Heidi is the scapegoat for her family. Her father was highly controlling, watching her every move, waiting to erupt at minimal slights of ever-changing and unpredictable goalposts. These events set the stage for a life of low self-esteem, confidence, and worth. It's a story of enmeshment, minimizing, denying, blame, putdowns, rage, sexual abuse, enabling, suicidal ideation, depression, bullying, intergenerational trauma, fragmented identity, loneliness, CPTSD, and PTSD. **This episode is dedicat...
Oct 09, 2023•2 hr 2 min
In this Q&A episode, Brandon discusses the different types of fear, fear responses, the motivation behind threats, and the different threat types wielded in abusive relationships. *** CONTENT WARNING - This episode discusses physical abuse & sexual coercion. *** If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com To help out our podcast, please fill out our listener survey, click here. Thank you to our sponsor B...
Oct 06, 2023•49 min
Madison felt something was off in her 'normal' marriage, but she couldn't pinpoint it for the first eight years. However, once Madison gave birth to her first child, her husband's facade dropped, and the person lurking beneath wreaked havoc on her life for good. It's a story of pedestals, isolation, smear campaigns, overwhelm, self defense, physical abuse, physical intimidation, escalation points, enabling, addiction, name calling, putdowns, control, and jealousy. If you want to be a guest on ou...
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr 12 min
In this episode, Brandon talks with Dr. Ingrid Clayton about healing from narcissistic abuse and complex trauma. Dr. Clayton shares her personal story as we discuss her memoir, 'Believing Me', a powerful recount of her childhood trauma from a psychologist's perspective and her healing journey. Dr. Clayton also navigates through the heavy waters of trauma responses, reenactments, and how these reactions often lead to relational trauma and self-abandonment. To reach Dr. Ingrid Clayton's website, c...
Sep 29, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Serenity was 20 years old when she met her abuser. He was 34 years old and a millionaire. Over the course of their 12 year relationship, Serenity endured physical violence, sexual coercion, financial manipulation, putdowns, isolation, and gaslighting. The damaging impact of this abuse inflicted a tremendous amount of stress on her mental and emotional health. From constant hyper vigilance, to body disconnection and memory loss, to suicidal ideation, Serenity battled these issues until the day sh...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 19 min
In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse Q&A, we discuss the 4 Overwhelm Types and the abuse tactics that narcissistic abusers use to overwhelm their victims. We expose how manipulators overwhelm victims to gain control, using strategies like love bombing, future faking, gaslighting, isolation, physical abuse, rage, moving goal posts, victim playing, putdowns, nitpicking, the fog, intimidation, the silent treatment, and financial abuse. We also talk with Jean (a former survivor story guest) ...
Sep 22, 2023•51 min
Inez thought she met the man of her dreams. Inez truly believed that her new partner would give her the unconditional love she always wanted. However, Inez's ex was a wolf in sheep's clothing, mirroring her to get the control he always wanted. It's a story of intergenerational trauma, reenactments, jealousy, control, sexual coercion, gaslighting, love bombing, empty promises, abuse cycles, future faking, guilt, denial, mirroring, self care, self discovery, silent treatments, ghosting, minimizati...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr 33 min
What happens when a daughter grapples with a manipulative and controlling mother throughout her life? How does she navigate her path through minimization, denial, and blame? From the complexities of her mother's need to be the truth-teller, to the constant interference in her personal life and milestones, Joanne's story uncovers the severe effects of intergenerational trauma. Joanne will take you through the challenging process of building trust with her mother, the struggles she faced in protec...
Sep 15, 2023•56 min
In this hybrid survivor story/q&a episode, Brandon discusses the three types of trauma reenactment that were running the lives of Jasmine and her abusive ex. Plus, Jasmine tells her story of being in an abusive relationship that she just couldn't quit. Jasmine dealt with ghosting, love bombing, gaslighting, physical intimidation, child sexual abuse, physical abuse, putdowns, nitpicking, rage, infidelity, blame-shifting, abandonment, and much more. *** CONTENT WARNING - This episode discusses...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Stella met her charismatic partner through her sister. And even though Stella had some inner alarm bells ringing to run as things were moving quite quickly, her friends and family vouched for him. Everyone said go when they should have said slow down. As soon as Stella moved in, the abuse and coercive control began. Stella's partner tried to make her feel crazy, and it worked. Stella thought she was the problem and felt trapped with no one to talk to. It's a story of smear campaigns, infidelity,...
Sep 08, 2023•46 min
Bree and her family thought she married 'Mr. Perfect', but a week after their honeymoon, the coercive control began. At first, it started with isolation, then financial abuse, putdowns, sexual abuse, infidelity, triangulation, and more. It took a long time for Bree to free herself from the clutches of her husband, but she eventually got the divorce she was looking for. However, ten years post-divorce, Bree is still dealing with her ex's post-separation abuse. *** CONTENT WARNING - This episode d...
Sep 04, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Nothing Kelowna ever did was good enough for her abusive mother. All Kelowna knew was an ever-present sense of worthlessness as her mother's scapegoat. By the age of 14, Kelowna's mother pushed her right into the hands of her future abusive husband. And by the age of 20, Kelowna was pregnant and stuck in a very controlling relationship. It's a story of not feeling good enough, caretaking, parentification, manipulation, insecurities, feeling stuck, financial abuse, infidelity, no contact, sexual ...
Sep 01, 2023•59 min
Saoirse was swept off her feet by her future husband. They shared the same likes and dreams for the future. Saoirse thought she met her soulmate. However, as soon as their first child was born, Saoirse's husband began to employ coercive control tactics. He isolated her from her family, financially abused her, and manipulated Saoirse to believe that everything wrong in the relationship was her fault. As Saoirse recounts her experience of escaping her abusive relationship and navigating life in th...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 34 min
Get ready to decode the intricate labyrinth of imposter syndrome and its profound ties to trauma and abuse. We promise you an enlightening journey where we dissect the essence of imposter syndrome, its symptoms, and its lasting effect on victims of abuse. We delve into the sinister tactics an abuser employs to manipulate a victim's identity to their advantage, leaving an indelible scar on a survivor's self-perception and relationships. We also examine the damaging effects of emotional abuse, wit...
Aug 25, 2023•38 min
Irina grew up under the rule of a narcissistic mother who wielded her brand of manipulative emotional abuse with the precision of a doctors scalpel. Over time, Irina began to feel defective, and unfortunately, that belief carried into her abusive romantic relationships as she got older. Irina's story is also about her sister who died by suicide as a child. Irina's story is a witness to her life. *** CONTENT WARNING - This episode discusses in detail the suicide of Irina’s older sister due to her...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 24 min
Brandon discusses the things abuse survivors have lost from narcissistic abuse and the therapy modalities to help get some of these things back. Brandon delves into the loss of self, self-worth, self-confidence, emotional stability, financial stability, possessions, trust, family, friends, children, sanity, security, boundaries, innocence, happiness, self-respect, reputation, sleep, hobbies, interests, feelings, health, and much more. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, plea...
Aug 18, 2023•55 min
Unbeknownst to Natalie, after locking eyes with her future ex at an event, chaos would inhabit her life for the next 3.5 years. Natalie's abuser masterfully manipulated her kindness to maintain control over her, using gaslighting, triangulation, compulsive lying, silent treatments, and more to keep her line. And when Natalie finally had enough of the abuse, her ex hoovered her back many times, used smear campaigns, and relentlessly harassed her to maintain any control she could get. If you want ...
Aug 14, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Brandon explores the intricate layers of poverty, court, the social services system, and the emotional/financial abuse on the Netflix series 'Maid'. We delve into the experiences of Alex, the protagonist, as she battles poverty, secures employment, and navigates through the challenging social services system - all while striving to protect her beloved daughter. Can you imagine standing in a courtroom, desperately trying to retain custody of your own child, but facing bias simply because you're f...
Aug 11, 2023•45 min
Plum takes us on a deep journey into her life marked by generational trauma, an abusive relationship, neglectful parenting, and emotional abuse. She boldly peels back the layers of her past, offering an unfiltered look into her mother's toxic family dynamics that reverberate throughout her life and into her abusive marriage. It's a story of generational trauma, gaslighting, physical abuse, sexual coercion, silent treatments, abuse cycles, control, no contact, victim playing, and much more. *** C...
Aug 07, 2023•1 hr 27 min
Brandon talks with Heather Youngs (LMHC & SEP) about the benefits of somatic therapy for little and big traumas. Plus, they discuss the mind/body balance, baselines, and getting out of your head. Heather Youngs can be reached by clicking here. *** CONTENT WARNING - This episode discusses physical harm. *** If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com To help out our podcast, please fill out our listener surve...
Aug 04, 2023•37 min
Spoon is a survivor of online grooming, generational trauma, and an abusive relationship. This episode pulls no punches, shining a harsh light on the realities of exploitation and the toll it takes on one's self-worth. Yet, even in the darkest corners of her story, Spoon's spirit shines bright as she speaks of the recovery process and how she found her worth again. This conversation is not just about trauma and abuse, but about finding hope, strength, and resilience in the process. So, join us f...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 17 min
After Leyla fled her state from her most recent abuser, she worked hard at starting a new life. However, lurking in the shadows was the father of her son, and he did everything in his power to halt Leyla's fresh start by alienating her child from her. It's a story of addiction, financial abuse, mental health, custody, kidnapping, bad lawyers, rehab, being a good mom, and staying the course. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissi...
Jul 28, 2023•53 min
Avery thought her new partner was the ONE, but unfortunately for Avery, she fell in love with a wolf in sheep's clothing. Beneath the surface of her ex was something more sinister, and for years, Avery dealt with manipulation, gaslighting, emotional abuse, outbursts, and the nerve-racking experience of a custody battle. It's a story of crazy-making, black-and-white thinking, lies, infidelity, triangulation, circular conversations, hoping for change, shame, and post-separation abuse. If you want ...
Jul 24, 2023•2 hr
Imagine being a child forced into the role of caretaker for your struggling mother. Our guest for today, Saylor, knows that reality all too well, and she's here to share her journey. From witnessing her mother's emotional abuse at the hands of her father, to grappling with her own feelings about their complex family dynamics, Saylor offers a raw and insightful look into a world many don't understand. In sharing her story, she illuminates the impact of unseen family wounds on the developmental ye...
Jul 21, 2023•50 min
Sunday met her future husband at a wedding, started a relationship, got pregnant, and moved to Australia for a brand new start to her life. Unfortunately for Sunday, her husband was not who he portrayed himself to be, as he began to weaponize her vulnerabilities against her. Sunday details the toxic family dynamics she endured with her ex-husband's family, who made her feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. In the final chapters of her story, Sunday discusses the post-separation abuse she endured, th...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr 36 min
Megan's survivor story pulls back the curtain on the harsh realities of coping with physical and emotional abuse, as well as navigating the murky waters of post-separation abuse. Megan experienced smear campaigns, putdowns, physical abuse, gaslighting, psychological control tactics, and the use of her daughter as a tool of manipulation. Plus, Megan explores the complexities and frustrations of co-parenting with a manipulative abuser. *** CONTENT WARNING - Physical Abuse is graphically described ...
Jul 14, 2023•52 min
Citrine shares her journey as an abuse survivor who endured and ultimately escaped a toxic, manipulative relationship. Listen in as Citrine explores the psychological manipulation she experienced, the early red flags she overlooked, and how her former partners stories left her feeling confused and unbalanced. Citrine's discusses the erosion of her boundaries, her former partners attempts to control her, and the strain it placed on her relationship with her family. Plus, Citrine shares the challe...
Jul 10, 2023•2 hr 7 min
Brandon talks with Kacey from the Cult Vault Podcast about the different types of cults, coercive control, and the Bite Model of authoritarian control. Plus, they talk about the emergence of headless cults through online communities. To listen to the Cult Vault Podcast, click here. If you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please click here or send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@gmail.com To listen to the groundbreaking investigative true crime podcast about Munchausen by Pro...
Jul 07, 2023•1 hr
Raven is a survivor who lived through an 18-year abusive relationship. From her childhood in a dysfunctional home to her struggle with toxic relationships, Raven paints a vivid picture of her journey, offering deep insights into how her abusive partner disrupted her work, led her into financial abuse, and how her own people-pleasing tendencies played a role in her prolonged stay in a destructive relationship. Raven’s courage shines through as she shares the tactics she used to protect herself em...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 10 min
For many abuse survivors, leaving an abusive relationship doesn't stop the abuse. That's the haunting reality of post-separation abuse and coercive control, which we are exploring in this episode. We expose the many ways abusers continue to exercise control post-separation, from subtle gaslighting tactics to more blatant ways like legal abuse, smear campaigns, stalking, harassment, and weaponizing children. In the second segment of our discussion, we discuss how legal proceedings are manipulated...
Jun 30, 2023•43 min
