No Visible Bruises

In this episode, we are joined by Andrea Humeniuk, a narcissistic abuse specialist who helps women recover and thrive after narcissistic trauma and domestic abuse. Andrea shares her own story of dealing with narcissistic abuse and being the parent of a special needs child. She offers guidance and support to other women who have experienced similar trauma, helping them build resilience and find a life they never thought was possible. I hope my discussion with Andrea helps you on your own journey to recovery. A glimpse into what you’ll learn in this episode: Why you can’t blame yourself for the behaviour of a narcissist The challenges and joys of raising a special needs child and what you can do to make parenting rewarding for both you and your child. How to feel like you have a sense of worth in this world after suffering narcissistic abuse Andrea also emphasizes the importance of trusting your intuition and not blaming yourself for the actions of others, especially narcissists. Additionally, she discusses the struggles parents of special needs children often face and offers advice for those in similar situations. I strongly suggest connecting with Andrea if you are currently dealing with narcissistic abuse, trying to recover from trauma, or are on the journey of raising a child with special needs. Connect with Andrea: Email: hello@mamashealingtraumas.com Website: https://mamashealingtraumas.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamashealingtraumas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamashealingtraumas Resources: Become an Accredited Narcissistic Trauma Informed Coach: https://go.carolinestrawson.com/NTICC3 Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low-cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson  My website: https://www.carolinestrawson.com/

Welcome back to the podcast! Before we dive into the Q & A section, I want to give you all a HUGE thank you, we just passed 3 million downloads for the podcast and I’m so grateful for every single one of you. My main purpose in life is to help and support those of you who are suffering from narcissistic abuse and help you heal, so I’m grateful that this podcast has reached so many people and I hope it’s helped some of you! But as it’s the first Tuesday of the month, it’s this month's "Ask Me Anything" where I get to answer the questions you’ve been sending in! In the AMA section, I have decided to focus on one question, as I believe it’s so important that it needs a whole episode to discuss it. That question is “How do I move forward with my life? I just feel so numb.”  What you’ll learn in this episode: What functional freeze is and how to get “unfrozen” How to read your emotions and discover what your body is telling you The science of how our nervous system reacts to abuse and creates trauma How to transition from a freeze response and get back into feeling “normal” My aim for these episodes is to make sure I’m discussing topics that directly impact you, so I hope my answers help you in a strong recovery from narcissistic abuse. Every first Tuesday of each month is an "Ask Me Anything" episode, so please send in your questions to hello@carolinestrawson.com where we will endeavour to answer them either in these Ask Me Anything episodes or as a topic for a full episode! Resources: Join Thrivers, my low-cost monthly healing membership: https://carolinestrawson.com/thrivers Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low-cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson

Noshiela Maqsood is a mum of 5 children. She is a 3× best selling author, Master Coach, and NLP Trainer. She empowers Muslim women to heal their inner wounds and become generational change-makers. Escaping a prison sentence taught her about her self-worth, boundaries, and how much she needed to make her mental and emotional well-being a priority. She quit being a people pleaser and started saying yes to herself! After her own healing journey, overcoming depression and anxiety, she committed herself to helping women find the light within themselves. She has helped women around the world heal their inner wounds and has helped many start their own coaching businesses. She is determined to spread her message of empowering women far and wide. A glimpse into what you’ll learn in this episode: Why many Muslim women are struggling with trauma What rejection wounds are How to find self-acceptance Noshiela is in my high-performance healing mastermind and her mission is so powerful that I knew I had to have her on the podcast. In this episode, we discuss how Muslim women are treated in their culture and how it leads to many women having trauma, and what Noshiela is doing to change this. We’ll learn about Noshiela’s upbringing and how it influences her life today and how the Muslim family environment influenced Noshiela’s view on the world and on her own healing. We’ll also discuss how our own self-talk can determine our own beliefs and how to get out of a negative mindset and into a recovery and healing mindset. Connect with Noshiela: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noshiela Noshiela’s Coaching: https://www.noshielanoorcoaching.co.uk She Empowers Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09PV6C4LK Free Facebook Group: "The Empowered Muslimah; Heal from Emotional Trauma to Thrive With Purpose" https://www.facebook.com/groups/1029110910583276/?ref=share Resources: Become an Accredited Narcissistic Trauma Informed Coach: https://go.carolinestrawson.com/NTICC3 Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low-cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson  My website: https://www.carolinestrawson.com/

If you are in a relationship with a narcissist and are looking to leave and go through the family court system or you’re currently in that court system, you MUST listen to this episode. Today's guest is Tina Swithin. Tina is the author of Divorcing a Narcissist (4-part series), founder of One Mom’s Battle, and creator of Family Court Awareness Month. She is also a founding member of the National Safe Parents Organization. Tina Swithin acted as her own attorney in a custody case that spanned six years and during this time, her children were repeatedly placed in harm's way. Tina was successful in terminating her ex-husband’s parental rights and while she is considered one of the “lucky ones,” however, for anyone to hear her story and deem her as lucky speaks volumes about the brokenness of the system. Tina works to raise awareness of the issues in the family court system and to educate the general public on post-separation abuse and narcissistic abuse. A glimpse into what you’ll learn in this episode: Why the family court system is broken and how to navigate it How to deal with post-separation abuse Ways to bring more awareness to narcissistic abuse You’ll hear Tina’s story of her experience with a narcissistic partner and the hurdles she had to jump over to go through the family court system, which has now led her to become an advocate for bringing awareness to post-separation abuse and the broken family court system. I decided to release this episode in the month of November, as November is Family Court Awareness Month, a movement that Tina created to shine a light on how broken court systems are around the world.  Connect with Tina and learn more about bringing awareness to the broken court system: One Mom’s Battle Website: https://www.onemomsbattle.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onemomsbattle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onemomsbattle/ Tina’s Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com.au/Tina-Swithin/e/B00IR0KRSK/ Family Court Awareness Month: https://familycourtawarenessmonth.org/ Pink Fireworks: https://www.pinkfireworks.com Resources: Become an Accredited Narcissistic Trauma Informed Coach: https://go.carolinestrawson.com/NTICC3 Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low-cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson  My website: https://www.carolinestrawson.com/

I’m SO excited to welcome Dr. Mark Grixti onto the show this week to discuss what Brainspotting is and how it has helped people heal from narcissistic abuse and trauma. Mark is a psychologist, author, fellow podcast host, and the head of Brainspotting UK. Mark and I work collaboratively on my trauma-informed & narcissistic trauma-informed certifications where Mark does an internal Brainspotting training with us. I can’t wait for you to listen to this episode as I truly believe that Brainspotting and the work it does can help hundreds of thousands of people dealing with trauma.  A glimpse into what you’ll learn in this episode: What Brainspotting is and why it’s a great treatment for trauma  How to stop suppressing our emotions and start expressing them Tools to interconnect with others and use relationships to heal In this episode, we discuss everything from what exactly Brainspotting is, why it’s a great treatment for trauma, and how Mark uses it in his practice, to how our brains have the capacity to heal built in and how we can tap into that natural response. Mark will go into detail about how Brainspotting uses our visual systems as a method of healing and why we need to stop suppressing our emotions and start expressing them. Near the end of the episode, we do a deep dive into how important relationships are, whether family, friends, or partners. We’ll discover the physiological epigenetic responses we gain from relationships and how to nurture healthy connections with others.  Connect with Mark: Check for upcoming Brainspotting training here: https://www.bspuk.co.uk/upcoming-training/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brainspottinguk Awe in Trauma podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/awe-in-trauma/id1580294433?i=1000543054793 Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrainspottingUK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainspotting_uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-wfQEAwQX3qr36zkhh9J0g Resources: Become an Accredited Narcissistic Trauma Informed Coach: https://go.carolinestrawson.com/NTICC3 Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low-cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson My website: https://www.carolinestrawson.com/

Today’s episode is this month's "Ask Me Anything" where I get to answer the questions you’ve been sending in! In the AMA section of this episode, I discuss topics ranging from discovering a more definitive way of diagnosing a narcissist to how trauma can build up and eventually turn a person into a narcissist. I’ll also discuss why a narcissist will never apologise and take ownership of their actions and my stories of how my narcissistic ex-husband gained narcissistic supply by showing fake empathy. If you’re listening to this at the start of November ‘22, make sure you join my FREE "Inside The Mindset of a Narcissist" Masterclass on Sunday, 6th November! You can sign up here: https://go.carolinestrawson.com/masterclass Questions in this episode include: Am I the narcissist? Why does a narcissist never apologise? If someone shows empathy, does this mean they can't be a narcissist? My aim for these episodes is to make sure I’m discussing topics that directly impact you, so I hope my answers help you in a strong recovery from narcissistic abuse. Every first Tuesday of each month is an "Ask Me Anything" episode, so please send in your questions to hello@carolinestrawson.com where we will endeavor to answer them either in these Ask Me Anything episodes or as a topic for a full episode! Resources: Join my FREE "Inside The Mindset of a Narcissist" Masterclass on Sunday, 6th November: https://go.carolinestrawson.com/masterclass Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low-cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson

In this episode, I talk to Heather Black who is in my High-Performance Healing Mastermind and is passionate about helping parents get back into the workplace so they can parent with flexibility and create a new, lucrative career for themselves. When I left my narcissistic partner, I had suffered from financial abuse, and as a result, I lost my house and was severely in debt. If you are feeling stuck, have been financially abused, and feel like there is no way out of your financial situation like I once did, this episode is a must-listen. What you will learn in this episode: How to earn financial independence by doing something you love The tools to create a flexible and rewarding career Why you can recover from financial abuse and how to create freedom Heather is the founder and CEO of Supermums. She is the mum of two gorgeous little girls and lives by the sea in East Sussex whilst working remotely. In 2010 she became an accidental Salesforce admin for her non-profit and loved it so much that she decided to upskill as a Salesforce Consultant in 2012 helping other non-profits to implement a CRM. She realised her career path could work for other mothers so she launched Supermums in 2016 to bring more women into the sector. As a consultant, she has overseen over 700 Salesforce projects and now enjoys upskilling talent in Salesforce consultancy and coaching skills. Connect with Heather: "Take the 5-Day Challenge” and book a free 30-minute career consultation: https://supermums.org/what-is-a-salesforce-career/ Website: https://supermums.org/ LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-black-salesforce-women-in-tech-speaker/ Resources: Become an Accredited Narcissistic Trauma Informed Coach: https://go.carolinestrawson.com/NTICC3 Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low-cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson  My website: https://www.carolinestrawson.com/

Have you ever wondered if you’re the narcissist in the relationship? If so, this episode will put an end to those thoughts. There are subtle differences between having a narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic traits, in this episode I’ll explain the behaviours of these two types of people and what actually makes a person a narcissist. I also want to say a quick shout-out to all of you who came to my Unseen Wounds of Women event last week. You all made it such a special event for me, I’m so grateful for all of you. What you will learn in this episode: Narcissistic traits vs narcissistic personality disorder How to create an environment that will help you heal Why a narcissist will never take ownership and responsibility It isn’t uncommon for people to mirror the behaviour of a narcissist to soften the abuse, and due to this it’s sometimes hard to see which person is the narcissist at first, but with a little digging, it’s easy to see who the REAL narcissist is. I hope this episode provides you with the tools to find the right people to help you grow and how to let go of the “friends” that are keeping you stuck. Resources: Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson  My website: https://www.carolinestrawson.com/

In this episode, I interview Kim Pontarelli, one of my trained Trauma Informed Coaches who specialises in covert narcissism, helping women step into post-traumatic growth. In this episode, Kim discusses how she has turned her own pain and struggle into her purpose and her strength. Kim also shares with us what post-traumatic growth is and how to take responsibility for your life going forward whilst stopping yourself from blaming yourself for the past. What you will learn in this episode: What post-traumatic growth is and how can you achieve it How to get out of the cycle of blaming yourself  The differences between overt and covert narcissists How to set a goal of personal growth and work towards achieving it.  Tune in to the end to hear Kim share what it’s like to be in the dark, and why you need to know that you can get out of it! Kim knows that you can thrive, as she is now living a meaningful life and for the first time ever, she feels like she is actually living. Finally, Kim also discusses what reactive abuse is, and how you can work on yourself to stop reacting negatively, but also not blaming yourself if you do lash out.  Connect with Kim: Website: www.kimpontarellicoaching.com Email: kim@kimpointarellicoaching.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimpontarellicoaching/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.vassalluzzo Resources: Become an Accredited Narcissistic Trauma Informed Coach: https://go.carolinestrawson.com/NTICC3 Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson  My website: https://www.carolinestrawson.com/

Today’s episode is this month's "Ask Me Anything" where I get to answer the questions you’ve been sending in! Firstly, I want to express how grateful I am to all of you who’ve supported my new book and the brave women who shared their stories in it. In the AMA section of this episode, I discuss topics ranging from feeling so stuck that it seems there’s no way forward to why your children are starting to replicate the narcissistic behaviours of your ex. I’ll also discuss how to get over the fear of dating again and how to be intentional with your healing so that you can recover from narcissistic abuse quicker and stronger. Questions in this episode include: Why do I feel so stuck? How to parent an adult child through narcissistic abuse? I am too scared to date again, how can I overcome my fear? My aim for these episodes is to make sure I’m discussing topics that directly impact you, so I hope my answers help you in a strong recovery from narcissistic abuse. Every first Tuesday of each month is an "Ask Me Anything" episode, so please send in your questions to hello@carolinestrawson.com where we will endeavor to answer them either in these Ask Me Anything episodes or as a topic for a full episode! Resources: Discover the psychology of a narcissist in my FREE masterclass: https://go.carolinestrawson.com/join-my-masterclass Join my FREE Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thriveafternarcissisticabuse Access my low-cost Narcissistic Trauma Recovery Programme https://go.carolinestrawson.com/heal-the-trauma-of-narcissistic-abuse Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestrawson/ Find me on TikTok!: https://www.tiktok.com/@carolinestrawson