Narcissist Apocalypse: Patterns of Abuse

In 2019, I received an email from a survivor named Rebecca. She was struggling to make sense of her abusive relationship and wanted to speak with a former guest named Elizabeth. I was hesitant, but I put them in touch with each other. This episode is about the importance of being understood, despair, hope, healing, and the blossoming of a beautiful friendship. *** TRIGGER WARNING - This episode di...

Julia fell for her husband immediately. He was charismatic, a protector, great with children, and had aspirations to be a fireman. Julia's husband checked all of her boxes. He was the man of her dreams. But unfortunately for Julia, her husband slowly morphed from someone she trusted to someone she feared. It's a story of caretaking, fear , feeling alien, being good enough, rage, double standards,...

Brandon talks with Mercedes (survivor story guest from August 1st, 2022) about the events and realizations that transpired after we recorded her episode. We discuss post separation abuse, shifting abuse, smear campaigns, protecting/empowering your kids, shame, despair, boundaries, support, acceptance, being the villain, and much more. To listen to Mercedes' original episode, click here. If you wan...

When Amanda met her charming and intelligent husband, she felt complete. Amanda was living her childhood dream. But unfortunately for Amanda, she soon encountered her husband's explosive anger. Amanda began to walk on eggshells to survive. And from empty promises to gaslighting, Amanda's husband kept her trapped in the relationship until he tried to take her life. It's a story of physical abuse, s...

Brandon discusses the tools a coercive narcissistic abuser uses to gain power and control over their victims. He digs deep into isolation, monitoring, manipulation tactics, deprivation, freedom, micromanaging, rule setting, financial abuse, regulating sex, fear, threats, intimidation, physical aggression, and much more. *** TRIGGER WARNING - This episode discusses sexual and physical abuse. *** If...

All Shannon ever wanted was the security of a whole intact family, and for three years, Shannon lived that dream. But unfortunately, once Shannon was diagnosed with cancer, her husband's mask slipped, and Shannon's lifelong dream became an absolute nightmare. It's a story of addiction, mirroring, generational trauma, victim playing, compassion, surviving, shame, cognitive dissonance, gaslighting,...

On this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse Q&A, Brandon discusses the 5 different types of lies, compulsive lying versus pathological lying, and the most common lies narcissistic abusers tell. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsor NOBODY SHOULD BELIEVE ME PODCAST. I loved this podcast....

Almost two years ago, Uma was a guest on our show after fleeing to another state to escape her abuser. Things began to look for a while. It looked like custody of their child may have been uncontested, but unfortunately, Uma's abusive ex came out of the woodwork with a vengeance. It's a story of custody, fear, toxic parents, single moms, invisible abuse, and the broken system. Plus they discuss, I...

Brandon discusses Lundy Bancroft's early warning signs of an abuser and is the way you're being treated abuse. Plus he discusses the cycle of abuse, patterns of abuse, gaslighting, triangulation, jealousy, intimidation, control, sexual coercion, hypocrisy, blame shifting, devaluation, and much more. *** TRIGGER WARNING - Physical Abuse, Sexual Coercion, & Sexual Assault is mentioned in this episod...

Brandon talks with Elizabeth about her abusive relationship with a wolf in sheep's clothing and the devastating effects it had on her psyche. They discuss the difficulty of suffering in silence, shame, validation, financial abuse, PTSD, and the pain of a hard discard. It's a visceral episode. - This is also a classic episode that helped shape our podcast and Brandon discusses the importance of Eli...

Brandon talks with former guests, Jean & Vanessa, about the hazards of the holiday season with narcissistic abusers. We discuss feelings, tactics, boundaries, safety, managing expectations, children, hoovering, families, relationships, loneliness, fear, guilt, obligation, wins, grey rock, support, doubt, ptsd, healing, and much more. To listen to Jean's story, click here. To listen to Vanessa's st...

It only took six weeks for Caroline's partner to begin his devaluation. As the years went on, the things Caroline's partner claimed to love about her, were the very things he started to use against her. From Caroline's appearance to her laugh to her jobs, Caroline's partner picked fights about everything and then blamed her for getting upset. However, this all came to a head just weeks before Caro...

Brandon talks with Andrea Dunlop ( Author & Podcast Host) about her podcast 'Nobody Should Believe Me' and her personal experience with Munchausen by Proxy. We discuss the different types of factitious disorder, the comorbidity of narcissism, validating survivors of abuse, kernels of truth, lies, blame, gaslighting, family dynamics, cognitive dissonance, mourning the living, and much more. ***TRIG...

Tessa grew up in a state of fear. She became a voiceless child that walked on eggshells to avoid her mother's abuse. To Tessa, this was normal. She didn't know what abuse was. To her, this is how families worked. It's a story of generational trauma, fear, surviving, being good enough, gaslighting, silent treatment, neglect, racism, enemies, control, trust, physical abuse, demands, rage, parental a...

Brandon talks with Emily (survivor story guest from January 11th, 2021) about stalking fears, trauma, children mimicking narcissistic traits, daydream nightmares, doing the work, and the parts of her story that were left on the cutting room floor. To listen to Emily's original episode, click here. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at nar...

Lucy lived in a religious bubble and met her future husband when she was 13. She learned that anything could be worked out with enough prayer, that people could change if you gave them enough time, and that her body was for her husband. It was a recipe for 22 years of emotional abuse until she finally had enough. It's a story of religious beliefs, neglect, fighting dirty, hoovering, and healing. I...

Brandon discusses the psychology of slot machines from a narcissist abuse perspective. He breaks down how the psychology of slot machines uses love bombing, future faking, dangling carrots, cognitive dissonance, intermittent reinforcement, push-pull dynamics, and isolation, just like a narcissistic abuser would. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us...

All Ronda ever wanted was to feel unconditional love. But unfortunately for Ronda, unconditional love was not being distributed in their dysfunctional household ruled by the abusive, Mr. Right. It's a story of invalidation, intimidation, identity, self worth, lgbtq+, rage, moving goal posts, control, voicelessness, nitpicking, physical abuse, and trust. If you want to be a guest on our survivor st...

Brandon talks with Belle (Returning Survivor Guest) about non-linear healing, being told to get over it, intermittent reinforcement, the addiction lens, trauma, changing responses, creative outlets, and reclaiming the things that made you happy. Belle's survivor story episode is from 8/31/2020 or can be found here. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send...

Annie fell head over heels in love with a 'regular' guy. But this man was anything but regular. Very quickly, Annie became subservient to his needs, as her ex-partner masterfully used competition, his hearing impairment, and triangulation as his main tactics to manipulate her. It's a story of weaponizing disabilities, being chosen, guilt, obligation, sowing the seeds of doubt, minimization, justif...

Brandon talks with Alisa Stamps (LCSW) & Kasey Jarvis (LMFT) about authenticity, generational trauma, & healing from narcissist abuse. Plus they discuss, therapy modalities, helping kids be authentic, perfectionism, awareness, challenging core fears, and much more. Alisa Stamps - Website - Instagram Kasey Jarvis - Website - Instagram Podcast - Am I The Crazy One? If you want to be a guest on our s...

Buttercup's husband gave her the one thing she always wanted, to feel seen and understood. And once he had Buttercup hooked on his LOVE, her husband began a vicious cycle of infidelity and psychological abuse. It's a story of codependency, empty apologies, entitlement, gaslighting, physical abuse, hypocrisy, blaming, nitpicking, projection, control, possession, and much more. *** TRIGGER WARNING -...

Brandon discusses the 6 Stages and 4 Styles of Emotional Blackmail from the book 'Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You' by Susan Forward and Donna Frazier. To purchase a copy of 'Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You' by Susan Forward and Donna Frazier, please click here. If...

Harley's mom always knew what was best for her. If Harley ever disagreed with her, no matter how respectfully or meekly, her mom would always claim it as a mistreatment of her. For 20+ years, Harley lived in a world of gaslighting, but she didn't even know that gaslighting existed. However, with some help from her godfather, Pink, a stranger named Grace, and the existence of Kate McKinnon, Harley...

Brandon talks with Tracy Malone (Author & International Educator) about her new journal 'My Story of Narcissistic Abuse' and how it helps process the emotions behind the idealization, devaluation, and discard phases of narcissist abuse. You can purchase My Story of Narcissistic Abuse by clicking here. Tracy Malone's website is https://narcissistabusesupport.com If you want to be a guest on our sur...