LEMOYNE, Pa. (PRWEB)
May 18, 2023

Mark N. Heinly, M.D. announces his entry to the publishing scene with the release of “The SQUIRT! The Stringed Quantum Universal Integrated Relational Theory” (published by Balboa Press), a transformative guide that intertwines psychological theories and scientific discoveries with wisdom and wonder of the water to point others toward the peace, thrill, and fulfillment awaiting just beyond the horizon.

In this book, Heinly relies on three decades of experience as a psychiatrist to share a novel approach inspired by the latest discoveries in science and physics. Utilizing the wisdom and wonder of water as a guide, the SQUIRT perspective defines what it means to relate with each other, in one’s relationships with oneself, others, one’s creative passions, nature, and the divine, and offers impactful wisdom on how to attain higher consciousness, become more self-aware, and embrace the power of giving and receiving in perfect harmony.

“The world is experiencing tremendous pain and unnecessary conflict that results from unawareness of our nature and interconnection with everything else. Our confusion and lack of skillfulness regarding the most effective ways to live, love, and relate lead to negative emotional and mental states that can result in violence, conflict, destructiveness, and exploitation. Without clarity about our true nature and the positive aims toward which we most deeply strive, we will continue to cause incalculable harm to each other and our single planetary home. With broad agreement regarding human nature and our essential interconnection with the universe, humanity can set up our societies to sustainably meet the needs of people, all lifeforms, and the world,” Heinly says.

When asked what he wants readers to take away from the book, Heinly answered, “there are very specific and attainable ways to find peace and happiness and connection. Our pain and suffering can all be placed into a larger context that is understandable and applicable. We are all unique strings of energy and intelligence in the stringed, quantum universe, and we all matter and play an integral role in its evolution. The world can be transformed by shifting awareness to our core relational needs and ultimate relational goals and developing mindfulness of the ways our inner goodness gets hijacked by the false self and its distorted perspectives, attitudes, and beliefs. A central message of this book is that self-care does not detract from our ability to love others — in fact, it is the best way we can help the world. The more reliably we meet our core mutual needs to give and receive love, pleasure, and security, the more likely we attain our ultimate relational goals of self-actualization, self-transcendence, and ecstasy. The healthier we become, the more we benefit everyone and everything. Furthermore, people need to open their minds to scientific and objective arguments regarding the presence of an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent deity and the power of mutual love.” For more details about the book, please visit https://www.balboapress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/845395-the-squirt-the-stringed-quantum-universal-integrated-relational-theory

“The SQUIRT! The Stringed Quantum Universal Integrated Relational Theory”

By Mark N. Heinly, M.D.

Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 596 pages | ISBN 9798765236062

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 596 pages | ISBN 9798765236048

E-Book | 596 pages | ISBN 9798765236055

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Mark N. Heinly, M.D., is a psychiatrist with three decades of experience working with children and adults and fulfilling his passion of nurturing people toward their ideal selves. With a focus on insight and self-awareness, he has developed a novel approach that fosters improved relationships. Grounded in faith, 30 years of marriage, and fatherhood, his passions are balanced living, music, fitness, and spirituality.

Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, Inc. – a leading provider in publishing products that specialize in self-help and the mind, body, and spirit genres. Through an alliance with the worldwide self-publishing leader Author Solutions, LLC, authors benefit from the leadership of Hay House Publishing and the speed-to-market advantages of the self-publishing model. For more information, visit balboapress.com. To start publishing your book with Balboa Press, call 844-682-1282 today.

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SAC Health San Bernardino Campus

Thanks to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, we will be able to expand the number of behavioral health professionals, thus increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. – Jason Lohr, CEO, SAC Health

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 12, 2023

SAC Health announced the award of a $ 1.63 million grant from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information that will help retain existing behavioral health professionals. Through the Community-Based Organization (CBO) Behavioral Health Workforce Grant Program, SAC Health will be able to provide current behavioral health providers, who have been working at SAC Health for over five years, funding to support loan repayments. The grant will also help increase SAC Health’s behavioral health personnel through recruitment activities and cultivate professional growth with stipends for clinical master and doctoral education students.

The need for therapists, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists is greater than ever. Most of the region that SAC Health serves are deemed a Mental Health Care Professional Shortage Area as defined by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The shortage of behavioral health providers can impact low-income Medi-Cal members with long wait times for patients seeking treatment, limited access to care in certain areas, and overall reduced quality of care.

SAC Health continues to expand to meet the needs of the region. “SAC Health understands the importance of providing high-quality behavioral health care to our patients. Thanks to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, we will be able to expand the number of behavioral health professionals, thus increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, including medication assisted treatment programming,” says Jason Lohr, MD, President and CEO of SAC Health.

SAC Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center with twelve locations throughout the Inland Empire. Serving over 50,000 patients in 2022, with over 97 percent being at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line, SAC Health is a safety-net clinic providing high quality patient-centered care throughout the region.

About SAC Health

SAC Health is the largest specialty-based and teaching health center (THC) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the nation. SAC Health provides comprehensive services to underserved areas and populations including Medi-Cal and Medicare patients. SAC Health is recognized as a Level-3 Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and has over 100 community partnerships that enable the health to provide whole-person care to all its patients. SAC Health provides care in 12 locations, along with a mobile clinic, in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including services in family medicine; pediatrics and pediatric specialties; obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine and medical specialties; family dentistry; behavioral health; surgical specialties and more. More information on how to become a patient at SAC Health is available online at sachealth.org.

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AltaPointe Health is an extensive mental health and family medical healthcare system in Alabama.

“We are thrilled to help train and mold the next generation of psychiatrists,” Luke Engeriser, MD, AltaPointe Deputy Chief Medical Officer, and DOP Residency Training Director, said. “The real-world experience these residents receive throughout our system is invaluable.”

MOBILE, Ala. (PRWEB)
March 20, 2023

AltaPointe Health, whose psychiatrists also serve as faculty and administration for the University of South Alabama’s College of Medicine-Department of Psychiatry (DOP), is excited to welcome a new class of psychiatry residents announced on Match Day 2023. Celebrated on March 17 this year, Match Day is the moment graduating medical students learn if they have successfully secured a residency position, where they will continue their next medical training phase.

The five PGY1 students who matched with USA’s COM-DOP will now gain extensive experience in psychiatry throughout AltaPointe Health’s comprehensive continuum of care that includes outpatient, residential, crisis, and inpatient programs for adults and children.

“We are thrilled to help train and mold the next generation of psychiatrists,” Luke Engeriser, MD, AltaPointe Deputy Chief Medical Officer, and DOP Residency Training Director, said. “The real-world experience these residents receive throughout our system is invaluable. From typical clinic-based settings to our children’s psychiatric hospital (BayPointe), as well as our adult psychiatric hospital (EastPointe), working with individuals living in our group homes, as well as our recent expansion of crisis services with the Behavioral Health Crisis Center – the residents matched with AltaPointe get to see first-hand the full range of opportunities our field has to offer.”

“AltaPointe psychiatrists enjoy and even have fun while treating their patients. Our residents get to see how intellectually challenging, fulfilling, and fun working with psychiatric patients can be,” Sandra Parker, MD, Chief Medical Officer and chair of USA COM-Department of Psychiatry, said. “This generation of young physicians is more concerned about helping others and having a good work-life balance than previous generations. That makes psychiatry a perfect choice for medical students when they match with us.”

The PGY1 class of 2023/2024 who matched with AltaPointe Health include Kevin Gallagher, Cody Miller, and Alina Teslenko from the Alabama School of Osteopathic Medicine, as well as Marcus Lackey from Florida State University College of Medicine, and Stephen Richardson from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.

ABOUT ALTAPOINTE

AltaPointe Health is an extensive mental health and family medical healthcare system in Alabama. Our clinicians provide more than 1.3 million hospital, outpatient, residential, and crisis services annually. AltaPointe’s access to care line answers 76,175 calls for help each year from the community.

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It is vital that clinicians, health policy analysts, and journalists familiarize themselves with the facts about gender identity development.

BOSTON (PRWEB)
March 20, 2023

A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that a substantial proportion of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults realized that their gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth during adolescence or later. It also found that TGD people typically waited many years before sharing this realization with another person. The study adds important new knowledge to clinical and popular understanding of the timing of TGD people’s awareness, understanding, and sharing of their gender identity. It also undercuts a core component of the “rapid onset gender dysphoria” (ROGD) hypothesis, which posits that TGD identities realized in adolescence are transient and will not continue into adulthood.

“The ROGD hypothesis suggests that transgender and gender diverse identities that become clear after puberty don’t last beyond one’s adolescent years,” said lead study author Dr. Jack Turban, Director, Gender Psychiatry Program and Assistant Professor, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco and faculty member at The Fenway Institute. “With over 40 percent of transgender and gender diverse adults reporting that they first realized that their gender identity differed from their sex assigned at birth during adolescence, that theory clearly does not hold.”

The study, titled “Age of Realization and Disclosure of Gender Identity Among Transgender Adults” divided 27,715 TGD adults in the United States into two groups based on how old they were when they realized that their gender identity was different from their sex assigned at birth. The first group (16,279 participants, or 59.2%, known as the “childhood realization” group) came to understand that they were TGD at age 10 or younger; the second group (11,218 or 40.8%, known as the “later realization” group) reported realization of their TGD identity at age 11 or above. Participants were also asked how old they were when they first shared their gender identity with another person. Overall, several years typically elapsed between realization of one’s gender identity and sharing this with another person.

Other important findings from the study include the following:

• A larger proportion of participants in the later realization group were assigned female sex at birth (63.2% vs. 53.1%)
• A larger percentage of participants in the later realization group identified as nonbinary or genderqueer (49.1%) compared to those in the childhood realization group (25.2%)
• A smaller proportion of participants in the later realization group experienced K-12 harassment based on gender identity (13.1% vs. 26.9%), had a history of exposure to gender identity change efforts (13.1% vs. 26.9%), and received pubertal suppression (0.2% vs. 0.4%) or gender-affirming hormones (34.8% vs. 56.6%).
• Among the childhood realization group, the median time between realization of one’s gender identity and sharing it with another person was 14 years.

“It is notable that study participants in the later realization group were also more likely to have been assigned a female sex at birth. This further undercuts the ROGD hypothesis, which asserts that people assigned female sex at birth who come to understand their trans identities after puberty will not continue to hold these identities in adulthood,” Turban added. “Additionally, the fact that participants in the childhood realization group took approximately 14 years to disclose their gender identity to another person refutes the notion inherent in the ROGD hypothesis that disclosure of a trans identity to parents coincides with when trans youth first come to understand their gender identities.”

The ROGD hypothesis, first published in 2018, immediately gained influence in public policy debates with coverage by publications ranging from The Economist to Science. A correction was issued shortly after publication of the initial ROGD manuscript stating that “ROGD is not a formal mental health diagnosis at this time. This report did not collect data from the adolescents and young adults or clinicians and therefore does not validate the phenomenon.” Despite this, elements of the ROGD hypothesis continue to be prominently featured in influential mainstream media discourse, including The New York Times. The hypothesis is also used by numerous governmental agencies, lawmakers, and policy analysts to justify legislative and regulatory measures prohibiting adolescents from accessing gender-affirming medical care, despite opposition from all major medical organizations.

“The damage that has been done to transgender and gender diverse youth and their families by new laws prohibiting them from accessing gender-affirming medical care as well as the toxic rhetoric promulgated by these legislative campaigns is incalculable,” said study senior author Dr. Alex S. Keuroghlian, who directs the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center at The Fenway Institute and the Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Gender Identity Program. “It is vital that clinicians, health policy analysts, and journalists familiarize themselves with the facts about gender identity development.”

“Age of Realization and Disclosure of Gender Identity Among Transgender Adults,” is based on data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, which surveyed over 27,000 transgender people in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. territories abroad, and U.S. military bases on a multitude of questions about their lives. The paper is the latest in a series of secondary analyses of the groundbreaking 2015 survey. Prior papers include “Factors Leading to ‘Detransition’ Among Transgender and Gender Diverse People in the United States: A Mixed-Methods Analysis,” published in 2021 in LGBT Health, “Association Between Gender-Affirming Surgeries and Mental Health Outcomes,” published in 2021 in JAMA Surgery, “Pubertal Suppression for Transgender Youth and Risk of Suicidal Ideation,” published in 2020 in Pediatrics, and “Association Between Recalled Exposure to Gender Identity Conversion Efforts and Suicide Attempts,” published in 2020 in JAMA Psychiatry.

“Age of Realization and Disclosure of Gender Identity Among Transgender Adults” Hypothesis,” was authored by the same researchers who wrote the 2022 study, “Sex Assigned At Birth Ratio Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents in the United States.” Published in Pediatrics, that study provided evidence undercutting the “social contagion” component of the ROGD hypothesis.

“Age of Realization and Disclosure of Gender Identity Among Transgender Adults,” is available here.

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Most people are at least a little jealousy, but few take it to an extreme.

Jealousy is neither healthy nor cute. It is always a reflection of insecurity, self-esteem, and trust issues.

MONTREAL (PRWEB)
February 11, 2023

Imagine being forced to undergo a lie detector test every time you come home more than 15 minutes late. Or not being allowed to look at members of the opposite sex in any shape or form, including pictures in a magazine. These are just some of the extreme actions taken by the aptly named – and yes, very real person – known as “Britain’s Most Jealous Woman.” So how jealous is the “normal” average person? A study by researchers at PsychTests finds out.

ANALYZING DATA COLLECTED FROM 6,566 HETEROSEXUAL MEN AND WOMEN WHO TOOK A JEALOUSY TEST, HERE’S WHAT PSYCHTESTS’ RESULTS REVEALED:

> 23% of women and 26% of men believe it is impossible for a man and a woman to be just friends.

> 24% of women believe that men are unable to resist the temptation to cheat, while 14% of men believe that women cannot fight the urge.

> 62% of women and 70% of men believe their partner will remain faithful for the entirety of the relationship.

> 21% of women and 19% of men believe that their partner would leave if the opportunity to date someone “better” (more attractive, more successful) came up.

> 16% of women and 14% of men said they would hire someone to follow their significant other around if he/she was suspected of cheating.

> 15% of women and 13% of men don’t like it when their partner has a night out with friends.

> 11% of women and 12% of men would be jealous and upset if their partner had an erotic dream about a celebrity.

> 56% of women and 55% of men would be jealous and upset if their partner had an erotic dream about a colleague.

WHEN ASKED WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX CALLED AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THEIR PARTNER:

> 13% of women and 11% of men said they would stay in the room while their partner talked to this person, and make it evident that they were listening to every word.

> 10% of women and 7% of men would leave the room but eavesdrop.

> 55% of women and 48% of men would stay in the room but pretend to be busy with a task (while still listening in on the conversation).

> 22% of women and 34% of men said that they would be totally unconcerned, and leave the room in order to give their partner some privacy.

WHEN ASKED WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE SEX WAS STARING SEDUCTIVELY AT THEIR PARTNER AT A PARTY (AND THEIR PARTNER WAS TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS TO IT):

> 16% of women and 14% of men said that the seductive stranger wouldn’t bother them.

> 10% of women and 7% of men would simply try to enjoy the party, even if the situation bothered them.

> 54% of women and 45% of men would make it a point to show public affection to their partner as a way of “marking their territory.”

> 12% of women and 13% of men would give the flirty stranger a “keep-your-eyes-to-yourself” look.

> 4% of women and 10% of men would ask the person to stop staring.

> 2% of women and 3% of men would grab their partner and leave.

> 2% of women and 8% of men would confront the stranger and start a physical fight if necessary.

WHEN ASKED WHICH CHARACTERISTIC THEY FIND MOST ANNOYING IN A PARTNER:

> 2% of women and 4% of men said “lack of attractiveness.”

> 4% of women and 8% of men said “social awkwardness.”

> 15% of women and 18% of men said “lack of confidence.”

> 12% of women and 14% of men said “impatience/impulsivity.”

> 36% of women and 27% of men said “unreliability.”

> 31% of women and 29% of men said “dishonesty.”

“There are a lot of misconceptions about jealousy, one being that a little bit of it is okay and even kind of cute,” explains Dr. Ilona Jerabek, president of PsychTests. “But here’s the first reality check: jealousy is neither healthy nor cute. It is always a reflection of insecurity, self-esteem, and trust issues. Moreover, jealousy isn’t something that your partner causes you to feel…you are the one who is reacting in this manner, whether the threat to your relationship is real or not. So, here’s reality check number two: unless your partner gives you a reason to be distrustful, give him or her the benefit of the doubt. And if you do notice your partner blatantly flirting with someone – or worse – then address it directly. Describe your perception of the event, express your feelings, listen to his/her take on things, and ponder the seriousness and the dynamics of the situation. Examine your own emotions and figure out whether their intensity stems from the magnitude of the offense, or if a bit of innocent flirting touches a nerve because of past experiences, leading you to assume the worst. Or is your partner really crossing the line and discounting the behavior, and puts you down because you are calling it out? Hopefully, your partner has enough empathy, compassion and self-control to help you work through your inner turmoil. If not, you have three options: learn to live with it and accept that this will hurt, go to couple’s therapy, or end the relationship.”

“Misconception number two relates to people who want their partner to act a little jealous – the people who say, ‘It would be nice to see my partner show some jealousy or possessiveness, just to show me that he or she cares.’ This brings up reality check number three: if you want your partner to be jealous, what you’re really asking for is more loving attention, more affection, more signs of love. And this is where love languages come in. If you and your partner have mismatching love languages, it can make it harder to read and understand each other’s signals. For example, imagine your love language is Words of Affirmation. This means that you express love verbally: you say ‘I love you’ often, you send sweet texts, and write your partner cute love notes. If your partner has a more action-oriented love language, such as Acts of Service, he or she will show love in an entirely different way – by making your favorite meal, picking up snacks for you at the store, cleaning the snow off your car, or having a warm cup of tea waiting for you on a cold day. Both languages are equally valid ways of showing love, just very different. So, try to be more attuned to your partner’s love language this Valentine’s Day. Love can be a kiss, a card, a box of chocolates, or flowers, but it can also be taking your car in for repairs because you hate going to the mechanic, doing some extra chores for you without being asked or without complaining, being supportive of you pursuing your dream, or taking the kids out so that you can sleep in. You need to be able to pick up the signs and to understand that everyone has their own way of saying ‘I love you,’” concludes Dr. Jerabek.

How jealous are you? Find out by taking a Jealousy Test at:

For heterosexual women: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/2105

For lesbians: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/2103

For heterosexual men: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/2104

For gay men: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/2102

Professional users, such as HR managers, coaches, and therapists, can request a free demo for this or other assessments from ARCH Profile’s extensive battery: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1

To learn more about psychological testing, download this free eBook: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr

About PsychTests AIM Inc.

PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists and coaches, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com).

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“If you fall in love and then break up, it can leave you in an addictive cycle of obsessive thinking, craving, and emotional upheaval. But there’s hope–there are skills you can learn and use to help let go of your ex and create your next great life adventure.”

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
February 01, 2023

In her latest self-help book, Letting Go of Your Ex: CBT Skills to Heal the Pain of a Breakup and Overcome Love Addiction (New Harbinger Publications, February 1, 2023) Dr. Cortney Warren offers evidence-based skills grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help readers combat their symptoms, understand deceptive thinking patterns, and emerge empowered after a love-addicted breakup.

Have you ever gone through a heart-wrenching breakup? One of those life-changing romantic endings that leave you consumed by thoughts of your ex, desperate for answers, yearning for contact, and consumed by anger, sadness, and pain over the end of your relationship? If so, you may be going through a love-addicted breakup–and you aren’t alone. Dr. Cortney Warren’s new book may help!

For people who struggle with love addiction, breakups can be devastating. Although it’s not a clinical diagnosis, love addiction is a term often used by mental health experts to describe a pattern of symptoms focused around a current or former love interest that harm a person’s general well-being. People struggling with love addiction become hyper-focused on their ex, which leads to a host of highly unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that reduce their quality of life and overall mental health.

Written by board-certified clinical psychologist and leading addictions expert Dr. Cortney Soderlind Warren, “Letting Go of Your Ex” offers powerful, evidence-based skills and techniques grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help combat the overwhelming symptoms of love addiction. Through the content and exercises laced through the book, “Letting Go of Your Ex” teaches readers:

• How and why love can function like an addiction
• How to change the harmful beliefs that keep people stuck on your ex
• How childhood experiences affect adult romantic relationships
• How to avoid recreating old dynamics in a new relationship

Using the tools in this compassionate and nonjudgmental guide helps people going through a love-addicted breakup to move on and create a fulfilling future.

“Falling in love is a naturally addictive experience. If you fall in love and then break up, it can leave you in an addictive cycle of obsessive thinking, craving, and emotional upheaval that’s very difficult to stop.” Dr. Cortney continues, “The good news is that there’s hope–there are many highly effective skills you can learn and use to help yourself let go of your ex and create your next great life adventure. ”

“Letting Go of Your Ex” is now available at retailers such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound. Tools used in the book are also available for free download on the New Harbinger Book Website.

####

About Cortney Soderlind Warren, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Warren is a board certified clinical psychologist and former tenured associate professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Having won numerous professional awards for her research, Warren is an expert on addictions, eating pathology, self-deception, and the practice of psychotherapy from a cross-cultural perspective. In addition to her academic work, Warren is a speaker, author, and coach passionate about bringing psychological tools to the public. She earned her doctorate from Texas A&M University after completing a clinical internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School in 2006.

Press Contact:

Alix Abbamonte

Pace Public Relations

203.613.5642

alix@pacepublicrelations.com

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What do doomsayers and fatalists have in common? A pessimistic attitude for certain, but also a lack of purpose, and issues with self-doubt and stress management.

“Rather than feeling fearful of the future and wallowing in a sense of helplessness, focus your energy on creating the type of future that you want.”

MONTREAL (PRWEB)
January 10, 2023

The state of the economy, resurging COVID cases, military conflicts, and the deteriorating health of the planet has many people feeling rather despondent these days and perhaps even a little fatalistic about what the new year might bring. But what lies at the root of this doom and gloom mindset? It likely wouldn’t surprise most people that extreme doomsayers are more likely to be pessimists, but according to a study by PsychTests.com, they also have a propensity for stubbornness and tend to lack effective coping skills.

Analyzing data collected from 12,259 people who took the Emotional Intelligence Test, PsychTests’ researchers compared two groups: people who are terrified of what the future holds (categorized as “Foreboders”) and those are not afraid (categorized as “Level-headers”).

HERE’S WHERE THEY DIFFERED:

> Not surprisingly, 61% of Foreboders are extreme pessimists (compared to 17% of Level-headers).

> 41% see life as being just one problem after another (compared to 9% of Level-headers).

> 55% ruminate excessively and keep themselves up at night thinking about problems (compared to 12% of Level-headers).

> 53% find it difficult to forget about their worries and just have fun (compared to 13% of Level-headers).

> 43% feel directionless and lack a sense of purpose (compared to 11% of Level-headers).

> 51% can’t figure out what they want out of life (compared to 14% of Level-headers).

> 58% are afraid that if they get their hopes up, they will be heartbreakingly disappointed (compared to 17% of Level-headers).

> 46% struggle to bounce back from disappointments, setbacks, and failures (compared to 10% of Level-headers).

> 36% feel like they don’t have any control over their lives (compared to 5% of Level-headers).

> 44% get angry, sad, or discouraged when even the smallest thing goes wrong in their lives (compared to 6% of Level-headers).

> 58% are plagued by constant self-doubt (compared to 10% of Level-headers).

> 42% are uncomfortable making decisions and will not move forward until their choice is approved by others (compared to 8% of Level-headers).

> 51% dislike change and will try to avoid it (compared to 13% of Level-headers).

> 65% admit that they are very stubborn (compared to 41% of Level-headers).

> 23% have control issues and want all things done their way (compared to 9% of Level-headers).

> 72% tend to obsessively dissect and over-analyze situations, creating problems where there are none (compared to 24% of Level-headers).

> Ironically, fewer Foreboders than Level-headers actually plan for the future (52% vs. 61% respectively).

“Being concerned about the future is normal, especially given the economic crisis we are currently going through and the general sense of global unrest,” explains Dr. Ilona Jerabek, president of PsychTests. “This pushes us to prepare and plan, just in case. For example, many people are curbing their spending, striving to be more eco-conscious, and trying to appreciate the good in their lives rather than only focusing on the bad. However, don’t let a fear of the future nestle in too deep. Making decisions and taking actions from a state of fear generally doesn’t end well.”

“What we have seen in our study is that a fear of the future, or a tendency towards defeatist thinking, stems not just from fear, but also a lack of purpose and goals, self-doubt, and poor coping skills. So rather than feeling fearful of the future and wallowing in a sense of helplessness, focus your energy on creating the type of future that you want. Start a bucket list. Work on your confidence and stress management. Find the good in negative situations and look for things in your life to appreciate. Pay it forward or volunteer. If you fixate on all the bad that is going on, you will never be able to recognize the good. Remember, the future is unwritten, so no one can accurately predict what will happen. Prepare for the worst if you wish, but hope for the best too.”

What’s your EQ? Find out by taking the Emotional Intelligence Test at: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3979

Professional users, such as HR managers, coaches, and therapists, can request a free demo for this or other assessments from ARCH Profile’s extensive battery: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1

To learn more about psychological testing, download this free eBook: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr

About PsychTests AIM Inc.

PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists and coaches, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com).

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The holiday spirit is about being kind and generous, not about letting people walk all over you.

Constantly putting others first and not voicing your wants and needs will leave you feeling helpless, unhappy, and resentful.

MONTREAL (PRWEB)
December 24, 2022

The holidays are all about the spirit of giving. According to a a Consumer Reports article, people spend approximately 42 hours on holiday shopping…although one can argue that most of that time is spent in the parking lot searching for a free space. The holiday spirit also encourages us to be kinder and more flexible, even when annoying family members demand more of our time, energy, and patience than we’d like to give. After all, saying “no” and putting our needs first doesn’t align with the holiday season. However, researchers at PsychTests insist that being more assertive with family and putting our foot down is a must.

Analyzing data collected from 12,259 people who took the Emotional Intelligence Test, PsychTests’ researchers compared two different groups:

> People who put others first even when it’s a major inconvenience (categorized as “unassertive Santas”)

> People who won’t put others first when it’s a major inconvenience (“assertive Santas”).

Here’s what the study revealed:

THE WHY – The unassertive Santas said that they grudgingly put others first because…

> 49% of them are not comfortable expressing their feelings, especially negative ones (compared to 27% of Assertive Santas).

> 56% won’t ask for what they want, even when they really want it (compared to    >     > 27% of Assertive Santas).

> 37% are willing to change their attitude, behavior, or appearance in order to please others (compared to 11% of Assertive Santas).

> 45% postpone or avoid conversations about sensitive topics (compared to 23% of Assertive Santas).

> 50% are conflict-avoidant (compared to 23% of Assertive Santas).

> 33% are intimidated by people with strong personalities (compared to 13% of Assertive Santas).

> And 52% admitted that it is very important to them to be liked by everyone (compared to 29% of Assertive Santas).

THE CONSEQUENCES – Unfortunately, when unassertive Santas constantly put others first, they are left with some rather unpleasant feelings:

> 30% feel like they have no control over their lives (compared to 10% of Assertive Santas).

> 52% frequently regret the decisions they make (compared to 22% of Assertive Santas).

> 50% have difficulty letting go of minor annoyances in general (compared to 17% of Assertive Santas).

> 42% berate, insult, or put themselves down (compared to 12% of Assertive Santas).

> And, not surprisingly, half of the sample feels taken advantage of (compared to 12% of Assertive Santas).

Does this mean that the assertive santas are simply selfish and self-absorbed? Not so, according to the researchers at Psychtests. Here are the acts of kindness that both groups committed in recent months:

> Held the door open for someone – 84% of Unassertive Santas and 92% of Assertive Santas

> Bought someone a cup of coffee – 75% of Unassertive Santas and 77% of Assertive Santas.

> Voluntarily ran errands for someone – 86% of Unassertive Santas and of Assertive Santas 79%.

> Gave a lost stranger directions – 79% of Unassertive Santas and 84% of Assertive Santas.

> Helped someone cross the street – 37% of Unassertive Santas and 34% of Assertive Santas.

> Donated time or money to charity 60% of Unassertive Santas and 61% of Assertive Santas.

> Gave a homeless person food or money – 50% of both groups.

> Spent the day lavishing attention on someone who is often neglected – 71% of Unassertive Santas and 62% of Assertive Santas.

“We’re often reluctant to say ‘no’ to family because, well, they’re family. We don’t want to be perceived as selfish, difficult, or even ungrateful, as might be the case when saying ‘no’ to our parents or people who have done favors for us,” explains Dr. Ilona Jerabek, president of PsychTests. “However, it’s important to understand – and I can’t stress this enough – that being assertive doesn’t mean you are selfish, rude, or aggressive. Nor does it involve yelling at people or venting all of your grievances about them. Asserting yourself means placing reasonable limits on what you will allow people to ask of you or say to you, and enforcing those boundaries, calmly yet firmly, when they are crossed. So if, for example, Christmas dinner is at your place and your mother-in-law insists on taking over the cooking, don’t let the spirit of the holidays lull you into compliance. Use this assertiveness template:

I know you want to help me prepare dinner and I appreciate it.

But I feel frustrated and discouraged

When you take over and insist on cooking

Because I feel like you don’t trust my cooking skills and it makes it harder to keep things flowing in the way I want them to.

I’d really appreciate it if you would either ask me if you can help with something, or simply enjoy the party with the rest of the guests.

“If your mother-in-law or anyone else you assert yourself with doesn’t like it, that’s not your issue, it’s theirs. As we have seen with the unassertive group in our study, constantly putting others first and not voicing your wants and needs will leave you feeling helpless, unhappy, and resentful. You won’t end up hating others for taking advantage of you, you’ll end up experiencing a great deal of self-loathing for not standing up for what you want. So, our lesson for the holidays is: Be kind and assertive, and put others first only if doing so brings you both joy. Santa Claus knows that it’s sometimes necessary to put people on the naughty list, and so should you.”

What’s your EQ? Take the Emotional Intelligence Test at: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3979

Professional users, such as HR managers, coaches, and therapists, can request a free demo for this or other assessments from ARCH Profile’s extensive battery: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/testdrive_gen_1

To learn more about psychological testing, download this free eBook: http://hrtests.archprofile.com/personality-tests-in-hr

About PsychTests AIM Inc.

PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists and coaches, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts (see ARCHProfile.com).

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