Survivors of narcissistic abuse know this tug-of-war all too well: the moments when your own mind whispers, “Maybe it wasn’t that bad. Maybe I overreacted.” I’ve sat in those very moments, replaying conversations, wondering if I had imagined the cruelty. Was I really “too sensitive,” like they always told me? Did I deserve the icy ... Read more
Ever tried to have a simple conversation with a narcissist and felt like you were going in circles? You end up drained, doubting yourself, and no closer to the truth. You walk away questioning not just the issue at hand but your very memory, your perception, even your sanity. There was one evening when I ... Read more
When a narcissist starts to hate you, it means they can’t control you anymore, not that you did something wrong. I learned that the hard way. I remember one afternoon at home when my younger brother slammed the door as he passed me in the hallway, his eyes full of hostility. It wasn’t random. It ... Read more
Guilt was my default setting, not because I kept doing wrong, but because narcissists made me believe existing was a crime. I once told my mother I couldn’t drive her to the store because I had an early work deadline. The silence that followed was worse than yelling. I felt her disappointment like a weight ... Read more
The narcissist’s cruelty isn’t random. It’s built into how their brain works. One winter evening, my narcissistic mother had a guest over. I got up to refill a glass of water, but slipped, and it spilled across the table. I looked up and caught her smirk. She turned away as if my embarrassment was entertainment. ... Read more
Narcissistic rage isn’t just anger. It’s their brain hijacking reality. I’ll never forget the night it all erupted at a family dinner. My mother’s younger sister had made a casual remark about how I looked tired. It was meant kindly, but within seconds, my mother’s face tightened, and the atmosphere shifted into a storm. What ... Read more
The most painful lessons about narcissists don’t come in the beginning. They come after the damage is done. Sitting in the kitchen, the air thick with tension, I realized my mom’s silence wasn’t just moodiness. It was a calculated tool to control me. Hours of trying to please her felt wasted as the cold quiet ... Read more
For many survivors of abuse, the pain doesn’t come only from one cruel person. It comes from the silence, excuses, and defense of an entire family system. Families often close ranks, shielding the abuser while turning their hostility toward the truth-teller. What hurts most isn’t just the abuse itself, but the moment you realize your ... Read more
Narcissists don’t manipulate at random. Psychologists say their behavior often follows a four-step playbook, and once it comes into focus, the pattern is hard to miss. For many survivors, the most painful part of abuse isn’t just the cruelty. It’s the confusion. Praise one moment, ridicule the next, the swings are so jarring that people ... Read more
A narcissist doesn’t need you to speak to know who you are. They read you the way a predator studies prey. I remember walking into my mother’s kitchen one afternoon, grocery bags still in hand. Before I even set them down, I felt her eyes glide over me like a scanner. My hair wasn’t brushed ... Read more
