Strings Attached - Surviving the Narcissist

Why do you keep hoping they'll change, even when the relationship is making you unhappy? Why is it so difficult to let go of someone who keeps hurting you? And could the hope you're holding on to be one of the reasons your trauma bond feels impossible to break? If you've experienced narcissistic abuse, emotional manipulation or a toxic relationship, you may recognise the feeling of wai...

What really happens after you go no contact with a narcissistic parent ? People often talk about no contact as though it’s the moment everything becomes easier. You block the number, stop replying, close the door — and finally feel free. But for Rose, going no contact with her narcissistic mum wasn’t the end of the story. In many ways, it was the beginning of a completely different stage of recove...

What happens when money stops being support — and starts becoming control? In this episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , Rose and Noah explore financial abuse and financial control in narcissistic relationships — including the less obvious ways money, gifts and “generosity” can be used to create obligation, dependence, guilt and power. Because financial abuse doesn’t always look...

You know the relationship was bad for you. You remember the anxiety, confusion and feeling that you slowly lost yourself. But when someone asks, “What actually happened?” — your mind goes blank. Why can narcissistic abuse be so difficult to remember or explain? In this episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , Rose and Noah explore how chronic stress and emotional abuse can affect me...

Have you ever asked yourself: "How did I not see it?" "Why did it take me so long to realise I was being abused?" If you have, you're far from alone. In this episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , Rose and Noah explore one of the most painful questions survivors of narcissistic abuse ask themselves: Why didn't I realise sooner? Together, they unpack why...

Have you gone no contact with a narcissist only to find yourself missing them more than ever? Do you feel overwhelmed by guilt, grief, intrusive thoughts, or the urge to reach out—even though you know the relationship was unhealthy? You're not alone, and it doesn't mean you've made the wrong decision. In this episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , Rose and Noah explore...

Why do you still miss someone who manipulated, controlled, or emotionally hurt you? If you've ever found yourself longing for someone you know wasn't good for you, you're not weak—and you're certainly not alone. In this deeply personal episode of Strings Attached , Noah and Rose explore one of the most confusing parts of narcissistic abuse recovery: trauma bonds . Together they sha...

If you've ever found yourself asking... Why do I still miss someone who hurt me? Why can't I move on from my narcissistic ex? Why do I still feel responsible for them? This episode is for you. In one of our most personal conversations yet, we explore the reality of trauma bonding —the powerful psychological and physiological attachment that can keep survivors emotionally tied to abusive re...

Have you ever escaped a narcissistic relationship, only to find yourself being pulled back in by family, friends or people you trusted? In this episode of Strings Attached , we're uncovering one of the most painful and misunderstood aspects of narcissistic abuse: flying monkeys . These aren't always malicious people. Sometimes they're parents, siblings, friends or relatives who unknowi...

When Reality Starts Slipping: The Hidden Gaslighting of Covert Narcissists Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling confused, guilty, or somehow responsible for a problem you didn't create? Have you found yourself replaying arguments for hours, questioning your memory, doubting your judgement, or wondering if you're being too sensitive? In this powerful episode of Strings Atta...

Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling guilty, anxious, criticised, or emotionally drained—yet struggled to explain exactly what happened? In this episode of Strings Attached, Noah and Rose explore one of the most damaging yet overlooked forms of narcissistic abuse: passive-aggressive behaviour. Unlike obvious forms of abuse such as shouting, rage, or direct criticism, passive aggre...

Have you ever tried to explain how someone hurt you, only to find yourself apologising instead? In this episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , Noah and Rose explore one of the most confusing and damaging aspects of covert narcissistic abuse: the victim who always becomes the victim. We discuss how covert narcissists use victimhood, emotional martyrdom, guilt-tripping, and helpless...

Have you ever spent time with someone and walked away feeling exhausted, anxious, foggy, or emotionally flat—but couldn't explain why? In this episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , Noah and Rose explore one of the most overlooked signs of covert narcissistic abuse: emotional exhaustion. Unlike overt abuse, covert narcissistic behaviour often operates beneath the surface throu...

In this deeply honest and trauma-informed episode of Strings Attached , we explore why leaving a covert narcissist can feel emotionally impossible — even when you know the relationship is hurting you. We talk about the invisible nature of covert narcissistic abuse, trauma bonding, guilt, emotional confusion, nervous system overwhelm, and the slow erosion of self-trust that keeps so many survivors...

Why do so many survivors of narcissistic parents become chronic people pleasers? Why does setting boundaries feel unsafe… even when you know logically you’re allowed to have them? In this deeply honest episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , we explore the hidden trauma behind people pleasing, emotional caretaking, parentification, hypervigilance, and the fear of disappointing othe...

Have you ever been in a relationship where nothing looked obviously abusive… but something still felt deeply wrong? Covert narcissism doesn’t always look abusive. There’s no shouting. No obvious cruelty. No clear moment you can point to. But somehow… you still feel anxious, drained, guilty, and emotionally lost. In this deeply personal episode, we unpack the subtle manipulation patterns behind cov...

What if the most damaging form of abuse isn’t loud, aggressive, or obvious… but quiet, subtle, and deeply confusing? In this powerful episode, we unpack coercive control in relationships — one of the most misunderstood yet deeply harmful forms of narcissistic abuse . If you’ve ever felt like you were slowly losing your voice, constantly second-guessing yourself, or adjusting your behaviour just to...

What if the most dangerous people in power don’t look dangerous at all? In this episode, we’re unpacking a pattern that many people feel… but struggle to name. From corporate leaders to public figures, some of the fastest-rising individuals share traits that aren’t always rooted in emotional health — but in control, image, and the need for validation. We explore: Why narcissists often rise easily...

If you’ve ever sent a message and then thought… “Why did I say so much?” — this episode is for you. Over-explaining isn’t just a habit. For many survivors, it’s something much deeper. In this conversation, we gently unpack why so many people who grew up in emotionally unpredictable or narcissistic environments feel the need to explain everything — their thoughts, their feelings, even their intenti...

Why do siblings from the same family remember childhood so differently? In this deeply validating episode of Strings Attached , we explore the hidden divide in narcissistic families — and why sibling relationships often fracture in ways that feel confusing, painful, and incredibly isolating. If you’ve ever felt like your sibling defends the very parent who hurt you… or dismisses your experience en...

Why does disappointing someone feel so overwhelming… even when it’s something small? For many survivors of narcissistic abuse, disappointment doesn’t just feel uncomfortable — it feels like danger. In this episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , we explore the — a deeply rooted trauma response formed in environments where love was conditional, mistakes led to shame, and emotional w...

Why do you overreact during conflict… even when part of you knows it’s not that serious? If you’ve ever walked away from an argument thinking “What’s wrong with me?” — this episode is for you. In this deeply validating and trauma-informed conversation, we unpack why emotional reactions can feel so intense after experiencing narcissistic abuse, toxic relationships, or childhood emotional conditioni...

Narcissistic Abuse Explained: Why You Didn’t See It WhileIt Was Happening If you’re only now wondering whether what you went throughwas abuse, this episode is for you. In this episode of Strings Attached , hosts Noah and Rose gently unpack why narcissistic abuse is so difficult to recognise while you’re inside it. We explore how narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) often show up...

In this episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , we explore one of the most confusing and painful dynamics in narcissistic families — the enabler parent , often called the “good parent.” Many survivors grow up recognising the narcissistic parent as the obvious source of harm. But the deeper emotional wound can come from the parent who seemed kinder, safer, and more loving — yet didn...

Are there really more narcissists around today — or are we simply becoming more aware of narcissistic behaviour? In this episode of Strings Attached: Surviving the Narcissist , we explore one of the most common questions survivors ask once the fog begins to lift: “Am I surrounded by narcissists… or am I finally seeing clearly?” As awareness grows around narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, emotional m...