The Hidden Cost of Marrying a Narcissist
My name is Lilly, and I was married to a narcissist for 30 years. My journey began when we began dating when I was just 17 years old, fresh-faced and full of hope. He was charming, charismatic, and attentive, the perfect gentleman. I was a young, naive girl, full of dreams and aspirations, unaware that … Read more
Heartbreak as A Teacher: The Universal Lesson for Fitting in
I’m here today to share a personal story and a profound, bittersweet memory from my childhood that you may be able to relate to and hopefully learn a thing or two from. Around the last years of elementary school, certain differences between me and my fellow classmates had gradually begun to come to my attention. … Read more
Learning To Cultivate Self-Love While Living With Anxiety
While I was never officially diagnosed with clinical anxiety, I have always had a personality inclined towards nervousness, doubt, and fear. My upbringing didn’t do much to help assuage these neurotic tendencies. I was raised in a strict household that handed me specific guidelines on how I should act, how the world worked, and what … Read more
Transforming Sensitivity: From Challenge to Strength
In a world that often echoes the need for toughness, my sensitivity felt like an overwhelming obstacle, a barrier that separated me from the rest of the world. Growing up, I absorbed emotions like a sponge, feeling every nuance, every shade of feeling, and every subtle shift in the energetics around me. It was as … Read more
Surviving Abandonment: Four Things That Helped Me
Life has a way of unexpectedly throwing you a curve ball. This can happen at any time whether early or later in your journey, regardless of race, class, or gender. So, what do you do when that happens? How do you survive? How do you get through it? Below I share a bit of my … Read more
Excessive Independence: Why We Overwork Ourselves and How to Strike a Balance
As I looked in the mirror and combed my fingers through my hair, the unexpected burst of gray hair was undeniable. I was only 32 years old but had aged several years in the past six months. I was head under water overworking myself and experiencing the worst burnout of my life. This wasn’t a … Read more
Cleansed by the Truth: Finding Freedom in Acknowledgment Amidst Trauma
“Go straight to the heart of danger, for there you will find safety.” Chinese proverb I didn’t think I was ready to write about this. But it’s exactly why I felt I needed to, and did…a year and a half ago, where it just sat in my iPhone notes. This process has taught me that … Read more
How Do Different Types of Narcissistic Mothers Influence Addiction?
As I sit in my office surrounded by the stories and journeys of those we’ve helped, I can’t help but reflect on a recurring theme that often emerges in our discussions about addiction – the profound impact of a narcissistic parent, especially a mother. In exploring the various types of narcissistic mothers, I’ve come to … Read more
