Trudi Griffin, LPC, MS

Professional Counselor

Trudi Griffin is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Wisconsin. She specializes in addictions, mental health problems, and trauma recovery. She has worked as a counselor in both community health settings and private practice. She also works as a writer and researcher, with education, experience, and compassion for people informing her research and writing subjects. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. She also earned an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marquette University.

Education

  • Bachelor's degree, Communications and Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
  • Master's degree, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marquette University

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Q&A Comments (219)

I excel at all of these things, but my parents still treat me like a baby. It makes me really angry, and I feel like I'm going to snap. What should I do to convince them to let me stay home alone?
Remember that staying home alone is a privilege, not a right. If you make a big deal out of it, they may become suspicious about your motives. For example, they might think that you want to do things at home that you don't want them to see. In the meantime, all you can do is be respectful and mature. Even if their wishes seem ridiculous to you, follow them. Losing your temper will only make the situation worse.
What do I do if my parent is verbally abusive?
If you have parents who are verbally abusive, there are other problems within the family system that should be addressed through therapy. However, therapy does not change your responsibility to be honest about what happened, deal with the consequences, and create a plan to fix the situation if it’s possible. The goal is to separate losing the item from your parents’ verbal abuse. You can control your behavior and reaction, but you cannot control theirs. One way to help yourself in the situation is to have another trusted adult present when you tell them. Perhaps another family member, or someone who can advocate for you while diffusing your parents’ verbal abuse, acting as a mediator. Sometimes verbally abusive people are less likely to be so when other people are around, especially if it is someone they know and trust. Having a mediator present may help diffuse the initial reaction, but if your parents are verbally abusive to you after that person leaves, then that person can be someone you turn to for additional help.
What should you do if you lost money?
Create a plan to replace the money or the monetary value of something you lost. If you already have a plan in place when you tell your parents you lost it, you are showing maturity, taking responsibility for your actions, and showing them you are willing to be held accountable. By doing something extra to repay the value of the lost item, you are also letting them know that you understand there are consequences for losing things and that you’re not only willing to handle the consequences, but that you know that doing something extra is required.
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Co-authored Articles (388)

How to Understand Adult Baby Diaper Lovers (ABDLs)

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Cope With Being a Diaper Lover

Diaper lovers (DLs) are people who enjoy wearing diapers, for medical or non-medical reasons. A DL may wear a diaper for convenience, sexual pleasure, or as a preference over regular underwear. Realizing that you are a d...

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Deal With People Talking About You Behind Your Back

It feels pretty awful to have people talk about you behind your back. Since this kind of gossip may be subtle, it’s often hard to pinpoint the source. For this reason, you’ll probably make matters worse by trying to ...

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Overcome a Fear of Sex

A sexual encounter is loaded with potential for positive and negative results. Inexperience, lack of knowledge, or a history of sexually related difficulties may be escalating your fear of engaging in sexual activity. Wo...

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Include Spanking in Child Discipline

Effective discipline is when a parent or caretaker is able to shape a child’s actions to create desirable behavior. The focus of any disciplinary action should be on creating order and promoting good moral character. ...

7 Ways to Know if You’re Addicted to Wearing Diapers

A guide to recognizing your addiction and changing your habits While many enjoy using diapers for recreation, comfort, security, emotional support, or even sexual satisfaction, there may come a point where your behavior ...

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Stop Laughing at Inappropriate Times

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Overcome an Addiction to Porn As a Teenager

Like any other destructive behavior that disrupts your everyday life, watching porn can become an addiction. Below are steps you can take to find out if you do indeed have a problem you should be concerned about, ways to...

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Make a Woman Feel Sexy

Making a woman feel sexy doesn’t have to be a complicated mystery. Whether you are just starting out in your relationship or have been together for years, there are ways to make her feel sexy, desired, and attractive. ...

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Handle a Cheating Girlfriend

Infidelity is difficult to handle. If you found out your girlfriend is cheating, you're likely finding it difficult to trust her again and move forward. In order to cope, you need to evaluate if the relationship is wor...

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Accept Being Unattractive

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Know Who You Are

One study suggests having a better ability to know yourself can help you make effective decisions and achieve goals. Beyond the realm of science, the importance of knowing who you are is recognized by everyday people and...

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Know if a Person Is Interested in You

If someone is flirting with you, does this mean they’re interested in you? It can be difficult to know when someone is interested in you, especially because you probably don’t want to feel rejected. Knowing if a pers...

How to Deal with an Overbearing Mother-in-Law: 15 Tips

Work together with your spouse to handle an annoying mother-in-lawDoes your mother-in-law try to run your home like it's hers, criticize your every move, or barge in unannounced? An overbearing mother-in-law is tough to ...

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Decide if Your Friend is a True Friend

You’ll make a lot of different friends during your life, but true friends are hard to come by and far more rewarding. Luckily, true friends are pretty easy to spot, and knowing the signs of a true friend will help you ...

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Stop Thinking About Suicide

When despair, isolation, and pain become too overwhelming to bear, suicide might seem like the only way to get free. It's hard to see them now, but there are options that will bring relief and keep you alive to feel joy,...

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Live With a Neurotic

A person who is described as neurotic will tend to be in a depressed mood, and tends to cope poorly with the daily stresses of life. These people may also suffer from strong feelings of guilt, anxiety, and anger. In psyc...

How to Kindly Say No without Feeling Guilty

Plus, tips for setting boundaries & feeling confident saying noLike most people, your natural instinct is probably to help others when you can. But sometimes, you just need to say “no.” Whether you're declining an in...

How to Deal with Feeling Ugly

The pressure to be conventionally good-looking is so strong, even toddlers stress about it. You may feel ugly some of the time, or you may feel ugly most of the time. Either way, feeling ugly is no reason to deny yourse...
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