The Sneaky Trap of Comparison

Comparison. We all do it. But the truth is it can be the cause of so much of our mental health troubles. Watch to know why!

Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

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[Nyx]

Comparison was the first reason that I thought of and still is by far the largest reason why I am not on Facebook.

[sagebun]

Grew up being compared to others most of the time by parents and relatives. It's hard to heal.

[ventusheart]

I swear you channel helped me in a the most desperate moment of my life 😭 thank you for all the informations you share and contribute to make world a better place.

[kokomolove]

Pls. Elaborate this in longer form.
I am on a confusing state of mind for a while now. I’m doing my gratitudes, trying to see things more in a positive light. But I’m still feeling blehhhh. I’m doing my best of asking myself a lot of questions to get to the root of feeling I’m still coming up blank.

[julietteferrars]

I grew up in a rigorous school where we were constantly held to high standards and compared to our peers. I also grew up in church, where I was compared to others who were more outgoing and more passionate about God. I’ve been compared to my siblings and other relatives by my parents. Comparison is not something I was born doing, it was taught and forced on me by every authority figure in my life from a very young age.

[downshiftlife]

I love that you talk about subjects a few people are willing to talk about. I avoid comparing myself with others at all costs but if it's in my face, I have the least popular coping strategies, but they work for me. Being a hermit is one of them.

[MysticMel]

i'm in a forever trap of this comparing myself to others

[gstockwell]

It's because the parents kept comparing them to others...ITS A LEARNED LESSON FROM PARENTS WHO WERE SELFISH.

[marjorymsuku]

You are actually comparing your 'apples' to their 'oranges'. It is not a like with like comparison, so it is not very reasonable/realistic. That helps me a lot to stop comparing.