The Narcissism Myth, Debunked: Boundaries That Hold

What if the “high-conflict people” in our lives aren’t here to destroy our peace… but to train us to hold it?In this episode, Kristi sits down with Christine Hammond, one of the country’s leading mental health experts on high-conflict personalities, narcissism, and family trauma. She’s a bestselling author, licensed mental health counselor, and the voice behind the wildly successful podcast Understanding Today’s Narcissist, downloaded over 1 million times.Christine pulls back the curtain on:What a personality disorder actually is (and what it’s not)Why society is obsessed with labeling people “narcissists”How drama shows up — at work, in parenting, in relationshipsWhy only 1–2% of people are true narcissists (sorry TikTok, calm down)How nature + nurture shape these patterns over timeShe breaks it down in plain language — zero psych-babble — and gives practical tools to stay grounded when someone else is spinning.You’ll learn:- How to stop absorbing someone else’s chaos- Why kids are often the motivators behind healing- How to interact with narcissistic bosses + partners without lighting matches- How trauma shapes perception — and how safety reshapes it- Why YOU doing your inner work is the most powerful move you can makeChristine also offers instantly-usable strategies like:The Sandwich Method for tough conversations: compliment → confront → compliment.Guardrail boundaries so you stop getting emotionally dragged into someone else’s storm.This episode is packed with hope, nuance, and a totally refreshing perspective:You are not powerless in the presence of a personality disorder.You can learn, grow, regulate, and respond — instead of react.Our VIP Guest is Christine Hammond, LMHCChristine is the author of Abuse Exposed & The Exhausted Woman’s Handbook, she has more than 500+ published articles, more than 1M+ podcast downloads, and 400K+ YouTube views!She is the Specialist in high-conflict families + personality disorders.Connect with Christine:Website: PsychologicalAffiliates.comArticles & Resources: GrowWithChristine.comAnd YES, she’s also available for training + speaking (usually for law firms or attorney association conferences and conventions but check and see if what you need her for can work for her, too).In the 'Be the Change Challenge' she suggests: This week, try the Sandwich Method when you need to offer feedback:Compliment → Confront → Compliment.Short. Simple. Respectful. Magical.Sign up for GrowthDay, access to World-Class Coaching: https://www.growthday.com/referrals?via=h6l0rtGrab the Peopling book for tools for connection: https://a.co/d/4t7eFOUSubscribe to The Peopling Podcast for weekly conversations that remind us: connection matters more than perfection.#Peopling #Communication #EmotionalIntelligence #Boundaries #Narcissism #MentalHealth #Relationships #Leadership