72. Healing From Gaslighting: How to Trust Yourself Again After Narcissistic Abuse | Dr. David Pendergrass

Have you ever walked away from a relationship and thought, “Wait… was it really that bad?” Or maybe you find yourself constantly second-guessing your decisions, questioning your memory, or wondering if you can trust your own instincts anymore. Today on Her Healing Season, I am welcoming back Dr. David W. Pendergrass for a conversation about gaslighting, narcissistic and toxic relationships, rebuilding self-trust, and learning how to recognize healthy relationships after you've experienced an unhealthy one. We start with the basics: What exactly IS gaslighting? What makes someone a narcissist? And what makes a relationship toxic? Then we get into what happens after you leave. Why can the effects of gaslighting continue long after the relationship is over? Why do women sometimes struggle to trust themselves? What does hypervigilance look like in dating and relationships? And how do you tell the difference between healthy caution and fear caused by your past? We also talk about something I know many women wonder about: “How do I make sure I don't miss the red flags again?” David and I discuss why red flags can be difficult to see at the beginning of a relationship, what can keep us in relationships even after we start noticing problems, and whether people who leave narcissistic or toxic relationships can find themselves repeating familiar relationship patterns. And perhaps most importantly, we talk about what it looks like to eventually trust again—not just another person, but yourself. If you've ever wondered whether you can have a healthy relationship after a toxic one, this conversation is for you. Connect with David: 🌐 Website: www.davidpendergrass.com Connect with Bethany + Her Healing Season: 🌿 Website: www.bethanyrose.net/herhealing 💌 Insider List: https://mailchi.mp/6baaaae17d1d/insiderlist 🎙️ Podcast: Her Healing Season 💻 Coaching: www.bethanyrose.net/herhealing/coaching Her Healing Season is a podcast for moms after leaving a narcissistic husband, offering faith-led encouragement for rest, recovery, rebuilding, and healing.