Do you ever wonder why you are the way you are? Why do you do the things you do? Why is it so hard for you to lead a “normal” life, unburdened by mental struggles? You might be surprised to learn that character traits you thought were personal flaws aren’t actually your fault. They could […]
Relationships
7 Steps to Healing After Child Sexual Abuse by a Grandfather
Did you experience sexual abuse at the hands of your grandfather? Over the years of writing this blog, a number of women shared with me their stories of being sexually abused by their grandparent. At first, these stories stood out as bizarre and shocking. But the more I learned, the more I realized that grandfather […]
Why Your Enabler Father Didn’t Protect You From Your Narcissistic Mother
Did you grow up with a narcissistic mother and an enabler father? If so, you probably have conflicting feelings about him. On the one hand, you feel a certain closeness and even sympathy for him. After all, narcissists are incapable of healthy relationships, so they’re often abusive to their spouses as well as their children. […]
The Upside of Being a Scapegoat Child of a Narcissistic Parent
If you are an adult child of a narcissistic parent, you likely played one of two roles in your family: a golden child or a scapegoat. A golden child is the pride of the family, while the scapegoat occupies a much less enviable role — that of a screwup who can’t do anything right. If […]
The Dark Reality of Being a Golden Child of a Narcissistic Parent
If you have a narcissistic parent, you can play one of two polar opposite roles in your family: golden child or scapegoat. If you’re a golden child, you’re your parent’s favorite little darling and you can do no wrong. In most people’s eyes, this is an enviable position to be in, especially if you consider […]
5 Signs Your Partner is a Narcissist (and How to Deal with Them)
Do you suspect that your partner or spouse is a narcissist? You may be right. Narcissists are charming. Since the first date, they put on a show to reel you in. Drawn to how confident and exciting they are, you fall for their attractive and intriguing personality. And yet, as the relationship develops, you may […]