Braving the Holidays (Ep. 2) Christmas with Narcissists

In this powerful episode of Not That Girl Anymore, trauma therapist and coach Dawn Bouillion unpacks why Christmas can feel overwhelming, heavy, or emotionally unsafe for survivors of narcissistic or dysregulated family systems.If you feel that familiar knot in your stomach as the holidays approach, this conversation reminds you: you’re not imagining it, you’re not dramatic, and you’re not alone.Dawn breaks down:Why the holidays activate old survival roles (caretaker, scapegoat, lost child, golden child)How narcissistic dynamics escalate around ChristmasWhy joy threatens a narcissist — and why your joy mattersTrauma reactivation in the nervous systemHow guilt, confusion, and cognitive dissonance keep you stuckReal-life examples of emotional sabotage, chaos, triangulation, and boundary-punishmentHow to choose safety, boundaries, and self-care without apologyYou’ll also learn practical tools to protect your peace this holiday season—lowering expectations, limiting exposure, regulating your body, and creating new rituals that honor your healing.This Christmas, your healing, your peace, and your joy matter. And you're not that girl anymore.