Living with A Loved One's Mental IllnessWritten by Stephania Munson-Bishop
There are those among us who seem to be natural-born caretakers. Often it's due to way we grew up in our nuclear families -- Mom was ill for years or Dad was an alcoholic, and list goes on. Doesn't it seem that, as adults, caretakers would run toward Normalcy? Unfortunately, it doesn't usually play out that way. For caretakers, what they knew as children was norm.In fact, we may pair up with someone who needs to be taken care of, so we can continue devoting better part of our energies to a partner's problems. The years go by, with crisis after crisis, until caretaker feels drained, frightened, and filled with despair. The caretaker may no longer feel healthy. He/she wonders if loving ill partner even figures into equation any longer. Meanwhile, partner may turn on caring spouse, seeming resentful and filled with hate and even rage toward very person who has tried to make life bearable. But The Illness itself is another entity in house, a strange, alien presence that exacts its toll. The ill partner may refuse to attend Alcoholics Anonymous groups, relapse, and start drinking more than ever. The depressed or bipolar partner stops taking medications and cancels appointments with therapist. When spouse had hoped fervently that they were finally on road to a healthy relationship, bottom falls out. Friends and family may have turned away, weary of ill partner's abuse, insults, or weird behaviors, and couple becomes isolated.
| | EQWritten by Brenda Smith
EQIt's not rocket science, and it doesn't have to elude you anymore. As much as 96% of our success in life and at work depends on emotional Intelligence--also known as horse sense, street smarts or good gut--and it can be learned and mastered. Emotional Intelligence is ability to understand, manage, and take action based on information carried by our emotions. The intelligence comes as we evolve through four components: self-awareness, self-management, interpersonal connection, and personal leadership. Whether you are leading a corporation, or leading a life, soft skills like communication, empathy, stress management and optimism result in more revenue generation and job promotions, more productive and fulfilling relationships--personally and professionally and more comfort with uncertainty of change. EQ translates into business results: Hi EQ salespeople generate 37% more in sales; Partners in professional service firms generate 125% more income than their high IQ partners, and more executive level managers are promoted from within based on empathy and self management than any other trait. There's evidence that high EQ results in better health, smart financial decisions (see related article) and more solid partnerships.
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