Narcissistic Abuse

NARCISSISTIC ABUSE Written by Alicia Murray. Maybe you sit in a meeting and hear your idea presented as someone else’s, and when you bring it up afterward, you are told you must be remembering it wrong. Maybe your manager praises you in front of the team on Monday and tears apart the same project on…

If you’ve left a narcissistic relationship but still miss the person who hurt you, you may feel ashamed or confused. You might ask yourself, “What is wrong with me?” or “Why do I still want someone who treated me this way?” Nothing is wrong with you. What you’re experiencing is often trauma bonding. What Is…

NARCISSISTIC ABUSE You replay conversations in your head, trying to work out what you said wrong. You second-guess your memory of events that you were sure about at the time. You used to be confident, and now you apologize constantly, even when you are not sure what for. Maybe you have left the relationship, or…

written by Alicia Murray, LMHCD, Syracuse, NY One of the most difficult parts of narcissistic abuse is that the relationship often continues affecting you long after it ends. You may know the relationship was unhealthy. You may know you deserve better. And yet, you still find yourself replaying conversations, questioning your decisions, or wondering how…

Written by Alicia Murray, LMHCD, Syracuse, NY “I know I should leave. So why can’t I?” It’s a question many people ask themselves when they’re in a relationship that has become emotionally exhausting, confusing, controlling, or painful. From the outside, leaving can seem like the obvious answer. When you’re the person inside the relationship, it…

written by Alicia Murray. After narcissistic abuse, many people feel like they have lost themselves. You may not know what you like, what you believe, or what you want anymore. That loss of identity is real. Why Identity Gets Lost In abusive dynamics, you often adapt to survive. You may: Prioritize their needs Suppress your…

written by Alicia Murray. After narcissistic abuse, many people say the same thing: “I feel like I’m losing my mind.” You may question your memory. Your reactions. Your interpretation of events. This is not because something is wrong with you. It is because your reality was repeatedly challenged. What Gaslighting Does to the Brain Gaslighting…

Written by Alicia Murray. Choosing to go no contact can feel like the clearest decision you have ever made. And also the hardest one to follow through on. Even when you know the relationship was harmful, you may still feel pulled back in. You may question your decision, miss them, or feel intense guilt. This…

The word “narcissist” is everywhere right now. Social media has made it easy to label difficult people quickly. But not every conflict is narcissistic abuse. Understanding the difference matters. What Healthy Conflict Looks Like In healthy relationships: Both people can take accountability Disagreements do not erase respect Boundaries are discussed, not punished Repair is possible…

One of the most painful effects of narcissistic abuse is not just what happened in the relationship. It is what happens inside you afterward. You may second-guess your memory. Question your instincts. Overanalyze decisions. Feel paralyzed when making simple choices. This is not indecisiveness. It is the impact of gaslighting. How Gaslighting Rewires Self-Trust Gaslighting…

Written by Alicia Murray. When you go through a major shift in identity — becoming a parent, leaving a religion, coming out, healing from trauma, starting over — your inner world expands. But sometimes, your relationships don’t expand with it. Suddenly, conversations feel strained. Friendships feel out of sync. What used to feel familiar starts…

Narcissistic abuse isn’t just about someone being arrogant or self-absorbed. It’s a pattern of emotional manipulation that slowly chips away at your sense of reality, safety, and self-worth. If you’ve been in a relationship — romantic, familial, professional, or even a friendship — where you felt constantly confused, criticized, or like nothing you did was…

If you’ve experienced narcissistic abuse — whether in a relationship, family, workplace, or friendship — you know the effects don’t disappear when the person does.