It's Not Normal

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson… this book was recommended to me more than once and, after sitting in my cart for far too long, I decided to buy it. I’m a little more than halfway through it, and, in this week’s episode, we take a look at Chapters 1-5 and dive a bit deeper into some of the hardest hitting concepts.  0:00 Intro 1:21 Lack of Emotional Intimacy 6:54 I...

In this week’s episode, we get into what it’s like when you find yourself in the position of having to tell someone in your life the truth about your narcissistic parent. Adding to the laundry list of responsibilities we take on as children of narcissistic parents, so many of us have to decide whether to uphold the image of our parent or be honest about our experience with them. From letting other...

I’m 27 now. I’ve learned a lot this past year, and it seemed like a perfect time to reflect on what I’ve learned, what I’ve gotten better at, things I still struggle with and how I hope to get better at them moving forward.  0:00 Intro 0:56 External Accomplishments 3:10 Just Scratching the Surface 5:46 Perspective at 26 10:20 Direct Communication 15:37 Intrusive Thoughts 22:05 Taking on Others’ Em...

In this week’s episode, we’re talking about periods! If blood, bleeding, cramps or vaginas make you uncomfortable, this episode might not be for you. As I’ve made progress managing some of the more mental health focused challenges in my life over the course of this last year, I’ve started to shift my focus to include prioritizing my physical health too. Birth control is something that I have perso...

We'll be back with the first episode of Season 2 on April 11th! See you then!!

In this week’s episode, we introduce a new chapter for the pod and reflect on how we got here. I’ve learned so much over the last twenty weeks, and I feel so grateful for the ongoing support and encouragement. 0:00 Lucky Number 21! 0:56 6 Months Ago 12:15 For My Younger Self 16:18 “It’s Not Normal” 17:26 Book Recs 19:28 We’re Not Alone 21:17 You’re An Expert In Your Own Experience 23:53 Seeing The...

There are countless negatives that go hand in hand with being raised by a narcissist, but what if I told you that you can turn some of those negatives into positives? In this week’s episode, we address things like hypervigilance and perfectionism, and talk about how toning down these survival skills so many of us were forced to develop throughout our childhood can serve us moving forward.  0:00 In...

The In-Between - the name I’ve used to describe the dark, overwhelming and directionless time that comes after you’ve started to realize the trauma but before you’ve started to heal. You’re aware of the more negative behaviors you’ve witnessed growing up and maybe even started to mimic in your own life, you’re starting to unlearn, but you don’t yet feel ready to start implementing the newer, healt...

Growing up with a narcissistic parent can often feel like you’re constantly being compared to the version of you your parent has created in their mind - the person you should be. It’s a never-ending battle, one that you cannot win that leaves you feeling insecure, replaceable, like you alone are not worthy of unconditional love. In this week’s episode, we talk all about insecurity, comparing ourse...

From something as simple as putting your headphones on to the decision to go no contact, guilt is an emotion that accompanies a wide range of experiences. It’s complicated and uncomfortable, especially when we start to feel guilty for doing things that are objectively pretty normal. In this week’s episode, we take a look at guilt as a moral emotion and trace it back to its roots. 0:00 Intro 0:44 G...

The smear campaign, the narcissist’s attempt to tarnish your reputation, question your character, and destroy your image. Why do they do this? What tactics do they use? How should we respond? In this week’s episode we’ll tackle all of these questions to give you a better idea on what to do if you find yourself on the receiving end of this intense manipulation tactic, often referred to as large sca...

The healing journey has been a constant ebb and flow of emotions. While some days, I feel like I can take on the world, others, it’s hard to find the motivation to do much of anything at all. Intrusive thoughts, perfectionism and hypervigilance are just a few of the unhealthy behaviors I developed throughout my childhood that are still a part of my day-to-day life. In this week’s episode, I offer...

A few weeks ago, I got an invite to be on In-Sight Exposing Narcissism - a podcast hosted by licensed psychotherapists Katie McKenna and Helen Villiers. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with them and share my story. In this week’s episode, I talk about what it was like speaking to mental health professionals for the first time along with some additional insight on defensiveness, enm...

Perfectionism comes in different forms. Whether it’s self, other or socially oriented, dealing with perfectionism can feel like a never ending cycle of unrealistic expectations followed by criticism and disappointment. Often a trauma response or coping mechanism, perfectionism often stems from being raised by an emotionally unskilled parent. In this week’s episode, we dive into everything related...

The TikTok that went viral: https://www.tiktok.com/@csmith0497/video/7284752825916132651 Expectations are one of the most damaging things to bring into relationships and experiences. So often, the expectations we carry with us can be traced back to the expectations that were placed on us throughout our lives. Letting go and living in the moment are helpful in healing. Chapters  0:00 Introduction 1...

‘You cannot heal in the same environment that made you sick.’ A self-protection strategy, setting boundaries in a controlling relationship dictates the behavior you are or are not willing to tolerate. Making the decision to go no contact is rarely an easy one. In this week’s episode, I explore boundaries, how I discovered them and how that ultimately led to my decision to go no contact with my nar...

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a mental health condition in which an individual has an inflated sense of self-importance. Narcissists are extremely self-focused and approach situations from the viewpoint, ‘how does this affect me?’ Competitiveness, comparison and a lack of empathy are characteristics of a narcissist that prevent them from sharing in the excitement and joy surrounding your ow...

Happy Holidays! The decision to go no contact is rarely an easy one. Feelings of sadness, guilt and even isolation are common and can be especially hard to reconcile around the holidays. This year marked my first no contact Christmas, and, while it was upsetting at times to no longer be partaking in family traditions I had cherished throughout my childhood, the distance also gave me peace of mind....

Growing up in a narcissistic family, you are often exposed to unhealthy behavior. Whether through observation or participation, it’s not uncommon to subconsciously integrate those same toxic traits into your own life. Through recognition and forgiveness, we can unlearn these negative behaviors and redefine our life and relationships.  Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:27 Arguments 5:19 Closed Family System 8:...

Control and Fostering Dependence - From my parents showing up unannounced to a concert I went to when I was 21 to hiding my keys, this week's episode gets into the narcissist's obsession with control and how fostering a sense of dependency helps them to maintain it. Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:25 My Parents Showed Up Unannounced to a Concert 5:12 A Taste of Independence 7:38 The Narcissist's...

The Pressure to be Productive - Why do we feel a constant need to be doing something? On this week's episode, we address everything from conditional love to the silent treatment in explaining why children of narcissistic parents are conditioned to earn love.

Let's talk about narcissistic parents sabotaging our experiences growing up..

Let's talk about generous gestures being used against you..

Let's talk about intrusive thoughts..

let's talk about living your life for someone else...