Narcissistic Abuse Support Group

Breaking the Cycle:

Understanding the Patterns of Narcissistic Abuse

There is a strange paradox when it comes to narcissistic abuse.

Survivors often describe it as both obvious and invisible at the same time. The lies, the manipulation, the twisting of words, they are all right there in plain sight, yet so skillfully hidden beneath charm, excuses or blame-shifting that victims often feel like they are the ones losing their grip on reality. Psychologists call this gaslighting, but anyone who has lived through it knows it as the relentless erosion of truth.

Research is increasingly confirming what survivors have always known. The damage goes beyond emotions. A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research (2019) found that survivors of narcissistic abuse showed significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression and PTSD-like symptoms.

FROM SURVIVING TO RECLAIMING

The Shift That Changes Everything

Living with the effects of Narcissistic Victim Syndrome (NVS) is like walking through life with your nervous system on high alert.

• You’re not just feeling angry, your amygdala is firing constantly, scanning for threats that may never come.

• You’re not just tired,  you’re in a cycle of adrenal fatigue, emotional dys-regulation and fragmented sleep.

Let’s Talk Love Bombing 1.0  

Love Bombing 1.0 is  a quick fire post on the confusing charm offensive that too many of us have mistaken for “true love.” Imagine this,  you meet someone and suddenly it’s fireworks, front-row seats to their affection, 24/7 texting, surprise flowers and an engagement ring by week three.

Sounds like a fairy tale? Think again. This is less Disney, more psychological chess match.

Love bombing is not about love, it’s about control wrapped in compliments. This early phase of narcissistic or emotionally abusive relationships is designed to get you hooked fast. We’re talking about intense flattery (“I’ve never met anyone like you”), extravagant gifts, rushed future talk and constant contact, all carefully crafted to make you feel chosen… before they slowly chip away at your sense of reality.

But here’s the kicker, this isn’t always done with malice. People with trauma histories, ADHD, or anxious attachment may…

The Circle Around the Narcissist Is Never Accidental

They don’t operate alone.

Narcissists are often surrounded by three types of people:

• Those who enable.

• Those who ignore.

Emotional Abuse Doesn’t Always Leave Bruises, It Leaves Scars

You don’t have to be hit to be harmed. You don’t have to be screamed at to be silenced. Sometimes, it’s the quietest moments that hurt the most.

This post is for the ones who’ve endured:

• The cold silence used as punishment

• The eye rolls when you express your truth

When Silence Becomes Fatal:

Control, Not Accountability

They don’t want accountability, they want control. And when that control slips, some will kill to get it back.

This isn’t a metaphor. It’s happening in real time.

In April 2024, 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter was pushing her seven-month-old baby in a pram outside a women's refuge in Bradford, when her husband, Habibur Masum, tracked her down and stabbed her to death.

Never Again Knowledge, Healing & Protection After Narcissistic Abuse

Sis, let’s break the silence and speak truth in this sacred space.

Far too many women strong, intelligent, nurturing women have found themselves caught in the web of a narcissist or sociopath. And let’s be clear, it wasn’t because you lacked value. It was because they saw your light and made it their mission to dim it. But today, we take our power back.

The truth is, narcissists don’t prey on weakness. They prey on goodness.

They target people with open hearts and generous spirits. Women who forgive easily, who extend second chances, who see the best in others even when it hurts. But here’s the thing without the right tools, many of us didn’t even realise what we were up against. We mistook love bombing for love. We mistook gaslighting for miscommunication. We mistook control for care.

The Fire You Don’t See Burns the Deepest!

We have been taught to fight what’s outside us—oppression, injustice, systemic exclusion!

But what happens when the battlefield is your own mind? When the enemy wears a smile, a title, or even a wedding ring? The image you see ain’t just a checklist—it’s a testimony of what happens when narcissistic abuse enters your life. This is not just about breakups. This is about breakdowns—emotional, spiritual, psychological.

C-PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia.

The Neurological and Psychological Impact of Narcissistic Abuse

The psychological aftermath of narcissistic abuse is neither imaginary nor exaggerated. It is a well-documented and deeply impactful form of trauma that can lead to a cascade of neurophysiological and psychological disturbances. Survivors often present with a complex array of symptoms, many of which are reflected in the image shared.

Let’s explore some of the most common conditions through a scientific and clinical lens: