Relationships

Nobody Taught Us What a Healthy Relationship Looks Like — Here’s the Cost

Nobody taught us what a healthy relationship should feel like. Not in school. Not in graduate training. Not in the culture we grew up in. And that missing lesson? It’s costing survivors years of confusion, repeat heartbreak, and an obsession with understanding the very people who harmed them. This week marks a major shift for Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse. After a year of flying solo, Dr. Kerry welcomes Lynn Strathdee as her new co-host — a UK-based psychodynamic psychoth…

Confessions of a Womanizer: “How I Became a Narcissist’s Perfect Victim”

What happens when the man who spent years love bombing and manipulating women becomes the victim of the very same tactics? This week, Wade Belair joins Dr. Kerry for a raw, unflinching conversation about the shocking overlap between closeted men and narcissistic abuse — and what genuine healing actually requires. Wade grew up the privileged son of an iconic retail brand founder — raised in an elite, hyper-masculine culture where conquest was currency, and vulnerability was weakness. He play…

Keep Finding Yourself in the Same Toxic Relationships? How to Break the Pattern

Have you ever looked back at your relationships and realized they all feel disturbingly familiar? That’s not a coincidence — it’s your relationship blueprint at work. This week, therapist, bestselling author of Why Do I Keep Doing This?, and mental health YouTuber Kati Morton joins Dr. Kerry to break down why so many of us keep repeating toxic relationship patterns — and what it actually takes to rewrite them. Together, they unpack the attachment theory, childhood blueprints, peo…

How to Help a Friend Who Can’t Walk Away from a Narcissistic Relationship

My best friend divorced her narcissistic ex two months ago — but she keeps talking to him, then ignoring him, then reaching out again. She says she wants to move on, but she can’t seem to break the cycle. In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why leaving a narcissist doesn’t automatically break the trauma bond — and what’s really driving the painful push-pull your friend can’t escape. Learn how to support someone you love through this without shaming, lecturing, or pushing them further aw…

Do Narcissists Enjoy Hurting You? Here’s Dr. Kerry’s Hard Truth

Why does someone who divorces a narcissist keep going back to them? A listener writes in, “My best friend divorced her narcissistic ex two months ago — but she keeps talking to him, then ignoring him, then reaching out again. She says she wants to move on, but she can’t seem to break the cycle.” In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why leaving a narcissist doesn’t automatically break the trauma bond and why survivors struggle to escape. Submit Your Question If you’d l…

Devastated After Betrayal? Here’s Why: The Hidden Abuse That No One Talks About

Ever wonder why betrayal feels so devastating—like more than just cheating? This week, Hope Ray joins Dr. Kerry to introduce the concept of betrayal violence: the intersection of infidelity and abuse that most people don’t recognize. We explore how sexual secrets strip partners of their consent and autonomy. PODCAST EXTRA EXCLUSIVE SEGMENT Find the exclusive second segment and weekly newsletter here. MORE ABOUT THE PODCAST EXTRA INTERVIEW When you’re the victim: How…

How Do I Know If I’m in an Emotionally Abusive Relationship? Watch for These Signs

“How do I know if I’m in an emotionally abusive relationship?” asks a YouTube listener. In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why even asking this question is an important sign of possible trouble. Dr Kerry will outline what emotional abuse actually looks like (hint: it’s not about one-off incidents—it’s about patterns) and why you might feel like you’re shrinking or walking on eggshells. Abusive relationships turn people into functional objects instead of letting them shine as a fu…

Why Does Surviving Narcissistic Abuse Turn You into Someone You Don’t Recognize?

You dodged a bullet!” No—the bullet hit me. I just survived. This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a YouTube listener who writes: “People tell me I dodged a bullet. But the bullet hit me—I just survived. I feel like it turned me into a monster. The PTSD caused me to start reacting more strongly to smaller triggers and even did abusive things myself in what I felt was self-defense.” In this episode, Dr. Kerry addresses why “you dodged a bullet” feels so wrong, what survivor’s guilt re…

Were You the Family Scapegoat? Why Sensitive People Get Targeted First

This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a Spotify listener: “Can you please do an episode on scapegoat children?” Why do some people get scapegoated, especially in families? Dr. Kerry explains the role of the scapegoat and how families use this person to address systemic stress and dysfunctional. Submit Your Question If you’d like your question addressed on air, send it here: 👉 https://kerrymcavoyphd.fillout.com/fan-mail Submit your question to be answered on air here! Re…

How Do I Help My Adult Son Who’s in an Abusive Marriage?

“My son’s in a toxic marriage—how do we help without making it worse?” This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a listener in Raleigh, North Carolina: “My adult son is in a toxic marriage with a likely narcissist. He’s miserable, says he wants out, but stays—partly because of their three young kids. How can we support him when he shares the emotional abuse without pushing or making things worse?” In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains how best to support a loved one who’s being abused—especially…