Narcissism Decoder

By Dr. Anthony MazzellaHealth & Fitness Mental Health Education

Narcissism Decoder episodes

January 28 Are You Losing Yourself in a Narcissistic Relationship? What It Really Means |Epi 124
In this conversation, Gordon Brewer and I delve into the complexities of narcissistic dynamics in relationships. We explore how these dynamics manifest, the power imbalances involved, and the challenges faced by partners in such relationships. The discussion highlights the importance of empathy, communication, and understanding one's role in the relationship. We also touch on the factors that attract individuals to narcissistic partners and the impact of these relationships on personal identity and self-esteem.
How to find more information about Gordon:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/practiceoftherapy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/practiceoftherapy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/practice-of-therapy/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PsychCraftNetwork
Website: https://practiceoftherapy.com/
Email: [email protected]
If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
31 min
January 24 Why Relationships Feel So Intense with Borderline Traits: Behind the Scenes | Epi 123
In this behind-the-scenes episode, I take you inside my clinical thinking as I explore what actually drives borderline emotional dysregulation. We look at how failures in internal holding and object constancy lead to external regulation through relationships, why this creates intense relational dynamics marked by rage, splitting, and blame, and how early trauma collapses the past into the present. I close by sharing a clinical stance — how to stay grounded in the person’s lived experience without retraumatizing them, while still gently widening reality.
If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
25 min
January 21 Was Any of It Real? Untangling the Illusion After Narcissistic Abuse | Epi 122
In this episode, we go deep into the psychological aftermath of narcissistic abuse—where idealization turns into confusion, connection becomes captivity, and the question “Was any of it real?” becomes a crisis of identity. Dr. Kerry and I unravel how trauma bonds form, why they’re so hard to break, and what real healing actually requires once your inner world has been split apart. If you’ve ever felt pulled between the fantasy of who someone could be and the reality of who they are, this conversation will speak directly to you.

If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
25 min
January 17 What does BPD mean? How Do I Know if Someone is Borderline? Behind the Scenes | Epi 119
In this behind-the-scenes episode, we explore what “borderline” really means beneath the chaos — diving into object constancy, the fragile inner world shaped by early deprivation, and why emotions can flip so fast. I walk you through how these patterns form, what they look like in real time, and how to understand the deeper psychological needs driving the intense shifts. This is a spontaneous look into my clinical thinking as I connect developmental theory, lived experience, and practical insight into one of the most misunderstood conditions.
If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
25 min
January 14 How I Fell for a Narcissist When I Was Most Vulnerable| Epi 120
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kerry McAvoy—clinician, author, and survivor of a deeply deceptive narcissistic relationship. She takes us inside the psychological pull that kept her bonded to someone who mirrored her idealized longings while exploiting her vulnerabilities.
We explore how her early upbringing shaped her ability to overlook red flags and why vulnerability after a profound loss can open the door to predatory narcissistic partners.
If you’ve ever wondered how someone ends up in a relationship like this—or why it becomes so difficult to leave—this episode is a must-listen.
If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
32 min
January 10 Understanding Narcissistic and Borderline Personality Dynamics - Behind the Scenes | Epi 121
In this episode, I take you behind the scenes as I prepare for the class I teach on personality dynamics. Instead of a polished lecture, you’ll hear my real-time thinking — how borderline and narcissistic patterns overlap, where they diverge, and why people in narcissistic relationships so often bump into borderline dynamics without realizing it. This episode gives you a raw look at how I use theory, connect clinical ideas, and make sense of these intense personality styles as I work – and get ready to teach!
If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
25 min
January 07 Why do I Get Defensive -When Given Feedback? |Epi 118
Why does even gentle feedback feel like an attack?
In this episode, we explore how the mind turns ordinary feedback into a perceived assault — and why that reaction exists for a reason. Narcissistic defensiveness isn’t just about arrogance or fragility; it’s a complex system designed to keep you ‘company.’ The very attack that harms also protects — preserving connection with an internalized other, even if that connection is punishing.
Through clinical examples, we look at how this dynamic plays out in daily life and how therapy helps loosen these inner assaults so real growth and connection can begin.
If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
28 min
December 31, 2025 Living with Narcissism: Why You Can’t Stop Reacting to Criticism or Control | Epi 117
Have you ever cared deeply for someone who constantly leaves you feeling smaller, unseen, or blamed? In this interview with John Cordray, we look beneath the surface of those relationships — into the emotional patterns that fuel narcissistic dynamics. We unpack why it’s so hard not to react when you’re being judged or attacked, and I even attempt a Coca-Cola analogy to explain it (you’ll have to decide if it works).
If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
33 min
December 23, 2025 Narcissism and the Holidays: Why Do I Feel Forced and Unsafe? |Epi 116
In this episode, we’re going to pull back the curtain on what actually happens inside you during the holidays — not the surface-level stress you blame, but the internal shifts you feel. We’re going to explore why the season disrupts your psychological balance, why old wounds feel closer to the surface, and why the defenses you rely on all year suddenly stop working. Most importantly, we’ll look at how this exposure — uncomfortable as it is — can reveal something essential about your deeper emotional life.
If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
22 min
December 17, 2025 Is the Narcissist a Parasite — or Something Deeper? The Hidden Dynamics of Covert Narcissism | Epi 115
In this episode of The Narcissism Decoder, I share a compelling clip from my conversation with Dr. Kerry, host of Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse. We explore the complex dynamics between narcissistic mothers and their children — is it parasitic, or a painful kind of symbiosis? Dive into the psychodynamic insights behind emotional fusion, people-pleasing, and why breaking free from these relationships can feel so destabilizing.
If you are interested in a consultation or seeking virtual therapy services, Dr. Mazzella is accepting new patients. Please click here for more detailed information.
Contact me directly with observations, questions, or comments:
[email protected]
Follow The Narcissism Decoder on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Dr. Mazzella’s personal website: drmazzella.com
Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.
16 min

About Narcissism Decoder

From the publisher's feed

Trying to understand narcissism, narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), narcissistic relationships, or narcissistic abuse? The Narcissism Decoder goes beyond identifying narcissism to explore why…