On the death of a queen, the healing journey, and how we see ourselves in each other. — The death of England’s monarch has been the latest uproar in a sea of polarizing world events. Dividing friends, family, and everyone else in-between, we have seen some truly extreme reactions to the passing of Elizabeth Windsor. “Life will never be the same again.” “I feel lost without her being there.” She’s…

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…

It’s time to stop putting Baby in the corner. — Growing up, my best friend’s favorite movie was Dirty Dancing. The summer of our high school year, she made me watch it with her over-and-over again. “Wouldn’t it be so cool to dance like that?” “Yeah, sure. I guess.” I did not guess. I had absolutely zero interest in the…

There’s no skirting accountability. If you’re a parent, you play a role in all of the trauma your child experiences. — There are many people out there who like to pretend that childhood trauma is accidental. They act as though there’s no avoiding the pain, destruction, and chaos that comes from being exposed to things beyond a child’s emotional reckoning. Many even see this trauma as an “inevitable” part of life.

Consider these scenarios in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style quiz. — Do you think you’re an emotionally mature person? With all the talk about emotionally immature parents and partners, it’s easy to get caught up on other’s hangups — rather than our own. We have to remember, though, that we are human, just like anyone else, and we have our own…

When getting yourself out of the way is the best answer. — I spend 70+ hours each week teaching survivors of narcissistic abuse how to navigate the challenges of conflict and confrontation. For many, this means learning how to handle the difficulties of their own narcissistic relationships. Dealing with a truly toxic personality type, they are often faced with regular arguments and…

It doesn’t happen in a cabbage patch. — We’ve all read the articles about emotionally immature parents and emotionally immature partners. If we were stopped on the street and administered a pop quiz on the subject, you and I could probably name all the signs of emotional immaturity upside down and backwards. What about the root of the…

Narcissists are their own worst enemies. This is what it looks like when they finally collapse on themselves. — What happens when someone with NPD is exposed to their manipulative behavior? Your average person may feel some shame, they may even withdraw. Eventually, however, life goes on. Things are a lot more complicated for a narcissist. With an ego that is rooted in false realities, when they face being…