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Narcissism doesn’t wear a single face. Psychologists now identify eight distinct profiles, each carrying its own set of tactics and warning signs. For survivors, that discovery offers something crucial: a framework. Naming the patterns shifts chaos into clarity. I remember the confusion of living with my mother’s sudden turns. At Sunday lunch, she’d boast to … Read more
For decades, psychology textbooks described narcissism as a single personality type. But new research suggests otherwise. Experts now frame it as a tripartite structure: grandiose, vulnerable, and entitled. For survivors, this shift is more than academic language. It explains the chaos that shapes daily life with a narcissistic parent, sibling, or relative. What once seemed … Read more
Being with a narcissist is like playing a rigged game. They make the rules, they break the rules, and you get punished no matter what. I first noticed the hypocrisy when I was just fifteen. My mother, whom I adored as a child, told me I was “overreacting” for crying over a minor misunderstanding. Yet, … Read more
Narcissists don’t come back to reconnect. They come back to test if they still control you. I’ll never forget the random “hey stranger” text I got on a Tuesday afternoon while folding laundry. It came from my mother, with whom I’d gone low contact months earlier. My stomach tightened instantly, that old knot of dread … Read more
Forgiveness gets painted as soft, weak, or passive. Society tells women it’s about being “good” or “holy” or “turning the other cheek.” But survivors of narcissistic abuse know better: that kind of forgiveness is a trap. The truth is, forgiveness is the one move narcissists can’t counter. They thrive on your anger, your resentment, and … Read more
By the time I realized she was a narcissist, I was already doubting my sanity. What I needed back then was not therapy, but strategy. I used to think I was overreacting. Maybe I was the one being too harsh, too sensitive, too cold. Turns out, I was under-protecting. I spent years walking on eggshells … Read more
Narcissists thrive on chaos. They expect you to explode so they can play the victim, or collapse so they can feel victorious. What they don’t expect is your calmness. And that’s your sharpest weapon. I learned this the hard way. Growing up, my younger brother knew exactly how to bait me. He’d throw a cutting … Read more
Narcissistic abuse doesn’t just change you. It drafts you into their game, forces you into roles that aren’t yours, and convinces you they’re your only way to survive. I still remember the moment it hit me. At a holiday dinner, my younger brother made a small mistake and spilled juice on the table. Instead of … Read more
Grieving someone who’s still alive is one of the most misunderstood experiences you can ever go through. People assume grief is reserved for death, but when the person you’ve lost is technically “still here,” the ache becomes invisible. I remember standing in the kitchen after yet another blow-up with my mother. It wasn’t one of … Read more
When you set a boundary with a narcissistic gaslighter, you’re not just protecting yourself. You’re pulling the plug on their favorite mind game. For years, I believed boundaries were about “being polite but firm” or “keeping the peace.” In families where others rewrite your history or mock your emotions, boundaries take on a heavier meaning. … Read more
