After suffering through betrayal trauma, you might experience severe brain fog, an inability to remember, trouble making even basic decisions, lack of focus, and difficulties performing tasks that require deeper thinking. Has betrayal trauma permanently changed your IQ? Are you now stupid? No. There can be a temporary drop in IQ after suffering through intense emotional experiences. Let's look at the science of what happens after betrayal and the realistic hope of how you will return to normal again.  

#alifefolded #laineycathan #positivevibes #positiveenergy #positivemindset #positivethoughts #manifest #manifesting #manifestyourdreams #manifestyourlife #manifestlove #ldsmom #ldswomen #lds #catastrophizing #catastrophicthinking #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #divorce #IfMyWoundsWereVisible # #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #healingfromabuse #relationshiptrauma #traumahealing #selftrust #healingjourney #mentalhealthawareness #innerhealing #toxicrelationships #resiliencebeyondnarcissism #nervoussystemhealing #yourlifematters #youarenotalone #hope #betrayaltrauma #betrayaltraumarecovery #betrayaltraumahealing #cheatinghurts #selflove #symptomsmatter #nervoussystemhealing #traumainformed #healingjourney

An unhealthy parents vehemently fights to gain custody of children they don't want to take care of. A parent drains resources to bribe a child's loyalty. Children are induced to move in, only to be treated like garbage once they have left the sanctity of a home with a safe parent. Why do narcissists weaponize their own children? The sad truth is that narcissists don't care about anyone other than themselves. People are just tools to move forward their manipulative agendas. Most individual's Achilles heal is their children. Your partner or ex-partner knows that. They will shamelessly use their own children as manipulative tools to punish not only the children but also the healthy parent. 

#narcissisticparent #childrenofnarcissists #IfMyWoundsWereVisible #alifefolded #laineycathan #narcissisticabuse #narcissism  #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #gaslighting #healingfromabuse #narcissisticabusesurvivor #relationshiptrauma #traumahealing #selftrust #healingjourney #mentalhealthawareness #innerhealing #toxicrelationships #resiliencebeyondnarcissism #nervoussystemhealing #manipulation #manipulationtactics #manipulationawareness #narcissist #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissisticabuserecovery #narcissistic #narcissistsaredangerous #gaslightingrecovery #gaslightingawareness #gaslightingsurvivor #gaslighting101 #addictionawareness

BIG NEWS! A Life, Folded will be published in paperback, audiobook, and e-book on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The pre-order for the Kindle book is open on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H668HWB4

Sometimes it is easier to stay in victim mode after you have been so deeply hurt. Doing the work to move through abuse and betrayal trauma can be one of the most epic lifelong battles we are forced to encounter. But there are dangers to dwelling in a place of negativity which affect the higher purposes of our lives. So be mad. Be a victim. But, also do your work to heal and reclaim your peace. Then you can use that newfound wisdom and empathy to positively affect your family, your community, and the world. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H668HWB4

#IfMyWoundsWereVisible #alifefolded #laineycathan #PurposeDriven #purpose #purposefulliving #UniqueYou #helpingothers #helping #helpingpeople #youmatter #youmattermorethanyouknow #YouMatterAlways #healingjourney #healing #DivineDestiny #devinedesign #GoForIt #stepintoyourpower #giftsandtalents #nonfiction #nonfictionreads #selfhelpbooks #empowerment #empowerwomen #empoweringwomen #empoweredwomen #betrayaltraumarecovery #betrayaltraumahealing #selfhelpbooks #selfhelppodcasts #leavingvictimhood #empowered #empoweredwomen #victimadvocacy #victimsupport #writer #selfhelpbooks #selfhelpbooksforwomen

When you are suffering through betrayal trauma, narcissistic abuse, or the end of your relationship, it is easy to start catastrophizing both your present and future. Dire scenarios of doom and gloom keep you awake all night. If you imagine all the worse scenarios happening, it will be easier to deal with them when they do. Right? Not necessarily. Statistically, there is as much chance of the best happening as the worse. After not sleeping for almost an entire year while imaging my awful future, I started to play a game I called what if...? And everything about my outlook and future shifted. 

#alifefolded #laineycathan #positivevibes #positiveenergy #positivemindset #positivethoughts #manifest #manifesting #manifestyourdreams #manifestyourlife #manifestlove #ldsmom #ldswomen #lds #catastrophizing #catastrophicthinking #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #divorce #IfMyWoundsWereVisible #narcissisticabuse #narcissism  #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #gaslighting #healingfromabuse #narcissisticabusesurvivor #relationshiptrauma #traumahealing #selftrust #healingjourney #mentalhealthawareness #innerhealing #toxicrelationships #resiliencebeyondnarcissism #nervoussystemhealing #manipulation #manipulationtactics #manipulationawareness #narcissist #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissisticabuserecovery #narcissistic #narcissistsaredangerous #gaslightingrecovery #gaslightingawareness #gaslightingsurvivor #gaslighting101 #addictionawareness

Why does your narcissistic ex-partner, alienated friend or family member reach out to you at random times? Why do they keep reappearing in your life, in strange ways? It is because the narcissist or other Cluster B Personality disordered-individuals will do literally anything to get you to engage with them. If you were ever a reliable source of narcissistic fuel or supply, they will tweak you, and even do things that embarrass or potentially harm them to get you to interact. Your tears. Your rage. Your begging. That is just fodder for their insatiable need for the sadistic thrill of hurting others. But the only way to get a narcissist to lose interest in you is to ignore them. Strong boundaries and no contact are your strongest protection. If we don't engage, they eventually get bored and move on to someone else.

#IfMyWoundsWereVisible #alifefolded #laineycathan #narcissisticabuse #narcissism  #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #gaslighting #healingfromabuse #narcissisticabusesurvivor #relationshiptrauma #traumahealing #selftrust #healingjourney #mentalhealthawareness #innerhealing #toxicrelationships #resiliencebeyondnarcissism #nervoussystemhealing #manipulation #manipulationtactics #manipulationawareness #narcissist #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissisticabuserecovery #narcissistic #narcissistsaredangerous #gaslightingrecovery #gaslightingawareness #gaslightingsurvivor #gaslighting101 #addictionawareness

After years and decades of living with emotionally abusive partners, the insidious mistreatment begins to feel like a normal part of everyday life. It is often only through the lens of others that we understand how dysfunctional our lives have become. But we have a right to exert strong boundaries and take the time and distance away from abuse to ascertain whether or not we are safe.

#alifefolded #laineycathan #financialabuse #emotionalabuse #emotionalabuserecovery #gaslighting #gaslightingawareness #gaslightingrecovery #gaslightingsurvivor #gaslighting101 #narcissist #narcissisticabuse #narcissisticabuserecovery

After people have experienced betrayal trauma, you oftwn hear them say things like, "Everything inside me shattered when I found out." Or, "I felt like I got punched in the stomach." Or, "My heart broke into a million pieces." So why do people often describe betrayal trauma in terms of physical pain? Because extreme betrayal releases a cocktail of stress hormones and sends our body into fight-flight-or freeze mode. These reactions cause physical distress and agony in the body. Betrayal trauma hurts in every way: mentally, spiritually, emotionally...and physically. If you have suffered physical pain after betrayal, you are not alone. 

#alifefolded #depressionisnotajoke #depressionslife #depressionfighter #yourlifematters #youarenotalone #hope #betrayaltrauma #betrayaltraumarecovery #betrayaltraumahealing #cheatinghurts #selflove #symptomsmatter #nervoussystemhealing #traumainformed #healingjourney

One common trait of both narcissists and addicts is they often play the blame game, shifting their bad behavior off onto others. Especially when emotional abuse is present, it become easy, normal even, to accept the blame. It must be my fault, right? Sometimes that is easier than accepting the destructive patterns of those we love. But, it isn't your fault. This is gaslighting. You can not force someone to act out, no matter how annoying and faulted you are. This episode will empower you to know you are never to blame and offer strategies of how to push back and fight the blame game.

#alifefolded #laineycathan #narcissisticabuse #narcissism  #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #gaslighting #healingfromabuse #narcissisticabusesurvivor #relationshiptrauma #traumahealing #selftrust #healingjourney #mentalhealthawareness #innerhealing #toxicrelationships #resiliencebeyondnarcissism #nervoussystemhealing #manipulation #manipulationtactics #manipulationawareness #narcissist #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissisticabuserecovery #narcissistic #narcissistsaredangerous #gaslightingrecovery #gaslightingawareness #gaslightingsurvivor #gaslighting101

For many of us, a bulk of our adult lives have been focused on managing an addicted or narcissistic partner. When we decide we wish to work toward personal healing after abuse, it can be a hard habit to break to not want to rescue or unduly concern ourselves on the behavior of others. Post divorce, it can be easy to cast doubt on yourself with regard to your decisions toward further relationships. Healing really is about championing the journey of others but concentrating our efforts on our own self-love with assurance that we are making positive strides on our own personal recovery pathway. 

#alifefolded #laineycathan #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #gaslighting #healingfromabuse #narcissisticabusesurvivor #relationshiptrauma #traumahealing #selftrust #healingjourney #mentalhealthawareness #innerhealing #toxicrelationships #resiliencebeyondnarcissism #nervoussystemhealing #manipulation #manipulationtactics #manipulationawareness #narcissist #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissisticabuserecovery #narcissistic #narcissistsaredangerous #divorce #selfgaslighting #datingadvice 

Have you ever been on the receiving end of something where the giver insists they are serving you, yet, it’s impossible to feel grateful because it isn’t something you ever wanted or asked for? What you did request in clear language was completely ignored and the giver substituted something else entirely, yet they were upset when you aren’t excited about what they have deigned to give you?

Narcissists are famous, or perhaps infamous, for “serving” in ways that aren’t serving at all. Something feels wrong or off in their purported efforts. You are left feeling empty, and sometimes even resentful. You don’t feel like you are being served. And that’s because you aren’t. Narcissists aren’t capable of being thoughtful or thinking of others. "Service" to them is always performed to meet a selfish needs such as control, love bombing, or to help their public image. It is okay to be upset and recognize when you were served in selfish ways and then gaslighted when you weren’t overcome with gratitude for something you never wanted or asked for.

#alifefolded #laineycathan #narcissisticabuse #narcissism  #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #gaslighting #healingfromabuse #narcissisticabusesurvivor #relationshiptrauma #traumahealing #selftrust #healingjourney #mentalhealthawareness #innerhealing #toxicrelationships #resiliencebeyondnarcissism #nervoussystemhealing #manipulation #manipulationtactics #manipulationawareness #narcissist #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissisticabuserecovery #narcissistic #narcissistsaredangerous #gaslightingrecovery #gaslightingawareness #gaslightingsurvivor #gaslighting101