How to Explain Abuse That Doesn’t Sound Like Abuse - Ep 23

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In today’s episode, Juliana talks about why it’s so hard to explain narcissistic abuse and shows you a simple way to make sense of what happened so you don’t feel so confused when you try to talk about it.

The Translation App

Purpose:

To help you find the words to explain what you’ve been through.

Instructions:

Grab a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle.

On the left side, write what you want to say, the way it usually comes out.

On the right side, write what’s happening beneath the surface.

Example:

On the left:

“They said I’m too sensitive.”

On the right:

“They dismissed my feelings so they wouldn’t have to acknowledge how they were treating me.”

On the left:

“They said I was always making things about me.”

On the right:

“They shamed me for expressing my needs so I'd focus on theirs.”

Pro Tip:

The fastest and most effective way to create your own translations is to ask an AI tool like ChatGPT or Gemini the following:

“When a narcissistic person says ‘[blank]’ or does ‘[blank]’, what might be happening beneath the surface?”

It’s always good to verify the response, but in my experience, AI can do a great job at helping you name what’s going on.

Final Thoughts:

The goal of this exercise is to translate as much as you can.

When you find words for what you’ve experienced, it stops being a mess in your head and becomes something you can explain — to yourself and to others.

About Us:

Unfilteredd is an organization that helps you overcome the effects of narcissistic abuse so you can heal and move forward with your life. Learn more about us here: https://unfilteredd.net/about/

Disclaimer:

This episode of the Unfilteredd: Narcissistic Abuse Podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, mental health, or legal advice.