219: Narcissism at Work, Home & In Families: Red Flags, Boundaries, Healing

Join us as we unpack Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)—how it shows up in friendships, family, and work; why bright, empathetic, often neurodivergent women are prime targets; and what to do to protect your mental, emotional, and energetic safety. We demystify tactics like love bombing, intermittent reinforcement, and image management, and share practical next steps: clear boundaries, low/no contact, therapy, education, and safety-first planning. If you’re a woman i navigating confusing, drama-heavy dynamics, this episode is for you.Timestamps00:01 – Why this episode: How hearing others’ stories helped Leonie name narcissistic abuse.02:00 – Leonie’s wake-up moment: “Google ‘selfish asshole’” → NPD checklist; instant clarity and exit.04:30 – Patterns you might miss: Charisma, “spiritual genius,” pedestal dynamics, your confidence collapsing.06:30 – Tam’s experience: High baseline stress, isolation, autoimmune flare, and “everyone else thinks they’re wonderful.”09:40 – Classic tactics: Love bombing, attention withdrawal, intermittent rewards (why it’s addictive).11:45 – The cyclone effect: Drama, serving their needs, why you start believing you’re the problem.13:30 – Public angel, private harm: The benevolent narcissist and image management.16:30 – The gaslight scripts: “You’re the only one I have issues with.” “You’ve always been troubled.”18:30 – Sanity checks: Getting clinically assessed (twice!); how real friends/healthy bonds feel.20:15 – ND women are targets: ASD/ADHD overlap vs NPD; the crucial difference is internal experience and harm.24:30 – What NPD is (clinical frame): Grandiosity + low empathy; managed vs unmanaged behavior under stress.26:50 – Your priority: You can’t fix them. Protect yourself; consider low/no contact; get support.31:20 – Boundaries in practice: Conditional low contact; being the adult; conserving energy.34:40 – “Selfish” smear: Why choosing yourself feels wrong—and why it’s necessary and not narcissistic.39:10 – Resources that help: Education, therapy, crisis support; “Will I Ever Be Good Enough?” (Karyl McBride); Ask Izzy (AU); Lifeline.41:45 – Closing: Awareness ≠ doom—awareness = immunity and choice.