Ever wonder why narcissists feel impossible to leave—even when you know something's wrong? This week, filmmakers Ali & Stefanie Schmahl reveal how their docu-fiction hybrid “I Love You My Narcissist” portrays what no other film has: the internal experience of being slowly trapped by someone you love. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second … Read more
“My doctor keeps telling me it's all in my head—but I know something's wrong. Why won't they listen?” This week's Fan Mail question comes from a podcast listener who writes: “Dear Kerry, could you do a podcast on the topic of narcissism, psychopathy and healthcare?…” In this episode, Dr. Kerry breaks down why healthcare settings … Read more
Predators are often hiding in plain sight—and even the smartest, most capable people can miss the red flags. In this episode, Dr. Kerry McAvoy talks with Sarma Melngailis, the former restaurateur whose story was told in Netflix’s Bad Vegan. Sarma opens up about how she was manipulated, criminalized, and misrepresented—and why her memoir The Girl … Read more
What is the impact of childhood abuse on adult relationships? Can children overcome early trauma? Nia Renee joins me this week to discuss the lasting legacy of abuse. She describes the impact of chronic gaslighting and neglect on her later relationships. Learn what role resiliency and determination played in helping break the abuse cycle. To … Read more
Relationships with narcissists can be confounding, confusing, and incredibly frustrating. Join Dr. Kerry for this holiday episode when she revisits the highlights of her three favorite interviews. Hear Dr. Les Carter’s explanation of why narcissists are so tricky, Lisa Sonni’s three steps to breaking a trauma bond, and Dr. Robin Stern’s disturbing description of gaslighting’s … Read more
Have you wondered what's wrong with me? This could be a sign of gaslighting. Dr. Robin Stern, psychoanalyst, author, and expert on gaslighting, joins me to discuss the underlying dynamics of a toxic or narcissistic relationship. She delves into the hidden motivations of both the gaslighter as well as the gaslightee. •Learn more about Dr. … Read more
In this week's episode, Kerry and Tara discuss how we might actually gaslight in healthy relationships and how to avoid doing this in the future. And, the self-help tip is on letting others “earn” our trust before blindly giving it to them. Links: Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse season 1, episode 30: Listen here. Submit … Read more
Have you heard of the acronym DARVO? It’s a nasty type of gaslighting that flips the script and attacks us when we bring up an issue. In this episode, we will address the underlying dynamic of this abusive practice along with the three steps to combatting it effectively. Submit your question to be answered on … Read more
Narcissistic exes often return, claiming they’ve changed. They ask to be in a relationship or to rejoin the family. In narcissistic abuse circles, this is called “hoovering.” In this podcast episode, we’ll explore if agreeing to this request is wise, define “breadcrumbing,” and take a closer look at the connection between gaslighting and cognitive dissonance. … Read more
Gaslighting has become a pretty popular term. Sometimes it’s used properly, but not always. Gaslighting, however, is a common experience of narcissistic abuse victims. In this episode, we’ll discuss the history of gaslighting as well as how it shows up in toxic relationships. We’ll also touch on when does the first symptoms of narcissism make … Read more