Maria's Q&A on Narcissistic Abuse & Recovery

Questions and answers to help you understand and heal from this virulent, toxic form of abuse.

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Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Healing from Narcissistic Abuse
Narcissistic Abuse Relationships
Hallmarks of Narcissistic Abuse

How do you retain your sanity when being 'Gaslighted'?

Gaslighting is an emotional abuse tactic used by narcissists who manipulate you into questioning your own perceptions. They’re adept at making you doubt your own reality.The term originates from a 1938 play by British dramatist Patrick Hamilton. Two films were subsequently made, in 1940 and 1944, further popularizing the term. In the story, the manipulative husband keeps doing things to make his wife doubt her sanity. For example, he keeps hiding special items of hers, then telling her she's to blame for losing them.

Maria McMahon

12.12.2019

Gaslighting Narcissistic Abuse

Narcissistic Abuse Relationships

How do you get through the Festive Season after a Narcissistic Discard? 19 Tips to stave off the holiday blues

A study revealed 31% of Americans find the holiday season ‘frantic’, and I’m sure results in the UK and other countries would come up with similar percentages. Big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, which both come soon, and close together, can be even more difficult to cope with if you’ve been recently Discarded by your ex Narcissist.

Maria McMahon

25.11.2019

Narcissistic Abuse Healing

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

Forgiveness and trust after Narcissistic Abuse - Is it possible?

Forgiveness and trust after Narcissistic Abuse, in spite of what you might be feeling right now, is possible. However, I must point out here that there are 2 stages of forgiving – one for yourself and one for the narc… but that comes a long way down the road of recovery – and for some, they will never be able to fully forgive.

Maria McMahon

24.10.2019

narcissistic abuse, forgiveness

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

Narcissistic Hoovering - Don't get sucked in!

Vacuum Cleaners, aka Hoovers, suck up dust and debris. The term hoovering is used to describe a common tactic the narcissist uses after the discard phase, usually in multiple attempts to ‘suck’ you back into the relationship. To the narc, you’re nothing more than dust and debris that needs to be hovered up and spat back out again when he’s done abusing you a second (or more!) times around.

Maria McMahon

21.10.2019

Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, narcissistic hoovering

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

If a Narcissist tells you they love you, are they lying?

Answer: It's complicated! Why? Because when a Narcissist meets you initially and they start the 'love bombing' stage, they are in love with an idealized version of you... a version that has nothing to do with who you really are as a person.

Maria McMahon

10.10.2019

narcissist lies, narcissistic love

Narcissistic Abuse Relationships

How does Spirituality fit in with Narcissistic Abuse?

The subject of spirituality and religion seems to be popping up a lot lately – not just in my group, but a lot of other places in my network, so I thought it would be a good topic to have a chat with you about today.

Maria McMahon

07.10.2019

narcissistic abuse, Spirituality

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

Is Narcissism a Global Epidemic? The truth will shock you!

More and more frequently, I’m hearing that Narcissistic Abuse is a global epidemic and I believe it is, and a growing one. Licensed Clinical Social Worker Bree Bonchay, in her article on Psych Central, does some fascinating number-crunching on people who are potentially damaged by Narcissistic Abuse, and she comes out with a staggering...

Maria McMahon

02.10.2019

narcissistic abuse, narcissism , global epidemic

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

How to go 'No (or Low) Contact' with a Narcissist

No contact means just that. You sever all ties with the narc. Delete / block their phone / email. Block them on FB and social media. In case they have sent you threatening or ugly emails, texts or smeared you on social media, make a copy of everything and file it somewhere safe. You may need it for legal purposes.

Maria McMahon

30.09.2019

no contact, low contact

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

Have you married the same Narcissist twice?

If so, you're not alone! It's happened to many women - (even two women who joined my group and it had only been live for a week!) There are many reasons why this happens, but the bottom line is that the Narcissist is an expert at manipulation, and once they really know you (marrying you is going to help with that big time!), that level of skill grows exponentially because they have come to know you on a very intimate level... t

Maria McMahon

26.09.2019

narcissistic abuse, marrying a narcissist twice

Narcissistic Abuse Relationships

4 Quick-Fire tips to master 'Grey Rocking' like a Pro!

Understanding the term Grey Rock, and what it means, is particularly useful if you’re in a Narcissistic Relationship and you simply can’t get out – typically the reasons you can’t have to do with finance or children, or when you’re planning your escape strategy but you know it’s going to take time or you’re at the sage where you’re thinking of finding that way out,

Maria McMahon

23.09.2019

Grey Rock , Grey Rocking Narcissistic Abuse

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

Who becomes a victim of Narcissistic Abuse and why?

There are many reasons why you could have become a victim of a Narcissist. In this article, I'll look at mothers and romantic partners. So, firstly, you could have been born into it – That’s very often where it starts. If you’ve been unfortunate enough to have a narcissistic mother, you’ve undoubtedly fought a long hard battle with trying to come to terms with, or even understand, what’s happened to you.

Maria McMahon

19.09.2019

Narcissistic Abuse Relationships

4 Tactical Tips for dealing with a Narcissist/Bully at work

A bully at work can make your life a living hell. I know, because I’ve worked with clients who have shared their horror stories with me. Narcissists often show up in the workplace, and to make matters worse, they are often in positions of authority.

Maria McMahon

16.09.2019

Narcissistic Abuse at work, Work Bullying

Narcissistic Abuse Relationships

Does your Narcissist really hate you?

It's not a nice question to ask, but unfortunately, the brutal truth is that you have to ask yourself this question, and the brutal answer is YES. I encourage you to burst the bubble if you believe otherwise if you're in a romantic relationship with a Narcissist. They hate you because they can't stand to see your authentic, beautiful self. You reflect all the things they will never be, and that's why they set out to destroy you.

Maria McMahon

12.09.2019

Uncategorised

Dirty John's Dirty Deeds - A Psychopath at large

A while back, I watched the Netflix Series, Dirty John. It’s the true story of an American man named John Meehan, who love-bombed and married 59 year old Debra Newell after a whirlwind two month courtship, and which almost ended in disaster for one her family members.

Maria McMahon

09.09.2019

narcissistic abuse, Dirty John Psychopath

Hallmarks of Narcissistic Abuse

Is Self-Love the key to healing from Narcissistic Abuse?

It is! The more I read and learn about narcissistic abuse, and more importantly, surviving it, healing from it, then thriving, the more I realise something I have known all along... that self-love is the absolute key to healing.

Maria McMahon

05.09.2019

Narcissistic Abuse Recovery, Self-Love

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

How do I stop ruminating over my Ex at bedtime?

So you’ve gone no contact, identified yourself as a victim and dealt with what that entailed, but you’re still not out of the woods, home free and happy. What is probably going on now is that you are ruminating on the past. This means that you're going over everything that your Ex did and said, and you keep asking yourself whether you could have handled things differently, whether it was all your fault, whether you're going crazy.

Maria McMahon

02.09.2019

Ruminating Narcissistic Abuse, Narcissistic Abuse Recovery

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

Trauma Bonding: Why you still love a Narcissist and how to stop! 9 Tips to Break the Bond

One of the first questions a victim of Narcissistic Abuse is often asked after they reveal the depths of despair they were in during their relationship with a Narcissist, is ‘Why didn’t you leave sooner’, or worse, ‘Why the hell did you go BACK?’ Victims of Narcissistic abuse frequently leave the relationship because it was unbearable to be...

Maria McMahon

01.09.2019

Trauma Bonding, Narcissistic Abuse Healing

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

What is Narcissistic Abuse and how does it affect you?

Narcissistic abuse is a form of (primarily) emotional and psychological abuse, although it can and does often involve physical abuse as well. NPD is a mental illness and those who have it must abuse their ‘target’ or ‘victim’– it’s how their warped minds function and the can’t, won’t or don’t want to, control or change their behaviour and studies suggest they’re addicted to dopamine, one of the brain’s ‘happy’ or ‘feel-good’ chemicals.

Maria McMahon

28.08.2019

narcissistic abuse effects

Narcissistic Abuse Relationships

10 tips to deal with 'Flying Monkeys' In Narcissistic Abuse

Flying Monkeys is a phrase common in Narcissistic Abuse circles. It comes from those nasty characters the Wicked Witch of the West had flying around doing her dirty work for her. They go by other names too, but basically they are the allies that a Narcissist ‘recruits’ to use against you in their smear campaigns. They are also used in 'Triangulation', another common form of abuse used by Narcissists.

Maria McMahon

27.08.2019

narcissistic abuse, Narcissistic Triangulation, Flying Monkeys

Narcissistic Abuse Relationships

What is 'Love-Bombing' & How do you Heal from it?

Love-Bombing, also known as 'Idealization' is the first stage a Narcissist uses to engage, snare and capture you. The narcissist will hone in on his (or her) target like bees round a honeypot. He (or she) will have researched you (via social media, friends, or colleagues), to find out as much as possible about you. This means that when they contacts you, they knows what to say to get your interest. You’ll feel an immediate rapport with him or her.

Maria McMahon

27.08.2019

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse, Trauma Bonding, Love Bombing

Healing from Narcissistic Abuse

Questions and answers to help you understand and heal from this virulent, toxic form of abuse.

How do you retain your sanity when being 'Gaslighted'?

How do you get through the Festive Season after a Narcissistic Discard? 19 Tips to stave off the holiday blues

Forgiveness and trust after Narcissistic Abuse - Is it possible?

Narcissistic Hoovering - Don't get sucked in!

If a Narcissist tells you they love you, are they lying?

How does Spirituality fit in with Narcissistic Abuse?

Is Narcissism a Global Epidemic? The truth will shock you!

How to go 'No (or Low) Contact' with a Narcissist

Have you married the same Narcissist twice?

4 Quick-Fire tips to master 'Grey Rocking' like a Pro!

Who becomes a victim of Narcissistic Abuse and why?

4 Tactical Tips for dealing with a Narcissist/Bully at work

Does your Narcissist really hate you?

Dirty John's Dirty Deeds - A Psychopath at large

Is Self-Love the key to healing from Narcissistic Abuse?

How do I stop ruminating over my Ex at bedtime?

Trauma Bonding: Why you still love a Narcissist and how to stop! 9 Tips to Break the Bond

What is Narcissistic Abuse and how does it affect you?

10 tips to deal with 'Flying Monkeys' In Narcissistic Abuse

What is 'Love-Bombing' & How do you Heal from it?

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