Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

Every person who has dealt with a narcissist has been bullied. This week, expert and author Bill Eddy joins me to discuss what we get wrong about bullying behavior and the practical steps we all should take to better protect ourselves from antagonistic and vindictive people. To learn more about Bill Eddy and his work, visit: https://highconflictinstitute.com And be sure to check out his latest boo...

Leaving is a moral choice. Often, breaking up or divorce is viewed as a personal choice, but it has ramifications and is character-defining. Rossana Faye joins me this week to discuss why sometimes it becomes a moral dilemma to leave our narcissistic partner. Deciding to divorce is often not as clear-cut for many of us. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou : Dr. Ke...

These days, it seems like everyone is a narcissist. Is the label of narcissist or narcissistic harmful or helpful? This week, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss the importance and impact of identifying narcissistic abuse and dysfunctional relationship dynamics. Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou : Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app The Complete Recovery Collection :...

Divorcing a narcissist often ends up a contentious battle. Victims come into court shaken up and traumatized, whereas their toxic ex appears poised and confident. Today, two Toronto legal mediators, Amanda Silver and Alex Howard, are joining me. They are also the co-hosts of the Dirty Laundry Podcast. They are going to share how to protect your interests better when leaving a narcissist. To learn...

What if you're not going to leave a narcissist? What if leaving isn't possible? Is there a way to survive a toxic relationship?  Sometimes, leaving a toxic relationship isn't possible due to complex reasons. Lisa Sonni joins me this week to discuss why some victims find themselves trapped in a bad partnership and what to do if this describes your situation.  Resources Referenced: Should I Stay or...

Have you heard of trauma dumping? It’s become a new way to attack victims for talking about their narcissistic abuse experiences. Rossana Faye joins me as this week’s special guest to explore the importance of sharing your trauma and the role it plays in helping you heal from abuse. And you don’t want to miss this week’s Podcast Extra where Ro and I discuss the differences between trauma reprocess...

In celebration of the upcoming holiday, this episode features three of our listeners’ favorites. Listen in as Tara Blair Ball and I discuss: 1. How narcissistic abuse is different from emotional abuse 2. Why covert narcissists are difficult to spot 3. If it's true that narcissists make good lovers Listen to the full episodes here: S2 EP 102: Were you emotionally abused or narcissistically abused?...

The mind of a narcissist is wildly self-absorbed and oblivious to those around them. They are excessively focused on me, me, me. Dr. Les Carter joins me to discuss what victims get wrong about the mind of a narcissist. He shares how our assumptions and misunderstandings create false hope, causing us to stay too long and to give too many chances. To learn more about Dr. Carter: Visit Website & his...

Could you be trauma-bonded to a narcissist? Are you battling a strange mix of love and fear? Lisa Sonni joins me this week to discuss trauma bonds--an intense connection to another person that is very difficult to break. We think we feel love when it' s based on fear .  Submit your question to be answered on air here! Resources ReclaimYou : Dr. Kerry's AI-powered coaching app The Complete Recovery...

Have you asked yourself, "Why can't I leave?" You know you should. You've even started hiding the ugly truth of what's really going on behind closed doors.  In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss late-stage cognitive dissonance. Learn the underlying cause of the agonizing confusion that paralyzes the victim from acting in their own best interest. Find out what it took for us to break free...

Have you left a relationship feeling duped? Not just betrayed, but conned? You’ve likely met a covert narcissist. In this episode, Elena Sagredos, author of But They’re So Nice, joins me to talk about the deceptiveness of covert abuse. We often miss the signs we’ve met a covert narcissism behind their guise of niceness, only later to discover their extreme duplicity. To learn more about Eleni, you...

Relationships with narcissists can be confounding, confusing, and incredibly frustrating. Join Dr. Kerry for this holiday episode when she revisits the highlights of her three favorite interviews. Hear Dr. Les Carter’s explanation of why narcissists are so tricky, Lisa Sonni’s three steps to breaking a trauma bond, and Dr. Robin Stern’s disturbing description of gaslighting’s power. To listen to t...

Are you battling toxic in-law drama? Is your mother-in-law or father-in-law intruding into your relationship or family? This week, Rossana Faye joins us to discuss common toxic in-law drama, particularly when it involves a narcissistic mother- or father-in-law. This week's self-help tip is the importance of strengthening your couple's boundaries over time. Submit your question to be answered on ai...

Do you find yourself exasperated or angry at your partner, but you aren’t sure why? Do they put you into no-win binds? Covert narcissists love to play subtle, often hidden mind games. They are masterful at twisting the truth, hiding exploitative agendas, and playing the victim, enraging their partners and families while keeping them in the dark.  In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins to discuss the co...

Have you noticed managing boundaries with narcissists always fails? That they find some tricky way to evade limit setting?  Suddenly, you’re being accused of being too controlling or sensitive, or they can’t understand what you're asking.  In this podcast, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss the problems of managing boundaries with narcissists. We'll explore this issue from a narcissist's perspective:...

(Trigger Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of abuse.) This week, Jessica Kent, a wildly popular social media figure, joins me to share her story of escaping abuse. Jessica reveals how covert narcissistic abuse can go from subtle to violent, especially when victims leave the relationship. Jessica Kent is best known for prison reform advocacy. To learn more about her and her work:...

Sometimes, the truth can be right in front of you, but you still can't see it. Rossana Faye joins me this week to discuss a concept Dr. Jennifer Freyd, in her book Blind to Betrayal, calls “betrayal blindness.” Some truths can be so devastating that they are difficult to face. And, the self-help tip is the importance of listening to what feels off, uncomfortable, or wrong to recognize signs you ma...

Is it ever okay to go through your partner's phone? I've been guilty of snooping and might consider doing it again. Narcissists and toxic personalities are masters at creating ambiguity. My ex used to readily offer me his credit card after we first started dating. He'd send photos of broken machinery and take me on company runs, all as a way to build trust so that I couldn't tell real company cris...

An all-too-common problem is narcissists and pets. Toxic people often pose a serious danger to our beloved animals. In this podcast, Lisa Sonni and Dr. Kerry discuss the relationship toxic people often have with their family pets. Narcissists will often shower animals with love and attention only to harm the pets in private. The self-help tip includes some important boundaries to consider when beg...

Have you been a victim of spiritual abuse? It's not just interpersonal relationships that can be toxic, but also group systems and leaders. Many are stepping forward to expose toxic church leadership and oppressive and abusive spiritual belief systems. This week, Natalie Hoffman, author of Is it Me? Making Sense of Your Confusing Marriage: A Christian Woman's Guide to Hidden Emotional and Spiritua...

Have you ever wondered, "Am I the narcissist?" Have you been accused of being the problem? In this podcast episode, Rossana Faye joins me to discuss how to know who's creating the chaos. Narcissists are notorious for never seeing themselves as the root cause, but how do we know that the issue isn't us? And the self-help tip is how to use your history to identify dysfunctional relationshi...

Is being overly controlling a form of abuse?  In this podcast episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss the subtleties of coercive control. Learn how to recognize the common control tactic of this insidious form of abuse. And this week's self-help tip is to assess how your partner's feelings and demands affect you. Are you doing less and becoming increasingly isolated to please them? Submit your que...

Stonewalling or giving someone the silent treatment is one of the nastiest forms of unfair fighting. When we ignore or reject another person's bid for a connection more than thirty percent of the time, the likelihood the relationship won't make it dramatically increases.  In this episode, Lisa Sonni joins me to discuss why stonewalling is such a popular toxic behavior and what to do if it's happen...

Have you wondered what's wrong with me? This could be a sign of gaslighting. Dr. Robin Stern, psychoanalyst, author, and expert on gaslighting, joins me to discuss the underlying dynamics of a toxic or narcissistic relationship. She delves into the hidden motivations of both the gaslighter as well as the gaslightee. • Learn more about Dr. Stern • The Gaslight Effect Podcast • My Interview with Dr....

Leaving often brings along with it a fear of change. We might dread how change will affect our kids or our friendships. Maybe we're concerned about how leaving could disrupt life as we know it.  In this podcast episode, Tara and Dr. Kerry discuss the fears of change they faced and how they overcame them to leave. Tara also is leaving the show and shares about her future plans.  The self-help tip i...