We’ve recently been contributing to a flurry of articles spanning a wide range of psychology topics. From workaholism to Prolonged Grief Disorder & even embracing your shadow self, we thought it was time to share some of them with you.
The Psychological Problems Of A Workaholic
“People who as children were reinforced by their achievements rather than who they are, are more likely to become work addicted”
Earlier this year, Dr Claudia Herbert lent her opinion to a BBC article on the issues connected to work addiction. It explores the problems which can manifest when people take their work ethic to an extreme, working “obsessively hard in a compulsive way”. The article saw us in good company with the thoughts of other psychologists, like Wilmar Schaufeli, a Dutch professor of work and organisational psychology and Jane Enter, of Retreat South in Australia, being referenced too. As the article highlights, overworking yourself in your job can be a very real problem which seems to be pervasive across the globe. It explores the possible causes of this issue, along with some of the approaches to making sure that it doesn’t get any further out of hand.
How Long Should We Grieve For?
“There has always been a recognition that for very cruel, unexpected or untimely deaths there can often be a traumatic grief reaction that goes on for longer and affects people more profoundly.”
The model established by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in 1969 suggested that people go through five stages of grief after the death of a loved one:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
This model helped pave the way for deeper research into the grieving process and the psychology field’s understanding of the topic has developed since then. In an article for Patient website dealing with Prolonged Grief Disorder, Dr Herbert joined the discussion on how long a “normal” grieving process should last. The key point which the article highlights is that ‘there is no such thing as normal when it comes to grief and the length of the grieving process. Everyone processes it in their own ways, depending on a range of factors, from the circumstances of the death to the support they receive.’
The article explores some of the features of the grieving process and how it differs to PTSD, along with some of the treatment options such as CBT and support strategies for people affected by grief.
Embracing Your Shadow Self
“If we can accept ourselves, both our positive side and our shadow side, that is the way we can find peace with ourselves. We become whole.”
In a fascinating article for, ‘In The Moment’ magazine Dr Herbert was consulted on the concept of our shadow self, a notion first portrayed by famous Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung. The article encourages us to embrace the “taboo” aspects of our personality and attempt to accept them. It argues that we can’t always exist in the state of calm and tranquillity which we would like the rest of the world to perceive us as living in. Instead, by accepting the full range of emotions which run through us, we become empowered and can find peace far more effectively than by denying the uncomfortable feelings which come our way.
Does Your Article Need A Professional Opinion?
We really enjoy contributing to psychology articles. If you’re writing one yourself and you need a professional opinion on a psychology matter why not get in touch to see if we can help. One of our team might be able to lend you their experience and contribute to your article. Just get in touch with us at info@oxdev.co.uk
