adult children of narcissists
Tis but a scratch: The problem with ignoring your wounds
That’s right, we’re starting this blog article off with a Monty Python reference! I know, I know – I couldn’t possibly get any cooler, right? Whether or not Monty Python sketches are your brand of humor, they have permeated our entertainment culture. Most people at least recognize the classics, such as “tis but a…
Read More
Why you still feel small around your emotionally abusive family
Learning the dance When I was in middle and high school, I performed in my dance studio’s annual, original Christmas show: The Adventures of Rudolph. Although the storyline differed from the classic animated movie and song, the show was beloved by young children throughout my area. At this time of year, we would have…
Read More
When You’re Too Much and Not Enough (At the Same Time)
It’s happening again. Your heart is starting to pound, your palms feel sweaty, and that little voice in your head won’t stop shrieking the same thing: It’s happening again! Those same little “jokes” that always seem to contain a sharp little jab; that same somehow challenging laughter as everyone looks at you expectantly, waiting…
Read More
The Highly Sensitive Person in a Narcissistic Home
Have you ever cried while listening to a moving piece of music? Ever looked at an interesting piece of art and found yourself getting goosebumps? Or do you sometimes just know that someone is upset just by standing near them, without them needing to say a word? If this sounds familiar, you might be a…
Read More
Mini-Link Roundup: Fall 2018 Edition
Like a whirlwind – literally overnight, in my neighborhood – we’ve gone from summer to fall. The leaves are beginning to turn, temperatures are dropping, and all around kids are eagerly anticipating their chance to dress up and stuff their faces with candy. With the change in weather, I find myself a little under…
Read More
When love is mingled with grief
Last week, I wrote about Aragorn and his journey from nameless ranger to noble king. Today, I want to revisit the Lord of the Rings from a different angle. Today, we will explore a concept spoken by the Elf Queen Galadriel: love, mingled with grief. In the first first movie of the Lord of…
Read More
Asking Scary Questions: Is My Parent a Narcissist?
How do I know if my parent is really a narcissist, or if I’m just reading too much into it? What if I’m exaggerating or overreacting? Dear brave soul, how courageous you are to ask these questions! The pendulum swing from eye-opening amazement that there may be a name for your experiences to cringing…
Read More
Going No-Contact: Why It Has to be Your Choice
The Question “Do you think I should go no-contact with my narcissistic mom?” “Do I have to see my emotionally abusive dad at the holidays?” “I don’t want to ever see my parents again, but I feel like cutting them off would be wrong. What do I do?” Hearing these questions…
Read More
(Un)Tangled: 5 Traits of Adult Children of Narcissists
In a recent blog post, we explored how Disney’s Tangled portrays a narcissistic parent, Mother Gothel. In this post, we will take a closer look at this relationship from another angle: 5 common traits of adult children of narcissists – AKA, Rapunzel. For some of you this will probably feel very familiar, and maybe not in a pleasant…
Read More
Mother Knows Best? Narcissism in Disney’s “Tangled”
Mother Knows Best? 5 Traits of Narcissistic Parents Q: What does a narcissistic parent look like? A: Mother Gothel in Disney’s Tangled. In this re-telling of the classic Rapunzel story, Mother Gothel is a narcissistic, emotionally abusive sorceress who abducts the infant Rapunzel from her crib. Mother Gothel raises Rapunzel as her own, isolating her…
Read More