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LIFE IN THE PICKLE JAR


Addicted?
It is fact, narcissism comes with addictions. Some experts say there are at least 3 addictions for every Narc. Why do they have...
lifeinthepicklejar
Mar 22, 20238 min read


Paralyzing Freedom
Finally, divorced. For the 2nd time. It wasn’t my plan, it wasn’t something I wanted in either relationship. The 6.5-month battle with...
lifeinthepicklejar
Mar 18, 20237 min read


The "Family" Man
Woe is Me In the trenches of covert narc abuse, when he played the recording of Nikki & the kids saying they all wanted to move outside...
lifeinthepicklejar
Mar 16, 202310 min read


Control
Narcissists need control over people, places, and things to get their needs met above all else. Nobody else matters. They use a variety...
lifeinthepicklejar
Mar 12, 20236 min read


Insidious Shame
It's so easy to judge our past selves for not knowing better. We shame and guilt ourselves into an invisible prison cell. We "should" all...
lifeinthepicklejar
Mar 4, 20237 min read


Behind Closed Doors
Something rarely talked about or even known about, unless you’ve been in a relationship with a Narc, is psychosexual abuse. We often say...
lifeinthepicklejar
Mar 1, 20238 min read


It's Abuse
What's the difference between psychological, emotional, and physical abuse? In simple terms, nothing. They are all choices made by the...
lifeinthepicklejar
Feb 19, 20236 min read


Word Salad
The term “word salad” refers to a circular language tactic used by one individual to ensure that talks never end positively for the...
lifeinthepicklejar
Feb 17, 20234 min read


Reprogramming
The after-effects of living with a covert narcissist can be felt for months or even years. Our entire body and our brain are affected by the consistent stream of cortisol. As some come out of the trauma bond, withdrawal of cortisol can feel unsettling and nauseating in our everyday life. We crave peace and calm, however, when we have it, we click over to a hyper-vigilant state waiting for the other shoe to drop. Some survivors create chaos to fulfill the body’s craving for co
lifeinthepicklejar
Feb 13, 20236 min read


Why Did I Stay?
Hindsight is almost always 20/20. At the end of a narcissistic relationship, there is rarely closure. It is incredibly difficult to make...
lifeinthepicklejar
Feb 8, 20235 min read


Programmed
A Narc deliberately gains psychological and emotional control over another for their supply. By the Narc refusing to acknowledge...
lifeinthepicklejar
Feb 7, 20236 min read


It's A Pattern
Narcissists will stop at nothing to humiliate, embarrass, shame, and endlessly perpetuate their lies to boost their own esteem. They need...
lifeinthepicklejar
Feb 6, 20235 min read


Pre-meditated & Calculated
Narcissists carefully study their prey during the love-bombing stage. They mirror empathy to get to know the most vulnerable parts of...
lifeinthepicklejar
Feb 5, 20235 min read


It's More Than Jealousy
Healthy jealousy in a relationship can be communicated and logically resolved. Naturally, we all fill in communication gaps with our own...
lifeinthepicklejar
Feb 4, 20236 min read


Collecting Red Flags
Consistent and Unresolved Jealousy = Red Flag Narcissism at its core is a low sense of self-esteem. This makes it extremely easy for...
lifeinthepicklejar
Feb 2, 20236 min read


The Ease of Lying
Blatant. Shameless. He would look me square in the eyes and lie. My nervous system would activate, I knew he was lying and I would tell him, the ease at which he lied was frightening. Sometimes he produced tears to make it believable. No, he wasn't having an affair. No, he didn't buy her that car. He lied he never smoked cigarettes before in his life, and the stress I put on him made him start. He would lie to his son, he would be home in 20 min and it was 2 hours left on the
lifeinthepicklejar
Jan 29, 20234 min read


Picking up The Pieces
What does healing look like after narcissist abuse? I had no idea what I just experienced, let alone know where to begin or how to pick up the pieces of my life. How could I put it into words (without sounding crazy) to someone who never experienced narcissistic abuse? I was completely bewildered, shattered, and didn’t recognize myself. Intuitively, I knew CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) or talking this out wasn’t going to calm the hyper-vigilance and trembling in my nervou
lifeinthepicklejar
Jan 26, 20234 min read


Flying Monkeys
Narcissists use people around them to invalidate, check on, discredit and isolate their supply. Think of it as their inner supply,...
lifeinthepicklejar
Jan 22, 20235 min read


Transactional
Narcissists look at every relationship and interaction as a transaction. Meaning, they must receive something from everyone in their...
lifeinthepicklejar
Jan 19, 20236 min read


Trauma Bonded
As I spoke to my attorney about the cameras in the house, he asked “you were aware he was filming you”....me ”yes”.....him: ”so you were...
lifeinthepicklejar
Jan 15, 20234 min read
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