When my cousin texted me, “Your mother is heartbroken and just wants her daughter back,” I knew exactly what game we were playing. This wasn’t a concern; it was a guilt missile, perfectly aimed and launched from someone who had no idea what really happened behind closed doors. But here’s what changed everything: I finally ... Read more
I became undateable to toxic and narcissistic men the moment I created my non-negotiable dating rules. And honestly? Best decision I ever made. Six months. That’s all it took for my narcissistic ex to nearly destroy everything I’d built for myself. But here’s the thing: I saw it coming faster than most survivors do, and ... Read more
One of the hardest parts about cutting off a toxic family isn’t the silence, it’s the annoying family members who won’t let you enjoy it. When I finally walked away from my narcissistic mother and sister, I thought the battle was over. I had no idea I’d spend the next three to four months defending ... Read more
The guilt almost killed me more than the abuse itself, and that’s exactly what my narcissistic family was counting on. For eleven months after cutting off my family, I tortured myself with “what ifs” and “maybe I should try again” until I realized the guilt wasn’t love, it was the final chain keeping me trapped. ... Read more
Everyone told me I needed to “get back out there” after my narcissistic ex stole my credit score and my self-worth in six months flat. I did the opposite, and that rebellious choice led me straight to my husband. But let me back up. Picture this: You’re 29, still figuring out life, and your toxic ... Read more
I used to manage my narcissistic mother’s emotions better than my own bank account. Now I run a successful business with my husband, and she still can’t regulate a conversation without screaming. Sad, if you were to ask me. For thirty years, I was the family’s emotional manager, apologizing for everyone’s outbursts, smoothing over their ... Read more
I apologized to my mother for existing until I was 35 years old. Yep! Not literally, of course. But every time she said “I’m sorry you feel that way” after calling me worthless, I thanked her. Every time she followed up her cruelty with “I’m sorry, but you bring out the worst in me,” I ... Read more
I used to think there was something wrong with me for “seeing the worst” in my family; turns out, I was finally seeing the truth. These seven perspective shifts didn’t just change how I saw my past; they completely transformed my future. The Christmas I finally said “no” to hosting after years of being the ... Read more
Growing up, I didn’t really understand what was happening to me. Why did my mother hate me so much while loving my older sister and younger brother so dearly? For years, I didn’t call it abuse, well, because I didn’t know what it was then. My narcissistic family was a pro at making me question ... Read more
I used to think time alone would heal me. But time doesn’t rebuild what my narcissistic family destroyed. My self-worth does. Rebuilding myself didn’t come from waiting. It came from one bold, unapologetic little choice at a time. Every single day! There was no dramatic moment of transformation. Just small, steady rebellions: the choice to ... Read more
