In this powerful episode of Bitch Is a Bad Word, host Lindsay sits down with Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and author Carla Litto to unpack the psychology behind narcissistic and emotionally abusive relationships.

Carla, author of Outsmarting Egomaniacs: How to Respond to Narcissists and Master Manipulators, explains how Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) can show up in intimate relationships — and what survivors can do to protect themselves.

With compassion and clinical expertise, Carla breaks down the red flags of manipulation, gaslighting, trauma bonding, and coercive control, offering actionable tools to help survivors regain clarity, confidence, and control.

🎙️ In this episode, we cover:

• How BPD and NPD appear in toxic or abusive relationships
• Understanding emotional dysregulation, projection, and trauma bonding
• Practical ways to recognize and respond to manipulation and gaslighting
• Why survivors second-guess themselves — and how to rebuild self-trust
• Key insights from Outsmarting Egomaniacs by Carla Litto

Whether you're recovering from narcissistic abuse or supporting someone who is, this episode will give you the knowledge and power to move forward.

• #NarcissisticAbuse #EmotionalAbuseRecovery #BPDRelationships #NPD #Gaslighting #TraumaBonding #CoerciveControl #OutsmartingEgomaniacs #CarlaLitto #BitchIsABadWordPodcast

Visit Carla's website

Purchase Carla's book, Outsmarting Egomaniacs

If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233

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This podcast is for you if you're asking:

• Am I in a domestic abusive relationship?
• The five signs of emotional abuse?
• Am I being emotionally abused / in a a toxic relationship?
• The signs of narcissism?
• What are red flags?
• The effects of an abusive house on my children?

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