Why can’t you relax—even when you're safe? Why does your body feel wired, your thoughts racing, your sleep disrupted? If you’ve survived narcissistic abuse, hyper-vigilance may have become your default mode—but few people understand what that really means.

In this episode, Lynn unpacks the lived experience of hyper-vigilance after narcissistic trauma. We don’t just talk about what it is—we ask what it’s trying to protect you from.

• Do you find yourself constantly scanning for danger, even in quiet rooms?
• Do small changes in someone’s tone, behavior, or silence feel threatening?
• Do you feel physically and emotionally exhausted by your own alertness?

That’s not paranoia. It’s survival. And it didn’t come from nowhere.

Lynn explores how narcissistic abuse conditions survivors to stay on edge—anticipating moods, scanning for criticism, bracing for emotional whiplash. It’s not weakness. It’s adaptation. But when it lingers long after the danger is gone, it can steal your peace, your sleep, and your sense of safety.

This conversation is for the ones who still flinch when the phone rings. Who overanalyze every silence. Who can’t stop checking the room.

It’s not just in your head. And you’re not broken.

Learn why this happens, how trauma hardwires the nervous system, and what healing may begin to look like.

🔗 Explore More:

🌐 Visit the Website:

https://movingforwardafterabuse.com

Explore free resources, articles, survivor tools, and deep-dive content to help you reclaim your power and heal from narcissistic abuse.

📚 Read the Books by Lynn:

https://movingforwardafterabuse.com/books-by-lynn/

Check out Lynn’s powerful books on narcissistic abuse recovery, manipulation tactics, and the emotional journey of healing. Perfect for survivors ready to take their next step.

💡 Want to support the show?

Leave us a tip to help keep the podcast going—ad-free and unapologetic.

🎁 Tip Jar: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/waketheelephant

📝 Leave a Review:

If this episode brought you clarity or comfort, leave a quick review on your favorite podcast app. It helps others find us and keeps the message spreading.

📣 Share the Podcast:

Tag us on social media or send this episode to someone who needs it. You never know who’s waiting to hear these words today.

Narcissistic Abuse Recovery PodcastHosted by trauma-informed coach & author Lynn, this podcast helps survivors of narcissistic abuse uncover covert manipulation, set boundaries, and reclaim their voice. From family roles to patriarchy, we explore how personal healing intersects with cultural change.🌐 Links & resources: linktr.ee/lynnnichols☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/waketheelephant📚 Books by Lynn: Overcoming the Devastation of Narcissistic Abuse & Master Manipulators

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.