Lived Experience Blog
The person who has hurt me the most....
"Make sure you don't start seeing yourself through the eyes of those who do not value you! Know your worth, even if they don't"! (Thema Davis) The most important lesson that I have learned on this journey we call life, was in realizing the identity of the person who has caused me the most pain.…
Falling for a Narcissist. Part 1.
Falling for a Narcissist: A Victim Perspective (Pt. 1) Introduction What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder? (NPD) NPD is a mental health condition that usually develops in adolescence or early adulthood and is characterized by; Persistent Grandiosity A superior sense of self/Inflated sense of…
Falling for a Narcissist. Part 4.
Falling for a Narcissist: A Victim Perspective (Pt 4) Recap Having found their ideal partner in phase 1- the (Idealization) phase, only to be dropped from a great height in phase 2 – the (Devaluation) phase, the victim is usually devastated and exhausted by the time the narcissist is ready…
Falling for a Narcissist. Part 3.
Falling for a Narcissist: A Victim Perspective (Pt. 3) Recap: In Part 1 of this 5 part blog, we focused on the first phase of a narcissistic relationship, known as Idealization, as experienced by the victim. By breaking phase 1 down into the 6 Stage Process, we were better able to understand how…
Falling for a Narcissist. Part 2.
Falling for a Narcissist: A Victims Perspective (Part 2) A relationship with a Narcissist can be a devastating and mind-boggling affair, that can take many years to process and can prove incredibly damaging for the victim. This sinister ‘Switcher-Roo‘ of relationships, where nothing is quite as it…
Coercive Control
What does it look like? My experience of coercive control, both on a personal level and in listening to the experiences of those I support and have supported over the years, is more often that not a silent power which makes it extremely difficult to spot - which is of-course intended by design. At…
What is Choice?
What do we mean by Choice? How much Choice do you believe you have in your life? How often do you exercise your right to Choose? You arrived on this earth as an individual. You will depart this earth as an individual, For everything in between, whether you realize it or not, whether you believe it…
Working after Trauma
The flexible working environment of a third sector post often appeals to people who are on a journey of recovery after trauma. Trauma changes you inside. Situations, places and people that may feel perfectly safe to someone who hasn't experienced trauma, can feel threatening and unsafe to someone…
Two Wolves
Having just learned that the love of his life had been killed in a hit and run car accident, a man sat on the hospital steps with his head in his hands, devastated and sobbing uncontrollably. After a few minutes, he sensed someone standing close by, so peered out from between his fingers to see a…