Vanessa & The Narcissistic Father Enmeshment - Dysfunctional Family, Enmeshment, & Narcissistic Abuse Survivor
Nov 9, 2020
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Vanessa, a survivor of narcissistic abuse and enmeshment in a dysfunctional family, shares her story with Chad. They discuss parentification, enmeshment, extreme guilt, anxiety, identity, and overcoming the influence of a narcissistic father. Vanessa reflects on her struggles with setting boundaries, seeking validation, and finding freedom from a manipulative parent. The episode offers insights into childhood trauma, emotional dependency, and the journey towards self-discovery and authenticity.
Discovering personal joy through Zumba can lead to self-identification shifts and breaking away from influences.
Listening to physical responses to fear around a narcissistic parent can prompt seeking help sooner.
Asserting independence by declining gifts can establish boundaries and reduce feelings of indebtedness.
Deep dives
Realization of Self-Worth through Dance
Dancing and engaging in Zumba have unlocked a sense of joy within Vanessa, allowing her to let go and be herself. This newfound joy has revealed her true favorite color, pink, showcasing a shift in self-identification that breaks away from past influences.
Listening to Body Signals and Self-Trust
Vanessa emphasizes the importance of listening to her body's reactions, realizing that tension and fear arise in the presence of her father. She advocates for trusting these physical responses and not dismissing them, as this awareness could have led to seeking help sooner.
Seeking Independence and Setting Boundaries
Recognizing that past gifts and favors were used as leverage, Vanessa urges individuals in similar situations to strive for independence to avoid feeling indebted or trapped. By declining offers, individuals can assert boundaries and reduce the hold of external expectations.
Exploring Personal Preferences and Identity
Through introspection, Vanessa discovered that her favorite color is actually pink, not blue as she previously thought. This realization represents a deeper understanding of one's authentic self and a step towards embracing personal preferences free from external influences.
Overcoming Fear and Cultivating Independence
Vanessa highlights the importance of recognizing fear-inducing situations and working towards independence to break free from emotional entanglements. By trusting internal cues and fostering autonomy, individuals can navigate towards self-empowerment and healthier boundaries.
Chad talks with Vanessa about growing up in a dysfunctional family and the fears created by her narcissistic father. It's a story of parentification, enmeshment, extreme guilt, anxiety, being good enough, and finding your identity. This episode is a bit unconventional compared to others, as Chad is way more involved than usual. What starts off as story, evolves into a bit of a therapy session of sorts and we uncover a lot of interesting things about how Vanessa is currently living her life. *** TRIGGER WARNING - This episode does discuss physical child abuse ***