After publishing the story of a woman trapped in a marriage with a narcissist, I wasn't sure how it would land. It wasn’t flashy. It didn’t end in violence or arrest. But the response was overwhelming. Listeners wrote in to say, “That was me.” Some still carry the trauma years later. Others are just now realizing what they went through was abuse.

In this episode, we hear from listeners who saw their own relationships reflected in Ashley’s story. We also speak with criminal behavior analyst Laura Richards to understand how abuse often hides in plain sight—through gaslighting, coercive control, and emotional manipulation. And we ask: what happens when the narcissist isn’t a partner—but a parent? Or when the survivor is a man?

This bonus episode is about the quiet kind of abuse—the kind people are afraid to talk about but desperately need to hear.

🔊 Featuring: Laura Richards and listeners who bravely shared their experiences

⚠️ Trigger warning: discussions of abuse, addiction, and coercive control

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