Have you ever felt like something was wrong in your relationship but couldn't find the words to describe it? In this episode of the Covert Narcissism Podcast Community Chat, I sit down with David, who spent 17 years married to a covert narcissist before finally being able to name what he was experiencing.

David shares how it started with recognizing passive aggressive behavior, how that led him down the rabbit hole of covert narcissism, and what happened when he finally said it out loud to someone he trusted. We talk about why covert narcissistic abuse is so hard to explain to others, what it feels like when you aren't fully believed, and how saying it out loud is often the moment the healing begins.

David also opens up about life after divorce, co-parenting with a covert narcissist, and the very real challenge of protecting your children from narcissistic manipulation while staying in a healed and grounded place yourself.

If you are struggling to name what you are experiencing in your relationship, feel like no one around you truly understands, or are navigating co-parenting after narcissistic abuse, this episode is for you.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Recognizing covert narcissistic abuse in marriage
• Passive aggressive behavior as an early warning sign
• Why covert narcissistic abuse is hard to explain to family and friends
• What happens when you first say it out loud
• Healing after divorce from a narcissist
• Co-parenting with a covert narcissist
• Protecting children from narcissistic manipulation
• Trusting your gut when something feels wrong

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY RENEE SWANSON, COVERT NARCISSISM PODCAST, AND CNG LIFE COACHING IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE USED FOR DIAGNOSIS PURPOSES AND NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE.

THIS MATERIAL DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL. RENEE SHARES STORIES FROM HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AS WELL AS FROM THOSE SHE HAS TALKED WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HER MATERIAL DOES NOT CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON HAS NARCISSISM AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC PERSON AS HAVING NARCISSISM. PERMISSION IS NOT GRANTED TO LINK TO OR REPOST THIS MATERIAL TO SUPPORT AN ALLEGATION OR SUPPORT A CLAIM THAT ANY SPECIFIC PERSON IS A NARCISSIST. THAT WOULD BE AN UNAUTHORIZED MISUSE OF THE MATERIAL AND INFORMATION PROVIDED.

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