Lessons in life, love, loss, and what it means to be betrayed by the people who you love most. — by E.B. Johnson When I launched my narcissistic abuse recovery program a year ago, I thought I had a lot to teach the world about narcissists and the families that they build. Having experienced narcissistic abuse at the hands of my mother, I have an intimate knowledge of how this…

Coming to terms with a life lived unloved by the ghost of a woman who never was. — Please Note: Some names have been changed to protect the anonymity of individuals both living and deceased. by: E.B. Johnson The day I found my mother’s psychiatric medication is a day that saved my life. Sneaking into my mother’s bedroom had always been a sin, but it became a capital…

Taking a look at one of the most socially damaging personality disorders. — by E.B. Johnson Is Avoidant Personality Disorder tearing apart your relationships? It’s estimated that about 2.5% of the population deals with the symptoms of this behavioral pattern. Affecting both men and women equally, relationships can be warped and even destroyed by this chronic inability to get genuinely close to other…

It doesn’t matter what you do. Personalties like this detonate their relationships. — by E.B. Johnson In our own way, most of us want to be loved by at least one other person. Romantic love ranks high up the list for many, but for some, it seems unobtainable. Why? Are they unlovable? Have they made some great mistakes? Not really. Some people just…

A story on accepting hard truths and letting go of people who aren’t ready to grow in a positive direction. — by E.B. Johnson To say there’s been a lot of personal turmoil over the years would be an understatement. For the vast majority of us, the last five-or-six years have been some of the most upsetting, confusing, and terrifying we’ve ever experienced. My life was certainly knocked around by the…

Thinking of going back to old familiar places? Don’t ignore these undeniable signs you shouldn’t take them back. — by E.B. Johnson The recent reconciliation of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck has given many hope the world-over that they too can go back to their old loves. Giving ourselves a decade to grow and change, surely we can rekindle old flames. Realize the fantasy or fairy tale that we…

We are a society that loves to gaslight victims. This is why you can’t afford to let that slide anymore. — by E.B. Johnson We are a society who loves to gaslight. We gaslight survivors, victims, anyone who stands up for progress or something better. Even worse, we gaslight ourselves — allowing toxic and damaging generational patterns of trauma to take root and terrorize our children and grandchildren for centuries.

Narcissists do more than just abuse us. They condition us to abuse ourselves. — by E.B. Johnson Our experiences shape us and help us become who we are. This includes the good experiences and the bad. As humans, we shape our beliefs, our values, and the way we see the world in the experiences we have with ourselves and with others. It all comes…

Still getting those knots in your stomach? It’s time to address the dread you feel around your family. — by E.B. Johnson More than anything else, our families are supposed to be a source of comfort and support. We go to them with our troubles and in moments of fear. They are supposed to light the way for us, and show us how to become the most full and…