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7 Signs of a Narcissistic Father
I often wish I could erase my daughters’ memories of their narcissistic father. That my ex insisted on being called Daddy has always struck me as ironic because it connotes a closeness that did not exist. My daughters’ grew to dislike the title, Daddy, so much they eventually began to refer to him by his first name as they got older. This was, of course, long after we had left. Even now, they refer to my husband, their step-father, by his name. The synonyms for father leave a bad taste in their mouth. So if you are not sure whether you had a narcissistic father, here are some typical characteristics…
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Five Ways to Contend for Your Recovery from Trauma
Recovery from extended abuse is measured over a lifetime, though often it comes in fits and spurts. Revelations and aha moments come to those who are looking for them. I am often amused by the ‘unpopular opinion’ memes, but tonight I find myself holding one of my very own. More people avoid recovery than seek it. The world is filled with people who do not have the opportunity or means to heal, whether from extreme poverty, isolation, or even a lack of any spiritual or mental health resources. But this is not true of most people with whom I come into regular contact. And I get it. Confronting the…
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Four Ways We Gaslight Ourselves after Abuse
By now, most people realize that to gaslight someone is to attempt to separate them from a core belief in themselves and their reality. In a genuine gaslighting situation, an abuser will often say things like Are you sure that is how it happened? I don’t remember it that way. Or perhaps it will go like this: I think you took my words just a little too seriously. You are just too sensitive and don’t know how to take a joke. In extreme situations, the abuser suggests that something is really wrong with the victim, that they need professional help. I am pretty familiar with this phenomenon because my narcissistic ex…
Healing Through Art & Words
