narcissistic parent
Finding Connection
Public service announcement: It is normal to long for connection. Take another look at that last sentence: It is normal to long for connection. Healthy, even. Foundational to what it means to be human. And also, a profoundly painful longing when it goes unfulfilled. I am often inspired to write about themes…
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The Umbrella Academy, part 2: The Power of Connections
*Spoiler alert!!* This article is part two of a two-part series that will explore characters in The Umbrella Academy, a television show adapted from an original comic by Gerard Way. Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix. If you plan to watch the show, be warned! Here there be spoilers. In part 1 of…
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Golden Child, Scapegoat, and Thanos: Sibling Relationships in the MCU
One of the more interesting – and heartbreaking – storylines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date is that of Nebula. When we first encounter her in Guardians of the Galaxy, Nebula is a villain. She initially fights her adopted sister Gamora after Gamora joins the Guardians. Early on, we see her trying (unsuccessfully) to…
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Seeing the Hidden Picture: Narcissistic Families in 3D
Do you remember those old-school 3D puzzle pictures that used to be printed in the comics section of the newspaper? (Remember physical newspapers?) They looked like a bunch of squiggly lines, or a frozen kaleidoscope at first. There was a trick to seeing the image within the squiggles – you had to let your eyes…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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It Didn’t Start With You: Tracing the Roots of Narcissistic Abuse
It didn’t start with you Narcissistic abuse never starts with the victim, no matter what the narcissist says. Did you know that? Even if they said, “You were just such a difficult child, I never knew how to deal with you.” It didn’t start with you. Even if they told…
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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…
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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…
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