Covert Narcissism Community Chat: Why Was It So Hard to Call This Abuse? Part One

Why is it so difficult to recognize covert narcissistic abuse when you’re living inside it?

In Part 1 of this community chat, Olivia, Cindy, and Shannon share why they couldn’t call their relationships abusive for years—even decades. When emotional abuse is subtle, mixed with good moments, public charm, and messages like “marriage is just hard,” the confusion runs deep.

We talk about:

Growing up with normalized dysfunction
Calling it “communication problems” instead of abuse
Faith, loyalty, and trying harder to be a “good wife”
Intermittent reinforcement and hope resetting the pain
Minimizing red flags—including physical aggression

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it really abuse, or am I overreacting?” this episode will help you understand why naming it feels so hard.

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RENEE SWANSON, COVERT NARCISSISM PODCAST, AND CNG LIFE COACHING IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE USED FOR DIAGNOSIS PURPOSES AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE.

THIS MATERIAL DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL. RENEE SHARES STORIES FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS FROM THOSE SHE HAS TALKED WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HER MATERIAL DOES NOT CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON HAS NARCISSISM AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON AS HAVING NARCISSISM. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS MATERIAL TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION OR SUPPORT A CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSIST. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(464)

Covert Narcissism Recovery: Going No Contact and Finding Yourself Again

In part two of this community chat, the conversation goes even deeper. We pick back up right where we left off — with Denise sharing what it actually took to go no contact after twenty-seven years of ...

9 Jul 31min

The Covert Narcissist's Mask: What's Really Underneath

If you've ever felt like something was missing in a relationship with a covert narcissist — a flatness, a lack of depth, a sense that you're never quite reaching the real person — this episode is for ...

5 Jul 25min

Covert Narcissism Recovery: Do I Stay or Do I Go? A Community Chat

Some of the hardest questions in a narcissistic relationship don't have easy answers — and "do I stay, or do I go" is one of them. In this episode, I'm joined by three women from our CNG community for...

2 Jul 25min

Covert Narcissist Relationships: Love Bombing, Smear Campaigns, and Surviving the Aftermath

When you finally speak your truth to a covert narcissist, you expect relief. What you don't expect is what comes next. In this episode — the follow-up to Covert Narcissist Relationships: When You Can'...

28 Jun 29min

How to Set Boundaries With a Toxic Aging Parent (Without the Guilt)

Do you owe your toxic aging parent everything... or nothing? Clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Stinson, author of The Obligation Myth: Rethinking What You Owe Your Difficult Aging Parent, joins the show ...

25 Jun 46min

Covert Narcissist Relationships: When You Can't Live the Lie Anymore

There comes a point in a covert narcissistic relationship when you can no longer live the lie. Not a dramatic breaking point necessarily — sometimes it's a slow erosion that leaves you mentally exhaus...

21 Jun 24min

Covert Abuse, Restricted Autonomy, and the AI Tool Aimee Says

Have you ever struggled to explain what's happening in your relationship — where nothing looks "bad enough" to point to, but something feels wrong every single day? In this episode, I'm joined by Anne...

18 Jun 47min

Overthinking in a Covert Narcissistic Relationship: Why Your Mind Never Stops

Overthinking in a covert narcissistic relationship isn't a character flaw — it's what your brain does when it has learned, through real experience, that it cannot afford to relax. If you are in a rela...

14 Jun 29min