Psychology, Abnormal Psychology

It has been explicated by the author before that as natural organic sentient or consciousness beings, we essentially function as quantum electro-biochemical computers in which our mind provides the software and our brain epitomizes its hardware. And, while the subject of mind was elucidated before in a companion paper, this paper concentrates on the question of brain as the hardware and a means for recording and playing back our memories whose usage serve the purpose of being able to function within our environment. In this regard, a distinction is made among three different portions of the brain that include the Outer, the Middle, and the Lower Inner brain. Furthermore, it is elucidated that while the Outer and Middle brain are always conscious, our Lower Inner brain operates in the subconscious or unconscious mode. Accordingly, a distinction is made between two types of memories recorded within our psyche that may be classified as the explicit and the implicit memories. And, while explicit memories operate in the conscious mode, the implicit memories that may also be referred to as the instinctual memories always operate in the subconscious, and practically, unconscious mode. Furthermore, as the implicit memories are mostly governed by emotion raising the question of our survival, the Lower Inner part of the brain is also referred to as the ‘Survival Brain.’ Furthermore, as it epitomizes the part of our brain that has been highly manipulated and distorted with regard to its proper functioning, it is also referred to as the ‘Reptilian Brain’ that includes the so-called our ‘Brainstem,’ connecting our Midbrain to our Spinal Cord and the core of our Central Nervous System. It is also explicated that in terms of its operation, the brain can be modelled as a system of ‘Traffic Stop Light.’ In this respect, the ‘Upper-Outer’ and the ‘Middle’ Brains that are conscious, respectively, operate in the ‘Red’ (Stop or Freeze) and ‘Yellow’ (Fight or Flight’) light modes, while the ‘Lower Inner-Survival-Reptilian’ brain that epitomizes the Subconscious-Unconscious Brain, functions in the ‘Green’ (‘Relax’) light mode. Thus, when instinctual memories become activated and surface in our consciousness when there is concern for our danger and the chance of feeling unsafe, which is immediately followed by a sensation of anxiety and fear, the Middle Brain lights in the Yellow mode, advising caution. Accordingly, it triggers a sense of ‘Flight’ or ‘Fight’ action in which ‘Flight’ is a rather passive response to the triggered feeling of Victim Consciousness in which there is a concern for self-security and personal safety that is often followed by resorting to some form of addictions to alleviate the feelings of anxiety or fear, that is accompanied by pain, suffering, misery, etc., as one form of self-destructive solution (or lack of it). In contrast, feelings of lack of trust in Self followed by a sense of being abandoned or betrayed by God for possibly a perceived sense of shame and guilt one is afflicted with, and exacerbated with a sense of lack of self-esteem or unworthiness and such, giving rise to Victim Consciousness, may trigger a ‘Fight’ response in which the individual wishes to get some self-satisfaction at any costs, even turning to progressively an egotist, narcissist, or psychopath at the expense of others. In this respect, both ‘Flight or Fight’ response is triggered by fear, specifically fear of feeling unsafe or fear of failure to succeed. Note that the instinctual or implicit memories were initially devised for gaining knowledge and wisdom and skills that are recorded in the Subconscious Mind as a matter of repetition of the same or similar tasks that may be recalled naturally, automatically, and without any conscious efforts, at a later time. However, due to negative aliens’ intrusion in our Subconscious Mind, it has practically turned into an Unconscious Mind as a result of atrophy for having become distant or disconnected from the Inner Spirit-HIGHERSELF and the God-SOURCE. Accordingly, the negative aliens have managed to distort-reverse such memories through the imposition of holographic inserts or utter fake memories, these implicit memories are now almost entirely composed of shocking, traumatic, or devastating memories that now routinely come on the surface of consciousness inciting fear or dread through finding association with certain stimuli of similar themes or nature recorded primarily in the past and parallel times. And, the only exception involves the procedural memories with respect to how to do certain tasks, which are mainly attained in this lifetime.

- by Deirdre Barrett
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- Neuroscience, Cultural Studies, Media Sociology, Psychology

This article takes its inspiration from Wickramasekera II’s empathic involvement theory of hypnosis. That model illuminates the mutual territory of hypnosis and empathy—common to much interaction between hypnotist and subject, and to the internal process of subjects as they enact suggestions of the hypnotist. However, the present article suggests that the overlap is not as ubiquitous as the empathic involvement theory asserts. Other aspects of hypnosis involve disengagement from real persons in the environment and dissociating from other ego states of the self. Amnesia and certain uses of focused attention in the hypnotic context run counter to empathy. The fantasizer type of high hypnotizables experiences hypnosis more empathically than do the equally hypnotizable dissociater type. This article also explores the relationship of hypnosis and empathy to other related states, including meditation, dreaming, and psychedelic drugs. The conclusion is that empathy is an important component of many hypnotic phenomena, but that the relationship is as partial and complex as the manner in which other traits, such as imagery ability and dissociation, map onto hypnosis.

- by Deirdre Barrett
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- Neuroscience, Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Behavioural Science

Paper written in response to the question: SHOULD WE AGREE THAT SPIRITUAL BELIEFS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS? WHAT WOULD "SPIRITUALITY" MEAN IN SUCH A CONTEXT? HOW MIGHT SUCH BELIEFS AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF TREATMENT?

"Hypnosis ranks amongst the most fundamental ideas that made the Victorian age. Together with progress, creativity, techno-science and industrialization, evolutionism and its by-product
eugenism, and, last but not least, the emergent feminist movement, it gave a peculiar flavor to its main trait: the faith in the superiority (if not the superior rationality) of Western civilization and in its colonial duties."

- by Michel Weber
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- Aristotle, Aldous Huxley, William James, Alfred North Whitehead

This paper talks about the brief history, uses, dangers, and ethics of hypnosis.

- by Raquel Dunkman
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- Psychology, Hypnosis (Psychology), Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis

Research into the use of transitional objects (Winnicott, 1971) by adult clients in psychotherapy has given little attention to the question of how a transitional object (TO) works. This question is addressed through the use of a semi-structured interview. Data was collected on the clinical practice and theoretical understanding of TO emergence and use of three psychodynamic-interpersonal (PI) and three Gestalt psychotherapists. A grounded theory analysis suggests that a TO works by a process of embodiment which can be structured with reference to a four-level model consisting of physical, process, contextual and conceptual levels. Therapists of both orientations emphasized the TO as a focus of intersubjectivity within the therapeutic relationship. Differences between the PI and Gestalt therapists are also examined. The clinical implications of this four-level model of embodiment for the use of TOs in psychotherapy are explored, together with suggestions for further research.

- by Anna Madill
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- Religion, Neuroscience, Psychology, Abnormal Psychology
- by Deirdre Barrett
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- Neuroscience, Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Applied Psychology
- by Rich Furman
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- Sociology, Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Abstract
The effect of interpersonal trauma on sexuality
can be profound. The field of sexual trauma is complex
empirically and clinically, with contradictory theories
and conflicting data. Researc
h definitions and treatment
protocols for child sexual abuse are very imprecise.
There are no firm, empirically proven guidelines for
treating men and women who have been sexually
abused as children or adolescents. Overt sexual abuse
(OSA) in children and adolescents is defined here as
molestation, rape, or incest. Research has shown that
OSA may, but does not necessarily, lead to sexual
dysfunction in adulthood. The effects of OSA are wors-
ened by concurrent types of family of origin abuse,
such as emotional abuse or physical abuse. One factor
that seems related to the varying impact of OSA on
adult sexuality is the patients
’
family of origin experi-
ence with nonsexual Milestones of Sexual Development.
Without positive experiences with touch, trust and em-
pathy, the ability to relax and be soothed, and power,
the effects of OSA are potentiated and complicated.
Sexuality is embodied, so experiences with touch are
particularly important when working with OSA. A
three-color Body Map technique which assesses stored
associations to touch is provided. The concept of devel-
opmental sexual trauma (DST) is introduced as a way to
label traumagenic family events which potentiate OSA
or negatively effect sex but which are not explicitly
sexual in origin. Strategies to assess and treat OSA
are reviewed. Body Maps are recommended to assess
and treat sexual trauma.
Keywords
Developmental sexual trauma (DST)
.
Family of
origin
.
Milestones of Sexual Development
.
Body Map
.
Touch
.
Trust
.
Overt sexual abuse
.
Sexual compulsivity
.
Family violence
.
Emotional neglect
I

- by Aline P . Zoldbrod, Ph.D.
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- Sexology, Women's Health, Sexuality, Sexual Violence
- by Deirdre Barrett
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- Neuroscience, Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Applied Psychology
- by Deirdre Barrett
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- Neuroscience, Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Applied Psychology

The aim of this study was to examine how transitional objects (TOs) work from the perspective of adult clients in psychotherapy. Data were collected using a semistructured interview with 6 female clients in humanistic psychotherapy. Grounded-theory analysis of this material suggests that a TO works through a 5-phase process of ‘holding’ in which the client successively integrates 3 themes: (a) the continuity of the therapist's existence, (b) connectedness with the therapist, and (c) the development of a new sense of self. A spiral microtheory is proposed that shows how these themes interact across time and relate to the client's experience of shame. The analysis suggests a use of TOs that is broader than D. W. Winnicott's (1953) conception and includes selfobject functions (H. Kohut, 1971).

This not yet published, copyrighted book [all rights reserved] presents many original insights into the development of psychologically healthy, fulfilling, spiritually uplifting, interpersonal relationships, and related principles of healthy psychological development and spiritual growth for individual persons. The insights presented in this document should be very useful to psychotherapists, marriage and family counselors, social workers, clergy involved in pastoral counseling, other human services professionals, as well as non-specialists seeking self-help guidance as a means of improving, or compassionately transforming, their individual life, personal relationships, and the society in which they live. This document should be especially valuable for people who seek to better understand psychological factors that can either facilitate or impede the development of true love, involving genuine deep caring, good communication, and empathic experiential or emotional intimacy in interpersonal relationships, as well as related factors that can either help or hinder healthy psychological development of individual persons, involving therapeutic healing or resolving of emotional pain and inner conflict, as well as development of psychologically healthy and mature strength of character, referred to as “ego strength” in this document, by my late father, Dr. Max Hammer (June 16, 1930-June 14, 2011).

- by Barry Hammer and +1
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- Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Social Psychology, Sex and Gender

Psychiatric disorders, like anxiety and depression, are risk factors for drug abuse and smoking behavior. The purpose of this survey was to determine the prevalence of smoking, depression and anxiety and their relationship among school age students. This cross-sectional survey was done on 1020 high school students (male and female) recruited randomly and DSM-IV interview was done by researchers. A psychiatry resident accompanied by 3 last year medical students interviewed with students and a questionnaire containing demographic , anxiety and depression questions was filled simultaneously. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS16. 50% of the students were female and the remainder male. 277 students (27.2%) were in the first year, 242 (23.7%) in the second year and 501 (49.1%) in the third year of high school. 55 students (5.4%) were smoker and used cigarette , water pipe (hobble bobble) and pipe.183 students (18%) had anxiety and stress symptoms (mild, moderate , sever). The 29 smoker students (2.84%) had anxiety. 144 students (14.1%) had depression (mild, moderate, sever) and 23 smoker students (2.25%) had depression symptoms. There was no significant correlation between smoking and anxiety and depression symptoms among school age students. As conclusion, we hypothesized that smoking may increase the tendency to depression and anxiety in high school students. Although the above results didn’t demonstrate any significant correlation between these three issues, school counselors and teachers need to be informed about the prevalence of problematic behaviors associated with smoking and it would be necessary to develop smoking prevention programs for adolescents, while taking the psychological factors such as depression and anxiety and school and family atmosphere into account.

- by Enliven: Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety and +1
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- Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Anxiety Disorders, Social Anxiety