Gaslighting is a sophisticated manipulation tactic which certain types of personalities use to create doubt in the minds of others. Here’s how it works and what to watch out for.

Learn how to recognize the weakest point in the vicious cycle of distress. Whether you’re managing anxiety and panic, or in relationship with a disturbed character, stop the cycle before it escalates out of control.

When a domineering and aggressive personality is confronted with “No” there’s a great risk of intensified verbal and physical intimidation and abuse. Before you decide to move out from under a controller’s thumb, be sure to have a safe plan and a solid support system in place.

Cultural factors have been at work for years, increasing the numbers of deficient, disturbed and highly irresponsible characters among us. Are we tired of the resulting character and ethics scandals yet? Will it be enough to get us to do something about it?

The intensely socially repressive atmosphere of earlier times has been supplanted with an atmosphere of entitlement, permissiveness, and license. So it’s not surprising that it’s now more common for folks to lack enough shame or guilt to inhibit them from setting out to harm or manipulate others. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that significantly disturbed characters are everywhere.

The human psyche has a darker side and, like Peter Pan, we would do well not to lose connection with that shadow. In order to be a better person, we need to acknowledge and ‘own’ those unconscious, repressed parts of self.

For some prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the recurring dread of impending winter can be offset, at least for a little while, by finding enjoyment in what nature provides us along with these shortening autumn days. For me, that means apples and pumpkins.