Next Up: Narcissism4 Apr 2025

Episode 48: The Car: The Narcissist’s Tool for Abuse

A car ride with a narcissist can quickly shift from routine to one of the most dangerous and controlling dynamics in the relationship.

In this episode, I’m talking about something I see all the time in my work: how narcissists use driving as a form of coercive control. The car becomes more than just a way to get from one place to another. It becomes a tool for power, manipulation, and fear. If you’ve ever felt anxious, unsafe, or completely stuck during what should be a simple drive, you’re not imagining it.

I share the patterns I hear from clients again and again: partners making them late on purpose, driving recklessly, refusing to hand over the keys, or locking the doors to prevent them from getting out. These aren’t accidents. These are tactics.

I also walk through real strategies you can use if you’re in this kind of situation. Things like not revealing how important an event is, finding alternate transportation when possible, and staying emotionally neutral when you’re being baited. They’re small steps, but they can help you take back a sense of control when everything else feels chaotic.

If any of this sounds familiar, I hope this episode helps you name it, and start finding ways to protect your time, your energy, and your autonomy.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

02:32 Significance of Driving in Narcissistic Abuse

04:00 Control and Independence in Driving

06:08 Ownership and Control of the Car

10:23 Reckless Driving to Instill Fear

12:22 Creating Fear and Providing Safety

15:06 Verbal and Physical Abuse in the Car

19:55 Limiting Access to a Car

21:21 Identifying Patterns of Abuse

22:53 Strategies to Regain Control

25:56 Concrete Behaviors to Counter Manipulation

Links

Connect with Dr. Z: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/

https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/

https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist

https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman

Get my FREE breathing exercise here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/newsletter

Order my workbooks! *Find Your Calm / Find Good Habits* http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books

Shop my new Mindfully Messy hoodie here: http://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/apparel

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

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

Episoder(58)

Episode 57: Replay: Boundaries and Narcissistic Parents with Terri Cole

Some people will resist your boundaries. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. In this replay episode, I sit down with psychotherapist and Boundary Boss author Terri Cole for a conversation that ...

11 Jul 202552min

Episode 56: Trauma and The Fawning Response with Dr. Ingrid Clayton

Fawning isn’t a flaw to fix. It is a brilliant survival response that can quietly shape your entire identity until you finally have the words for it. In this episode, I sit down with clinical psycho...

4 Jul 202543min

Episode 55: On Love and Relationships with Jillian Tureck

Most people don’t realize how much of their relationship pain comes from patterns they never chose and beliefs they never questioned, and I’ve seen it over and over again. In this episode, I’m joine...

20 Jun 202542min

Episode 54: Toxic with Elizabeth Chambers

Toxic relationships don’t usually start with obvious red flags. More often, they start with connection, someone who seems to really see you, who shows up in big ways, who makes you feel chosen. But ov...

13 Jun 20251h 2min

Episode 53: Couples Therapy with a Narcissist? Think Twice

Couples therapy isn’t always a safe space, especially when a narcissist is in the room. I get asked about this constantly: “Should we try couples therapy?” If your partner has narcissistic traits or...

23 Mai 202534min

Episode 52: Narcissists and Infidelity

When a narcissist cheats, the affair often has little to do with love or connection. It’s about power. In this episode, I sit down with psychotherapist Lauren LaRusso, LPC, LMHC, to unpack why narci...

16 Mai 202548min

Episode 51:Transparency in Family Court and Parental Alienation with Dr. Charlotte Proudman

Family courts were designed to protect families. So why do so many survivors find themselves trapped by the very system that was supposed to protect them? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Charlott...

2 Mai 202544min

Episode 50: Traveling with a Narcissist

You think a vacation will give you a break, but with a narcissist, it often becomes something else entirely. In this episode, I’m talking about what it’s really like to travel with a narcissist. I’v...

25 Apr 202545min