The Freewoman

Coercive control is one of the primary hallmarks of an abusive relationship. It creates a dynamic in which the victim alters their behavior, personality and social circle to placate their abuser. Psychological abuse, manipulation and intimidation are used to control the victim in a way that can be hard to spot by outsiders. The hidden nature of this abuse can make it very hard for victims to pinpoint that what is happening is wrong and financial abuse, constant monitoring and isolation make it very hard for them to leave. Understanding coercive control is key to unraveling the web of confusion victims face when healing from abuse.

#coercivecontrol #narcissist #healing #podcast 

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/

Covert Narcissism or Vulnerable Narcissism is the one of the most difficult toxic personalities to identify. Unlike the Grandiose Narcissist, this style of abuse operates through guilt, passive aggression and shame. You'll find yourself defending and protecting these abusers because their toxicity is hidden behind stories of victimhood, bad luck and oppression. They can fly under the radar for years because their unassuming demeanor and sad backstory do not signal your typical defense mechanisms. This, in some ways, makes them the most dangerous type of abuser. Their expert levels of psychological manipulation and coersive control can do more longterm damage to a survivor's mental well being than hitting and name calling do.

#covertnarcissist #narcissist #toxicrelationships #coercivecontrol #healing 

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/

Many don't realize they are in burnout until they pass the point of no return. Learning to recognize the signs and symptoms of impending burnout can save you from years of mental and physical health issues. 

Cat and Jayenna share their journey with burnout, how it has impacted their health and the changes they have made moving forward as a result. Our precious life force is not meant to be spent on accumulating things or chasing status. We are here to focus on what brings us joy and to spend time with those we love. A large part of avoiding burnout is simply remembering what truly matters in life and letting the rest go.

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/

Financial abuse is a common tactic used by Narcissists. Limiting funds, preventing you from working, hiding money or nitpicking your spending are all ways that abusers use money to control you. Financial independence is empowering and therefore something the Narcissist fears you having. Narcissists  will seek to control you through money and they will also use money to make you feel worthless. Healing comes from realizing your worth is inherent. The Abuser and the size of your bank account do not define your worth.

#abuseawareness #divorce #narcissisticabuse #emotionalabuse 

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/

Dissociation is a protective and involuntary disconnection from reality. Victims of narcissistic abuse dissociate as a survival mechanism. It helps the mind survive what would otherwise break it. But like any other coping mechanism dissociation can become prohibitive. We must learn to face reality so that we can create true safety.

In this episode Jayenna and Cat share their personal experiences with dissociation and the tools that have helped them heal and come into reality.

As always, be patient with yourself. Healing is a journey, not a destination.

#dissociation #emotionalabuse #divorce #freewoman #narcisist

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/

Love is NOT blind. It goes in with eyes open, fully in reality. Going into a serious relationship blindly is a recipe for ABUSE. Taking the blind leap of faith might seem romantic from afar but up close leads to pain, trauma and drama when reality finally shows up. The show, "Love is Blind," is a great example of all of the things not to do when seeking love. SPOILER WARNING

#freewoman #loveisblind #love #healingjourney #divorce

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/

Growing up in a narcissistic family puts you at a disadvantage when entering the world. Low self worth, self sabatoge, poor boundaries and codependent patterns are a few of the many struggles survivors face. Cat and Jayenna share some of their stories in navigating and overcoming narcissistic family patterns. As well as the silver lining at the end of it all, watching the cycle end with your children.

#freewoman #podcast #singlemom #divorce #traumahealing #narcissist #boundaries 

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/

Coparenting with a Narcissistic personality is a nightmare. Nothing is sacred to the Narcissist when it comes to exacting their revenge, including your children. Unfortunately, family court and even CPS are woefully inept at handling these high conflict situations and children, more often than not, end up being the collateral.

Cat and Jayenna are both survivors of abuse and the high conflict custody battles that follow. They share tips that helped them get through it, parts of their stories and hope, because even in these awful situations there is hope for an abuse-free future.

#divorce #narcissism #coparentingwithanarcissist #highconflictdivorce #familycourt

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/

Trauma happens when we experience events that feel difficult to cope with or out of our control. It could be one incident, or an ongoing event that happens over a long period of time. When trauma occurs big emotions like rage, grief and hopelessness also occur. Addressing our trauma means facing and moving these big emotions. But because we live in a society that represses emotions, many people struggle to find the capacity or even the space to process their trauma.

Cat and Jayenna share their journeys with trauma, moving the emotions and reclaiming their light.

#traumahealing #emotionalhealing #freewoman #healingjourney #abusesurvivors 

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/

As a society, cliches form our picture of abuse. Run-down trailers and alcoholic fathers are the face put on domestic violence. But the truth is far more complicated.

Abuse is everywhere. It's in the well-kept suburban home, the upscale gated community, the quiet farmhouse. It's in our schools, our workplaces and our churches. Techniques of psychological manipulation like DARVO, gaslighting and coercive control make abusive patterns difficult to spot and even more difficult to escape.

It takes a lot of courage to look honestly at ourselves, our patterns and the escapist stories we participate in. Abusive individuals are very skilled at targeting our vulnerabilities and playing upon our triggers. The only way to break free is to deep dive into those exact trigger points. Learning to love yourself, especially the traumatized pieces, is how you escape the web of abuse.

Cat and Jayenna share parts of their personal stories of surviving abuse, how they escaped its web and the reward of living as a Freewoman.

#narcissisticabuse #freewoman #dv #gaslighting #narcissist  #divorce #healingjourney 

https://www.thefreewomanpodcast.com/