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What happens when you finally break free from abuse but find yourself standing on unfamiliar ground? For Stephanie, a mother of two neurodivergent children and a survivor of narcissistic abuse, that first year became both a battleground and a sacred space of rediscovery.

"Nature loves courage," Stephanie reminds us. "When you open up to the world, it opens itself beyond what you can conceive." After enduring abuse from both her narcissistic mother and ex-partner, she found herself documenting every moment, writing furiously after putting her children to bed, turning her pain into words that would eventually become her pathway back to herself. This episode explores how gaslighting creates a desperate need to record reality when your perception has been systematically undermined for years.

The conversation delves into fascinating psychological patterns – how children of narcissists either become empaths constantly scanning for danger or develop narcissistic tendencies themselves. For empaths like Stephanie, this wiring created vulnerability to relationships where her contributions as a mother to two children with autism were constantly minimized, where her joy was mocked, and where her financial independence was undermined. When her ex laughed in her face about her creative ambitions, she made a powerful decision: "I'm going to prove this motherfucker wrong."

Whether you're freshly out of abuse or years into healing, this episode offers profound insights into reclaiming your voice, finding community, and daring to believe that joy isn't just possible, it's your birthright. Sharing stories becomes an exercise in "unlearning shame," turning personal pain into connection and validation that reminds every survivor they're not alone. Subscribe now to join a growing community where healing happens together, and discover why the world truly is a better place because you're in it.

FOLLOW STEPH ON SUBSTACK:

https://lessonsindiscernment.substack.com/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwK35mFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpyUQ3Aycqlm_OOFodonAA6CgTb0wlwFJx7HSR_8G3NJVDMvwlYHHWTktDfN-_aem_QvapmSJDv7Wdh9jGSi6utg

FOLLOW STEPH ON INSTA:

https://www.instagram.com/stechristine?igsh=MWFibXRvY281djNpaA==

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