It wasn’t “just emotional abuse.” It was psychological warfare dressed as love.
Dear Survivor,
If you’ve ever wondered why it hurts so much—why you can’t just move on, why the pain lingers even when they’re gone—you’re not broken. Narcissistic abuse cuts deeper than most people realize because it targets the very core of who you are.
Unlike more visible forms of abuse, narcissistic abuse erodes your identity slowly. It begins with idealization and ends with devaluation, all while keeping you trapped in a cycle of confusion, hope, and fear.
Narcissistic abuse hurts because it teaches you not to trust yourself. Over time, your instincts get overridden by their gaslighting, blame-shifting, and control. You second-guess your feelings. You silence your voice. You shrink to fit inside a version of yourself that pleases them.
This kind of abuse also creates something called a trauma bond. It’s the emotional glue that forms when moments of cruelty are mixed with brief glimpses of love. That intermittent reinforcement wires your brain to crave their approval, even as it damages you. Leaving doesn’t always feel like freedom—it can feel like grief, withdrawal, or even guilt.
Narcissistic abuse often leads to:
- Chronic self-doubt
- Anxiety and hypervigilance
- Emotional flashbacks
- Isolation from loved ones
- Loss of identity
And yet, many survivors are told they’re overreacting. That it wasn’t “that bad.” But emotional abuse is never less harmful because it leaves no bruises. In fact, its invisibility is what makes it so destructive.
Your pain is valid. Your confusion is understandable. And your healing is absolutely possible.
If you’re ready to start reconnecting with your voice, your truth, and your power, the Reclaiming Strength Workbook was created with you in mind. It offers guided reflections and gentle practices to help you rebuild what was never truly lost.
You didn’t deserve what happened. But you do deserve to heal.
Blessings and healing,
Catrina
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