Dr. Ramani Durvasula believes it's absolutely possible to heal and love again after narcissistic abuse by reclaiming your autonomy, though the path won't be easy; she says we must thoughtfully choose to be vulnerable despite fear because avoiding connections to avoid potential pain leads to an empty life. Dr. Ramani notes survivors tend to suppress grief and wrongly believe they can quickly "get over" trauma, yet grief inevitably resurfaces if not properly addressed, so we must honor its episodic nature through self-care. She stresses discernment around letting in toxicity versus being open to connections is key, since our tendency to fix and accommodate often overrides red flags; listening to our body's wisdom helps rewrite old attachment patterns ensnaring us in bad relationships. Though loss comes with loving, Dr. Ramani encourages survivors to embrace hope by trusting themselves again and standing tall in their worth.

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