by Ellen Tift | May 6, 2026 | Anger, Betrayal, Emotional Wellness, Going No Contact, Guilt, Narcissistic Abuse, Self-Acceptance
Tobie’s Story Tobie sat in their car, knuckles white against the steering wheel, jaw clenched so tight their teeth might crack. They had just left yet another family gathering where their boundaries were trampled, their feelings dismissed, and their experiences...
by Dr. Mozelle Martin | Apr 2, 2026 | Brain Chemistry, Complex PTSD Healing, CPTSD, Narcissistic Abuse
Families living with chronic instability often divide their children into roles that were never chosen. One child reacts loudly. Another reacts quietly. The loud one becomes the identified problem. The quiet one becomes the praised anomaly. The truth is less...
by Alice Segell | Apr 1, 2026 | CPTSD, Dissociation and CPTSD, Emotional Wellness, Ethics, Family Estrangement, Gaslighting, Going No Contact, Narcissistic Abuse
Christmas, or other types of family reunions, can be tricky in the best of families. For survivors of childhood abuse, trekking home for the holidays is nothing short of a draining and re-traumatising return to the scene of the crime. It’s an exercise in appeasement...
by Natalie Rose | Feb 16, 2026 | CPTSD, CPTSD and Narcissistic Abuse, CPTSD Survivor Stories, Guest Contributor, Narcissistic Abuse, Post Traumatic Growth
Writer’s Note: I previously wrote about my experience being a victim of psychological abuse. Two years from my first writing, I find myself in a much better place in my recovery, and I want to share new insights. I also want to recommend a book by Shannon Thomas that...
by Rebekah Brown | Aug 28, 2025 | ACEs, CPTSD, CPTSD and PTSD, Guest Contributor, Mental Health Professional, Narcissistic Abuse, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Parental Alienation
Narcissistic Behavior I watched as the rage my father always carried washed over his face. Turing red, he stared at me with threatening eyes. I immediately looked for a way to back down. I had stepped over the boundary and committed the unpardonable sin—I had...
by Amy Jean Mittelstadt | Jul 29, 2025 | CPTSD and PTSD, Emotional Wellness, Guest Contributor, Narcissistic Abuse, Narcissistic Personality Disorder
For my own emotional safety and privacy, I have chosen to use alternate names for those involved. “Debby” and “Valerie” are not their real names, but they represent very real pain. For most of my life, I questioned my reactions to emotional pain. I convinced myself I...
