I hope this is the right forum for this thread...

I'd like to start a thread for those who are healing from narcissistic abuse. Ideas and encouragement. Please not for stories of the abuse, but strategies for moving past it and getting on with our lives in a much more fulfilling way.

If you are unsure what this type of abuse is all about, here are a few helpful articles...
11 Signs You're the Victim of Narcissistic Abuse | Recovering from a Narcissist
Defining Narcissistic Abuse: The Case for Deception as Abuse
Recognizing Narcissistic Abuse | The Recovery Expert

My personal experience of it is just ending. I recognized it for a few years before having a final straw moment and have spent the past month extricating myself from it. I feel I am doing well, but am unsure whether I am just in some sort of relief "phase" ("TG, free at last!" sort of thing) or not as "past it" as I might think.

I am currently reading Shahida Arabi's book, "The Smart Girl's Guide to Self-Care". Before that I read, "Becoming the Narcissist's Nightmare" and, "POWER Surviving and Thriving After Narcissistic Abuse", by the same author. I'd recommend them. I do find her a bit repetitive, but the information is good.

For now I'll just recommend the books (Especially The Smart Girl's* Guide and POWER ones), as this post is getting rather long. Specific tips hopefully in subsequent posts...

(Important to remember that it's not a gender thing. Both men and women can be narcissists.)

[happysobercrafter]

I work on healing my self-esteem. For example, now it is easier to face the flashbacks of my abusers because I managed to improve my self-esteem. I had to face and accept the horrors of my childhood and understand they were older and stronger than I was. It was impossible for me to have turned out any differently than I did.

Accepting what was done to me got me past that wounded part of myself.

Am I answering this correctly? I had to face my upbringing, it was the only way to get past it. And, you want to know the coolest part of all of that? Once I got through the pain, I began to feel happier and slowly, it became easier for me to decide solutions for myself. I didn't fly into a panic every time a big problem appeared. I began to sit down and figure out what I could do.

I hope this helps.
xoxoxoxox

[badwmn]

I suggest either reading or downloading the audible (I don’t have the patience to read) the book “Psychopath free” by Jackson MacKenzie. Just the first chapter had me in tears because I could relate to everything that was described. I started listening to “Becoming the Narcissists Nightmare”, but it didn’t catch me like the other one did!

Originally Posted by badwmn

I suggest either reading or downloading the audible (I don’t have the patience to read) the book “Psychopath free” by Jackson MacKenzie. Just the first chapter had me in tears because I could relate to everything that was described. I started listening to “Becoming the Narcissists Nightmare”, but it didn’t catch me like the other one did!

Welcome to the forums, badwmn!
Thanks for the recommendation. It IS very emotional when we start recognizing this stuff, isn't it?!
Did he have any advice that particularly caught your ear?

[Fuzzybear]

Thanks for sharing this!