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Ever been charmed by someone who later made you doubt your memory, your needs, or your sanity? We go straight to the heart of narcissism—beyond the buzzword—and map the spectrum from overt to covert to malignant, revealing how early overindulgence or deep neglect can shape an empathy deficit that ripples through families, workplaces, and love lives. With Dr. Kathy Tolleson back in the studio, we translate clinical nuance into everyday patterns you can actually spot: love bombing that feels like fate, gaslighting that fogs your reality, and rage that erupts when control slips.

We talk about why addicts often display narcissistic behaviors, how recovery can clarify what’s trait versus substance-driven, and why true narcissistic personality disorder resists accountability. You’ll hear how narcissistic parents can look like heroes while kids are small, then turn critical when those kids individuate—and how that dynamic plants people-pleasing, perfectionism, or chronic rebellion in adult children. We ground it in practical tests: do you have a voice and are you truly heard; does conflict lead to compromise or punishment; and when you set a boundary, does the relationship stabilize or spin?

This conversation is a guide and a guardrail: tools to identify red flags, frameworks to plan a safe exit, and resources to rebuild confidence and community. From differentiating overt charm from covert self-pity, to navigating divorce with minimal collateral damage, to protecting your prefrontal cortex so empathy and judgment can lead again—consider this your map out of the maze. If you’ve felt crazy, you’re not; if you’ve felt small, you won’t stay that way. Subscribe, share with someone who needs clarity, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so others can find this support too.

Thank you for joining me today. Please know that this podcast and the information shared is not to replace or supplement any mental health or personal wellness modalities provided by practitioners. It’s simply me, sharing my personal experiences and I appreciate you respecting and honoring this space and my guests. If you find my content relatable, please feel free to like, share and subscribe. Have a beautiful day full of gratitude, compassion and unconditional love.