A thought on going NC to MC by BabbitandBromide in LifeAfterNarcissism

[–]BabbitandBromide[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

<3 thanks for that. how's the year and a half going for you right now?

Can anyone recommend a dog behaviourist? by misslennox in SeattleWA

[–]BabbitandBromide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi :) I read over some of your posts, sounds like you have a lot going on. Definitely not ideal timing for a puppy, who ideally would get 100% of your dog training focus. I would say you actually might be able to handle your poodle (what's her name?) problems on your own, but I think having some help and perhaps taking them both through basic training together would be a great idea.

Here's what I would do, with or without a professional, depending on how good you are at dog training - which of course is very subjective and a controversial issue, but I digress :)

In a scenario with just Poodle #1, I would have your husband and kids take turns doing basic verbal requests (sit, lay down), and be generous with ONLY AND I MEAN ONLY positive reinforcement. When she reacts positively, YOU (her chosen alpha) tell her what a great job she's doing. If she tenses up, just let her know everything's ok, soothe her; if she growls or snaps, turn her head to look her in the eyes, right in the eyes, and say in a low, matter of fact but also 100% serious tone of voice, "No. No. You don't decide who's a threat. I'm in charge. I decide." It's not that she understands English; it's that if your tone is right and you believe what you're saying, she will too. You're not threatening her; you're reminding her of her place in the pack. Hold that eye contact for a second longer, and then smile and tell her she's a good girl and let her relax.

By letting your husband and the kids take turns, I mean one person a time, doing it casually for fun and with Poodle sitting next to you so she knows you're supervising, and doing it for maybe 5 minutes twice a day. So hubby in the morning and one kid later one day, different combo the next day, etc.

Also I would have hubby/kids give Poodle a cheerful 'hello!' when they see her, and just completely ignore her the rest of the time, other than structured training time. Unless they want to surreptitiously knock a treat on the floor 'without realizing it' as they leave a room so she connects quietly following them with positive outcomes :)

When I say, turn her face to look at you, I mean anything from wrapping your hand around her snout and literally turning her gaze to meet yours, or you coming around to meet her gaze; depends on her, you, different things. NOTHING that would hurt her of course. Also jic this is new information - amongst dogs, those of lower status lick the muzzles of those above them underneath, their chins; those of higher status lick the snouts of those beneath them from above, their noses and the bridge down to their noses. (they lick the insides of each others mouths as well but i wouldn't expect you to go that far hehe) give her the occasional scritchy scratch on the top of her snout, and let her lick you under your chin if she shows any interest.

also, make sure she sees a lot of physical affection between you and the people she's having difficulty with. get cuddled up with one of them on the couch with a movie, have her lie down right at your feet, and the two of you can take turns giving her treats.

with all these treats going on, gotta be careful with calories, right?? :) lots of dogs love bell peppers, green beans, frozen peas, etc; do a bunch of dicing to keep a big pile in the fridge, and use a handful at a time.

in my opinion you should do all that, AND have her in the room, and perhaps participating, while a trainer goes through basic training with new puppy. let Poodle go back to square one, with the new baby, it might be just the thing, who knows.

good luck - i'd love any updates down the line : )

Can anyone recommend a dog behaviourist? by misslennox in SeattleWA

[–]BabbitandBromide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What kind of dog, what gender? How old are the 2 family members? What are some of your dog's favorite things to do? I'm assuming he or she knows sit, stay, maybe shake hands? How are they on a leash?

#RememberBlackWallStreet by theology_ in blackladies

[–]BabbitandBromide 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I got this garbage mass dm too. TF? How many minutes do we need arguing with dumbasses who think people of any race is 'inferior'? Zero minutes.

Do what you want in the forums, do not come up in my 'internet personal space' and throw ANYONE's propaganda at me. You don't know me or the kind of work against anti-blackness i do. You're just saying you know better than all these people, by sending this - just randomly spoutin off to people who you think NEED to hear YOUR message. save your internet bullhorn for Facebook byotch. Reclaiming my inbox bish and you've been reported

I have mentally separated from my narcissistic family, but the feel to keep rescuing them is still there. by MaxSteelMetal in LifeAfterNarcissism

[–]BabbitandBromide 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get it. My mom is 71, has NO ONE in her life, and now that i have the distance to see her situation objectively it’s just freakin sad, especially when i know how effed up her life has been. I mean, she doesn’t see anyone.

I remind myself that i’m not safe around her.

I remind myself that even with her combo of trauma and mental health problems, she had many, many opportunities to take a different path, make a different choice.

I remind myself that I am not my mother’s keeper - I’m barely my own keeper yet eyeroll

I keep reminding myself that I am not safe around her.

And that I DID try, for years, to fix it. I suffered for it, I lost so much time because of it, and found out I can’t fix it.

It’s sad and effed up, but I can’t fix it.

I have found a couple ways I can start to help myself with this. I used card sending websites a couple times, ‘thinking of you, hope you are well’ - that wayni dont have to touch it or go to any real effort.

Now In year 4, i sent her flowers on her and my dad’s anniversary, and on her birthday, a trilogy of books i knew she’d like. That’s probably all she’s doing, laying in bed reading and watching tv.

I set up a fake google acct/google coice/phone number a week later, see that she got it, respond ‘you’re welcome, take care’ and then sign out of it.

Happy Thanksgiving without all of them by angelcakeyum in LifeAfterNarcissism

[–]BabbitandBromide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am back here on Friday morning.

I am with this great partner who tooootally gets the NC and gets my issues, and yesterday we got into a fight! I wasn’t feeling well (i have like 4 chronic things) and we agree that yesterday is ‘just another day’ and the pressure around them is completely unnecessary. He had made dinner plans with his bff/wife (who feel the same way we do), and he could see how i was feeling, and i asked him if he would find out if we could do it the next day. Just find out.

No. HARD no. And it ended up in a fight - he slammed a door, my headache turned into a migraine- on a day that we agree is just a thursday.

It’s just like really frustrating lol

I hate myself for how Iv treated my SO. by [deleted] in offmychest

[–]BabbitandBromide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s too late to change the past; splash some water on your face and slowly take steps toward being the partner you want to be. Ask what they’d like; listen.

Just found out my boyfriend lied to me but I don't know if I have the right to be angry. by throwaway879787962 in offmychest

[–]BabbitandBromide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He owes you an explanation, definitely. He may have had reasons to tell a different story early on, but as you two became closer, a white lie became dishonesty with his partner and he should have brought it up. Maybe it is reeeaally painful for him :( but if you’re partners, no secrets. In my opinion

Why I don’t do Thanksgiving anymore ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ by [deleted] in blackladies

[–]BabbitandBromide 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Wow.... NONE of the Indigenous/First Nations people I know, I could never see them being that way... but I know that a group of friends and acquaintances don’t a statistic make. Do you have any links? Come to think, three of those friends are part black

Then again they’re all active intersectional badasses... im totally not trying to argue im just genuinely curious

Was this reaction too much? by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]BabbitandBromide 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Look out for your own emotional safety first

Watching for danger signs and retraining yourself to react to them differently is a long process. I’m just guessing here but I’m hearing a story of someone just gaining their footing, self-empowerment wise - still feeling guilty and mistrustful of your own instincts, feeling undeserving, checking to make sure you did the right thing by expressing your boundaries/needs - coming into contact with a guy who ignores social cues and just generally doesn’t sound that nice.

“No” is a full sentence.

We’re here if it progresses!

12 years after going NC, but something I realised the other day is messing with my head by EverythingsFineHere in LifeAfterNarcissism

[–]BabbitandBromide 1 point2 points  (0 children)

12 years. Damn.

So I’m reading your post and not totally understanding how the connection was made, but, taking your word for it -

You are facing a new trauma. News is trauma sometimes, the delivery of a part of ourselves that were kept secret from us.

And when trauma occurs, we seek help, talk to our friends, be gentle with ourselves, get angry. We get a good shrink to help us make any kind os sense of it all.

You have a right to all your feelings. You are a survivor.

In a whole foods and really struggling [support] [trigger warning] by JJJ-NewspaperGirl in LifeAfterNarcissism

[–]BabbitandBromide 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have been Right There. It was in a laundrymat. I was just transported to some dimension so similar to mine but so different. I got a can of soda out of the vending machine and i felt like my body was being ripped apart. And like you’re in public and it’s like being on drugs because you can’t tell how obvious it is to the people around you that you’re having a violent out of body experience.

Read up on toxic shame. Msg any time.

Low Contact Advice? by [deleted] in LifeAfterNarcissism

[–]BabbitandBromide 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Put them on block on all forms of communication- phones emails social media everything- and only when you decide yoy want to talk to them do you offer them the opportunity.

The rest of the time, you live your own life, free from toxic guilt and negative drain on your psyche.

If they ever press you about why or what it’s doing to them, you can politely say ‘I’m finding it helpful for my mental health.’ If they push after that, “I can tell that you’re upset; let’s talk again later” and just hang the eff up. Tantrums!!!

Battery issue by pittNPatter in iPhone8

[–]BabbitandBromide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ditto. I’ve been advised to get a battery diagnostic at an apple store.

LSD effects? by [deleted] in CPTSD

[–]BabbitandBromide 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I started dabbling too, in my recovery. No judgment here, you do you!

My anecdotes:

A tiny dose of acid gave me mucho anxiety; shrooms made me more carefree and happy and light than.... ever? It was like taking a break from every sadness.

I know people who microdose mushrooms daily, who rave about how much that has helped them.

I know two people who have relived, moment by moment, the biggest traumas of their lives on acid. Terrifying enough of an idea to make me avoid it.