I'm incredibly grateful to sit down with ⁠Mark Thomas Beare⁠, a survivor of narcissistic abuse who turned his multi-year search for understanding into ground-breaking psychological work. Mark begins ep. 96 by candidly sharing where it all began. After experiencing his own total psychological collapse in 2019, Mark spent years mapping his unraveling into a full theory, now known as (MPIT), built on the work of Professor Sam Vaknin, who wrote the forward to his now published book:Narcissistic Redeemer: Bringing You Back from CollapseThrough thousands of hours of deep self-reflection and in-depth psychological research, Mark developed the Mirrored Psychic Inversion Theory (MPIT) and Anticipatory Stress Reflex (ASR) theories of narcissistic abuse, two critical frameworks that are changing the way survivors and clinicians approach recovery.This is one of the most detailed conversations this show has ever had about what actually happens inside the mind of survivors of narcissistic abuse. We talk about why the chaos, dissociation, and identity loss that follow a discard are not a sign that you're broken. It's a sign that you can feel pain...and you can recover. If you've ever wondered whether you were losing your mind after a relationship ended, this conversation offers language, structure, and real hope for finding your way back.In this episode, we cover:-The shared fantasy, the dual mothership, and the cathexis cycle (idealization, devaluation, discard)-Why survivors co-idealize a partner too, and how that creates a collapse that gets deferred until after the relationship ends-The liminal phase, collapse-induced psychotic regression, orbital collapse, and the deadness phase that follow a discard-The five self-states inside collapse: the Redeemer, the Mute Child, the False Protector, the Introject Enforcer, and the Truth Self-The ASR Complex (Anticipatory Stress Reflex) and why reality feels like it's slipping away during collapse-Building an "observer ego" and learning to decathect from the internal loop-Why the capacity to feel this much pain is proof you can heal, not proof something is wrong with youYou're not going insane. You're not alone. You were abused by a narcissist whose primary goal was to, as Mark puts it, "colonize your mind."You did not imagine it. You're not being too sensitive. And you CAN rebuild yourself after collapsing under the weight of the darkness of narcissistic abuse. As Mark brilliantly says in this interview: your breakdown - that reaction that rocked your inner psyche - from a clinical psychology perspective, is a normal reaction to a very abnormal situation with your abuser. In this episode, Mark walks us through each phase of the survivor's collapse in detail so you can understand exactly what happened when the narcissist infiltrated your mind and began conditioning you through abuse.Read Mark's books to help you recondition your psyche to heal and step back into your true self...the self you swore you knew and lived in before the narcissist.The Organising Gate and the Reconstruction of Reality After Narcissistic AbuseFollow Mark Thomas Beare on YouTube, Instagram, & FacebookThis episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea. Visit LiveDivini and use discount code Breanne10 at checkout

https://livedivini.com/#narcissisticabuse #narcissisticabuserecovery #MPIT #mentalhealth #trauma #healing #selflove #discard #ptsd #resilience

I sit down with Valeriya Hjertenæs, PhD researcher, international speaker, and Mrs. World Congeniality.

Valeriya's story starts in an unexpected place: a mental institution in Ukraine, in her pajamas, just weeks after adopting her daughter.

She opens up about the moment her first intrusive thought hit, a terrifying image that felt completely opposite of who she was, and how not understanding what was happening led her down a dark path toward a suicide plan.

Her mother's quiet intuition, noticing Valeriya packing winter clothes in the middle of summer, became the turning point that saved her life.

Topics we cover:

• What intrusive thoughts actually are, and why they're not a reflection of your character
• Valeriya's path from crisis to diagnosis, and the doctor who told her "you are not crazy"
• Living with OCD as a mother, a PhD researcher, and a public figure
• The global scale of neurodivergence, and why so many people never get diagnosed
• Why men in some cultures are more likely to die by suicide than admit they're struggling
• How Valeriya turned her lowest moment into a mission of advocacy and hope

If you've ever had a thought that scared you, one that felt nothing like the person you know yourself to be, this episode is for you. My hope is that you walk away feeling less alone, and reminded that your hardest chapter can still become someone else's hope.

OCD resources for listeners - you're not alone!

If this episode brought up something for you, here are trusted places to learn more or find support:

International OCD Foundation (iocdf.org) — educational resources, treatment guides, and a directory to find OCD-specialized therapists

Your Anxiety Toolkit — a podcast dedicated to providing mindfulness-based tools for anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), depression, and the mental struggles that go along with these disorders.

NOCD (treatmyocd.com) — accessible articles and virtual therapy options focused specifically on OCD

BeyondOCD.org — plain-language explanations of intrusive thoughts and OCD subtypes, including the "harm OCD" experience Valeriya describes

IntrusiveThoughts.org — resources specifically focused on understanding and coping with intrusive thoughts

Maternal OCD — support specifically for parents experiencing postpartum or new-parent OCD, which mirrors much of Valeriya's story

For anyone in crisis, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 in the US) or your local emergency services. You are not alone, and help is available.

This episode of Adventures in Adversity is sponsored by DIVINI, a honey-based sparkling kombucha tea.

Visit LiveDivini & use discount code Breanne10 at checkout!

Follow Adventures in Adversity on Instagram & Facebook

#MentalHealth #OCD #IntrusiveThoughts #Neurodiversity #Motherhood

Jeremy Lipkowitz, Founder of Unhooked Academy + Unhooked Podcast, opens up about his personal journey with porn addiction, the crushing weight of shame, and how it impacted men's mental health.

Jeremy breaks down:

• How porn addiction quietly erodes intimacy, contentment, and self-trust

• The deep shame that keeps men silent and stuck

• The inner work of recovery and what actually helps men break free

• Science-based, compassionate strategies for healing

• Why speaking publicly about addiction changed everything for him

This conversation is for anyone struggling with compulsive behaviors, men wanting to show up better in their relationships, or anyone ready to end the cycle of shame and start healing.

About Jeremy Lipkowitz:
Jeremy is a leading voice in destigmatizing porn addiction and educating the public on effective, science-based recovery strategies. He's the founder of Unhooked Academy and host of the Unhooked Podcast, where he addresses porn addiction recovery with both candor and compassion.

Connect with Jeremy:

• Website: jeremylipkowitz.com

• Unhooked Academy: unhooked.academy

• Podcast: Unhooked: Breaking Porn Addiction Podcast

Episode Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
02:15 - Jeremy's personal story with porn addiction
08:30 - The shame that kept it hidden
15:45 - How porn hijacks the brain
22:10 - Men's mental health and isolation
28:30 - The recovery process that works
35:00 - Practical tools for breaking free
42:15 - Closing thoughts

Key topics: porn addiction, men's mental health, shame, recovery, mindfulness, intimacy, integrity

Subscribe to this podcast for more conversations on addiction recovery and men's mental health.