Save Your Sanity - Help for Toxic Relationships

What a performance! Do you ever shake your head as you watch? And, they all too often get their way because you don't see what they're about, nor what they're up to. See them clearly so you can stop being their adoring audience! When you're with a person with histrionic tendencies, you have season tickets to a one-person show. It's exhausting. Once you see those shenanigans for the attention-seeki...

Am I in love or trauma-bonded? Did my parents love me or was I trauma-bonded? Essential to know! Understanding trauma-bonding--what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like--can help you end the confusion and see clearly. Then, you can make good decisions about the Hijackals in your life and choose healthy relationships. Trauma-bonding is addictive, and it takes strength and courage to turn away...

Oh, the webs Hijackals weave to trap you into their fabric! One of those is playing the victim, and another is the "you don't care enough for me" one. Sounds familiar? Learn more about the subtle and obvious ways they try to keep you trapped. Oh, yes, they will do anything for attention and to bring the spotlight to themselves! What better way than to play "poor me?" The victim. The one who NEVER...

You know it. You're exhausted. Emotionally exhausted. You may have backed down so far that you feel like you're playing dead. Energy depleted and wondering where to find some. First understand more about the symptoms of emotional exhaustion. Then, how to take steps to slowly find the energy---and motivation--to make some positive changes. Slowly regain some energy to move towards positive possibil...

Hijackal Humans are different than Healthier Humans. You look to them to think, think & feel the way you do, but they don't. Know these 10 things you hope are going to show up in your relationship with a narcissistic Hijackal Human will not. Because you're likely a Healthier Human, you want to believe a Hijackal will change. Sadly, no. The relationship will never be healthy, balanced, and lovi...

"Oh, we're just friends." You want to believe that, but how do you know if it's true. Here's how to tell if that "friendship" IS emotional infidelity, an emotional affair, and/or just plain cheating. Don't be fooled. See & believe these signs!!! It's tempting to believe them, especially because then you don't have to feel the feelings or take action. BUT, doing so is unhealthy! HIGHLIGHTS OF T...

Find yourself afraid you're not good enough? You won't be hired? You won't be wanted? Loved? Accepted? Fear of rejection may be the culprit underlying those thoughts. SO IMPORTANT to recognize so you can overcome the fears that may be holding you back from healthier relationships with yourself and others...including the NASTY Hijackals! Recognize the limitations that the fear of rejection creates...

Bit by bit, you start to second-guess yourself, and even question your sanity. Gaslighting will do that! Learn what it is and how to recognize even the most subtle forms. ALSO, gaslighting is emotional abuse. So, see it so you can stop it from making you crazy! Gaslighting is emotional abuse and psychological manipulation. NOT GOOD! The sooner you see the more subtle forms as well as the more obvi...

Lies of any kind undermine trust. Big difference between folks who decide to lie and those who don't. Learn how you can respond effectively, though it may not stop the lying. Learn the distinction between natural & pathological liars. It's a big one! But, does it make a difference when you're on the receiving end of it? HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EPISODE: Why people lie Why Hijackals think you'll fina...

Can you trust a smile? How do you read a smirk? What's the difference? What do they mean? When dealing with narcissistic Hijackals, you REALLY need to know! Learn about detecting signs of danger. Know when you need to protect yourself. Know when it's safe to connect (and, it rarely is when you have a Hijackal partner, parent, sibling, or adult child, sadly) HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EPISODE: The confusin...

Yes? No? Maybe? Someday? Your head can be spinning! What to believe? How to decide? What to pay attention to? MIXED MESSAGES keep you hooked, questioning your sanity, and second-guessing yourself. One thing you CAN BE CLEAR about: you need to see those mixed message for what they are: CONTROL. It's tempting to focus on the parts of a mixed message that you SO want to be true. You can fool yourself...

Whether you have a Hijackal parent, partner, sibling, or other of the narcissistic variety, knowing how they manipulate you with their voices is important to recognize. AND, they only do some of that manipulating consciously. Once you're aware of these important cues, you can refuse to be affected. GREAT! This episode will help you see how you're being subconsciously affected by the tone, pace, vo...

Relief! Yes, you think you'll feel it when you leave an emotionally abusive relationship, and you will...in some ways. Then, in too many ways, the Hijackal is likely to do everything possible to exert continued control over you...and, over your children. Eight ways Hijackals continue to exert control. Is it happening to you? (NOTE: This episode ends abruptly due to technical issues.) HIGHLIGHTS OF...

Who has told you what to do and how to do it? Who told you who you are and what you're worth? Did it include "shoulds" and shame? So important to recognize because it may be still playing a part in your life. Also, others can still tap into it, especially Hijackals. So many ways that narcissists and other Hijackals want to exert power over you, and do it by continuously shaming you, making you wro...

People have learned that making another person feel guilty is a quick way to control that person's emotions...negatively. You may be so used to it and you haven't questioned whether or not you've actually done what you are being accused of. OR, even more sad, you've been blamed so many times you've begun to feel that EVERYTHING IS YOUR FAULT. That's what happened when a healthier human spends to l...

When you're dealing with narcissistic Hijackals, you think one thing is in place, and the Hijackal thinks another. You think you have agreement and you sadly learn you don't. And, boundaries! SO important. Be clear what they are and how to manage them. Hijackals constantly move markers, and you need to know how to respond in healthier ways. Refusing to hold agreements or respect boundaries is emot...

So confusing to be with a demanding person! Worse to be with a demanding Hijackal who feels entitled to take center stage while walking over you to do so. Recognize the signs of enmeshment and how they serve the Hijackal but fail to serve you. In fact, enmenstment can hurt you terribly, mentally and emotionally.. Beware of people who say "I know you better than you know yourself." Hijackals love t...

Crazy-making? Oh, yes. Hijackals and other narcissistic folks can create havoc. You start second-guessing yourself, and even questioning your sanity. You can't tell which end is up or where you begin and end, either. Cognitive Dissonance plays a big part! If your relationship causes you to feel anxious, be paralyzed by self-doubt, or have difficulty making clear decisions, you're likely experienci...

How do Hijackals make you second-guess yourself and question your sanity? Basic to them doing that is the two patterns in this episode of Save Your Sanity. Recognizing them in all their forms can help you in Escaping the Hijackal Trap . Hijackals are ALWAYS defending themselves, whether they need to or not. They are ALWAYS DEFENSIVE. Always on the alert for anything that could vaguely pass as sham...

Hijackals--those relentlessly difficult people--like to dish out and scatter disrespect whenever they want to demonstrate power and control. NO! That has to stop! In this episode, I'm offering you 8 solid ways to work within yourself and say NO TO DISRESPECT. Eight very good ways to reclaim your personal power and give voice to some boundaries. Listen in. These are MUCH NEEDED strategies! Respect...

Live with someone or raised by someone who was always finding fault? Always against something? Always putting you down? The wear and tear of these kinds of emotional abuse is immense...and continuous. See these ten chronic abuses you may not even realize are happening daily! Chronic criticism wears you down, tears you down, and gets you used to being put down. None of those are good things! If you...

Wonder why you feel so alone even though you're in a relationship? Hijackals--those relentlessly difficult, toxic folks--want to affect you, want to control how you feel. Abandoning you while with you creates a very lonely place. Notice these 6 ways so that you will be able to see them coming and not take them as personally. Hijackals are constantly searching for places to exert power and control....

When you're living in anxiety, you cannot think clearly, right? Hijackals love to cause anxiety. They think it gives them power, and they look for ways to control. In order to make good decisions about the relationship, you need antidotes to anxiety to recognize the emotional abuse. It becomes such an everyday thing, and usually only creates more anxiety. An antidote is a remedy to counteract, rel...

When you recognize that it is emotional abuse that is driving these four debilitatiing --and, therefore, unhealthy-- responses to how you're being treated (or have been treated, particularly from your parents,) you are on your way to seeing your next best steps clearly. Listen in so you won't take the blame, or make excuses for, a person who is driving you to have these feelings. Being with a Hija...

Many Hijackals--those relentlessly difficult people--make a big statement on Valentine's Day (and, any other day they want to secure your full commitment.) LOVE-BOMBING, strangely, is yet another kind of emotional abuse. Why? Because it's mostly show and no go! In this episode, learn more about love-bombing, recognizing it, and not falling for it. SO important to be aware of what's really going on...