The stress of the holidays triggers sadness and depression for many people. This time of year is especially difficult because there’s an expectation of feeling merry and generous. People compare their emotions to what they assume others are experiencing or what they’re supposed to feel and then think that they alone fall short. They judge themselves and […]
Read MoreComplex Grief and Trauma In Toxic Relationships
We can’t talk about narcissistic emotional abuse without talking about grief and trauma. Both of these will come up in your recovery. Each individual has their own unique losses to assess and to grieve if it becomes necessary to leave the relationship. Some of these may include: loss of a dream loss of an intact […]
Read MoreThe Narcissist’s Spouse: Understanding Primary Supply
As a complex trauma therapist who specializes in treating trauma incurred through narcissistic abuse, I encounter many spouses desperate to escape from the perfidious torment of marriage to a malignant narcissist. Similarly, I work with adult children of mothers and fathers who embody malignant narcissistic traits or fit the diagnostic criteria for NPD. Narcissistic Personality […]
Read MoreParental Alienation: What Is It and How Do You Cope?
After close to three decades and without any planning, I chose to escape a narcissistically abusive marriage. Wow! I wished I would have read Tracy A. Malone’s book, “Divorcing Your Narcissist: You Can’t Make This Shit Up!” because then I would have learned from her extensive research and experience about the “covert tricks they pull” […]
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The Narcissistically Disordered Family
The Narcissistically Disordered Family A Glimpse At The Grooming And Abusing That Occurs Within The Home by Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW In a memoir piece I wrote about my disturbing relationship with my narcissistically disordered father I elaborated on how his neglect, sadistic mockery, objectification and abandonment nearly destroyed me. The proverbial silver lining of having […]
Read MoreSons Of Narcissistic Mothers
Another great article, courtesy of Darlene Lancer. All children of narcissists suffer. Sons of narcissistic mothers suffer damage to their autonomy, self-worth, and future relationships with women. Narcissists lack empathy and ability to nurture their children. They don’t see them as individuals, but only as extensions of themselves. Their children’s feelings and needs are neglected […]
Read MoreHas your parent ever given you the silent treatment?
A big thank you to Mel Crowe for this great article! Have they done it a few times? Do they do it whenever there’s been an argument or disagreement, which means that instead of talking things through, clearing the air, reaching a compromise, or apologizing, they stop talking to you for a few hours, […]
Read MoreParental Alienation Daughter Comes Back – What Was Life Like With Dad? How She Survived
I am so happy for my friend Carolyn and her daughter Caitlyn after 8 long years, mom and daughter reunite. Parental Alienation is a tool abusers use to hurt the other parent. Today I am honored to interview the two of them after they got back together. What was life like at Dad’s house? Were […]
Read MoreTen Signs of Having Been Raised by a Narcissist
Ten Signs of Having Been Raised by a Narcissist Thank you Debbie Tudor for a great article! In my life coaching and therapy work I began to see the same pattern over and over again in my clients-a highly intelligent, successful adult, desperate to please a narcissistic parent. These clients, who are scapegoated their entire […]
Read MoreChild Roles in the Narcissistic Family: Scapegoat
Child Roles in the Narcissistic Family: Scapegoat As in other types of dysfunctional families, children in the narcissistic home fall into roles orchestrated by their parents. Such parents assign the roles to reinforce their deluded self-beliefs and control family dynamics. Like other aspects of the narcissistic family, child roles are artificial and meant to serve […]
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