What happens when a music video feels less like a story and more like your own life?

In this episode, I break down Patient Zero—a music video that captures the psychological dynamics of narcissistic abuse in ways that hit incredibly close to home. I unpack the metaphors, subtle behaviors, manipulation, gaslighting, and emotional control woven throughout the video, and explain the nuances that may be easy to miss if you’ve never experienced this kind of abuse firsthand.

For me, this wasn’t just an interpretation of a music video. It reflected my lived experience with a covert narcissist and the confusing reality of being in an emotionally abusive relationship where manipulation can be subtle, difficult to explain, and even harder to recognize while you’re living through it.

This episode is about recognizing the patterns, putting language to what happened, and understanding why narcissistic abuse can leave you questioning your own reality.

If you’ve ever wondered whether what you experienced was emotional abuse, gaslighting, manipulation, or narcissistic abuse, this conversation may help you see those patterns a little more clearly.

Content note: This episode discusses narcissistic abuse, emotional abuse, manipulation, gaslighting, and trauma.

Episode 2 of EmpowerHER: Becoming HER, "This Is How I Got Stuck" looks at triangulation, victim playing, emotional manipulation, and psychological traps that can happen in abusive relationships, using my own story. Content warning: discusses domestic violence and emotional abuse. This podcast shares personal experiences and is not a substitute for professional advice. If you're in danger, please reach out to local resources

It Didn’t Start With Strangulation

Domestic violence doesn’t always start with physical violence. Sometimes it begins quietly—with manipulation, control, isolation, intimidation, emotional abuse, or behaviors that are easy to dismiss as “relationship problems.”

In this first episode, I share my own story and talk about how an abusive relationship can escalate over time. It didn’t start with strangulation. There were warning signs long before I recognized what was happening.

This episode is about domestic violence, intimate partner violence, emotional abuse, coercive control, and the patterns that can exist before physical violence becomes part of the relationship. My hope is that sharing my experience helps other women recognize red flags, trust their instincts, and understand that abuse is not always obvious in the beginning.

If you have ever found yourself asking, “How did I get here?” or “Was it really abuse if it didn’t start that way?”—this conversation is for you.

Content warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, emotional abuse, physical violence, and strangulation.

This podcast is a space for survivor stories, education, empowerment, healing, and honest conversations about domestic violence and women’s health.