When Julie Barth’s husband died of pancreatic cancer, she was left with four children and a heart still trying to make sense of loss.

In her grief, she met a man who promised comfort, protection, and a fresh start. Instead, he isolated her, manipulated her, and tore down every piece of confidence she had left.

In this raw conversation, Julie shares what it’s like to fall into the hands of a narcissist while still grieving — the quiet erosion of self-trust, the slow isolation from family, the shame, the gaslighting, and the moment she finally decided to break free.

You’ll hear how emotional and financial abuse often disguise themselves as “love,” why intelligent women can still fall into toxic dynamics, and what it takes to rebuild after being completely broken down. Julie’s story isn’t just about survival — it’s about rebirth.

Today, she’s channeling her pain into purpose through her nonprofit work, helping other women facing crisis, caregiving burnout, or economic abuse find real, practical support. Her message is clear: you can lose everything and still come back stronger.

If you’ve ever questioned how you ended up in a relationship that dimmed your light — or if you’re finding your way out — this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone, you’re not crazy, and you are absolutely capable of rebuilding your life on your own terms.

Julie’s Website & Art for Charity: juliebarthauthor.com

National Domestic Violence Hotline: thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-SAFE

Support Services for Financial Abuse: nnedv.org

🔔 Subscribe to my channel, new episodes drop every Thursday!

https://www.youtube.com/@TheScarletEdit/?sub_confirmation=1

🔐 Join our Patreon Community for live Q&A's, more in depth conversations, connection with others who have been in your shoes, and so much more.

https://www.patreon.com/c/thescarletedit/

❤️‍🔥 Connect with The Scarlet Edit on Social!

https://www.instagram.com/thescarlet.edit

https://youtube.com/@TheScarletEdit

https://www.threads.com/@thescarlet.edit

Want to be a guest on The Scarlet Edit? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thescarletedit

For Collaboration and Business inquiries:

💌 Email: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Join (Re)written on Patreon!