Health & Fitness

Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse

by Kerry McAvoy, Ph.D.

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Latest episodes

Dr. Les Carter: Stop Trying to Make a Narcissist Understand You — Do This Instead

October 5, 2026 · 32 min

Are You Feeling Stuck?Take my FREE “Toxic or Troubled?” survey to discover your relationship type and get instant access to a complete, private mini-course—educational overviews, reflective questions, grounding techniques, and new…
They Didn't Miss You, They Ran Out of Money: How Hoovering Actually Works

October 1, 2026 · 21 min

Future faking hoovering isn't a change of heart. It's a second round of grooming, aimed at exactly what the first round wanted.In this highlight from Kerry's weekly live Q&A, she takes on what's actually happening when someone shows up…
Narcissist, Psychopath, or Sadist? Does Naming Your Abuser's Personality Type Actually Help?

September 28, 2026 · 30 min

What if naming the disorder never actually got you out? And what if the thing you've been calling proof was really just a way to feel in control?In this episode, Kerry and co-host Lynn Strathdee take on the debate splitting the recovery…
Gray Divorce and the 30-Year Con: Why Covert Narcissists Never Wanted You to Leave

September 24, 2026 · 19 min

Gray divorce isn't a midlife crisis. For a lot of people, it's the end of a con that ran for decades.When researchers ask why people divorce after 50, the top answer from women isn't money or infidelity — it was abuse.In this highlight…
Narcissistic Love Withdrawal: Why You Chase Their Affection and Lose Yourself

September 21, 2026 · 43 min

Why did you do things you swore you'd never do, just to get their love back? In this episode, Kerry and researcher Dr. Karen Mitchell unpack why affection from a narcissistic or predatory partner can feel like a drug. It's intense and…

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DARVO Exposed: How Manipulators Make YOU the Abuser When You Confront Them

September 17, 2026 · 18 min

Why did the narcissist’s collapse look so real — curled on the floor, shaking, sweating, begging you not to leave — yet nothing changed after?What looks like a breakdown is often a temporary loss of status, not a loss of identity — the…
Why Narcissists Ruin Your Sleep: Don't Miss This Nasty Bedtime Control Tactic

September 14, 2026 · 27 min

What if the reason you feel like you're always “nagging” has nothing to do with you being difficult — and everything to do with deliberate provocation?In this episode, Dr. Kerry McAvoy and Lynn Strathdee break down the hidden mechanics…
I Treated Narcissists for Years and Never Saw a Collapse — Here's What Really Happens

September 10, 2026 · 27 min

Why did the narcissist’s collapse look so real — curled on the floor, shaking, sweating, begging you not to leave — yet nothing changed after?What looks like a breakdown is often a temporary loss of status, not a loss of identity — the…
He Fooled Every Therapist in the Room — What No One Warns You (feat. Chelsey Brooke Cole)

September 7, 2026 · 33 min

What if the trait everyone praises you for is the exact one the narcissist is scanning for?That isn’t naivety. That isn’t missing the red flags. Agreeableness — assuming people are honest, wanting harmony, believing no one would be cruel…
The Family Scapegoat: Why You Were Chosen, and Why It Was Never About You

September 3, 2026 · 18 min

Why does one person in the family end up carrying everything — the blame, the mood, the thing nobody will say out loud? That wasn't a flaw in you. That was a role, and someone cast you in it. Scapegoating is bullying that a family agrees…
How Narcissists Pick Their Victims in Under an Hour

August 31, 2026 · 35 min

What if it only takes him an hour to know exactly how to control you?That wasn't chemistry. That wasn't "instant connection." A predator ran a background check on your character to know if you had the exact traits he needs to exploit.In…
Rumination After Narcissistic Abuse: Why Your Mind Won't Stop, and How to Break the Loop

August 27, 2026 · 24 min

Why do you keep replaying a relationship that's already over — running the same five minutes on a loop, searching for the one detail that will finally make sense of it? That wasn't you overthinking. That was your nervous system trying to…

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About the show

Confused by your relationship? Do you catch yourself second-guessing, walking on eggshells, or feeling emotionally drained? Whether you’re still in the chaos or trying to rebuild after leaving, this podcast is your lifeline. Join Dr. Kerry McAvoy as she exposes the hidden dynamics of toxic relationships. You’ll learn how destructive personalities operate, the manipulative tactics they use, and the stages of abuse—plus the practical steps to heal and reclaim your life. If you’re ready to break free, rebuild your self-worth, and find lasting emotional freedom, hit play and start your recovery journey today.