In this week’s Ask Me Anything episode, we’re tackling what to do when your mom breaks your No Contact boundary, Learn:  Strategies for maintaining your boundaries when a narcissistic mother tries to break them. How to respond when she ropes in people outside of the family with her tales of woe or a good, old fashioned smear campaign. Get clear on your decisions, get sample scripts for what to say, and get clear on what you need to see happen next. If you're a daughter dealing with a narcissistic mother who just won't give up, you belong here.  Question for the show? Email or send a recorded voice memo to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Today’s we’re tackling a critical aspect aspect of healing from narcissistic maternal abuse that often gets ignored or minimized: organizing your living space. Join me and my co-host, Heather Clark, a decluttering expert and coach, as we explore how clutter and chaos can impact your recovery journey. Heather Clark will be providing practical strategies to regain control and find clarity in your environment. Discover how transforming your physical space can contribute to your emotional healing. Grab your Chaos to Clarity Guide here. Key Points: The Link Between Clutter and Trauma: Understand the connection between clutter, chaos, and the emotional aftermath of narcissistic maternal abuse. Healing Through Order: Learn how organizing your living space can be a tangible step towards healing and reclaiming your sense of self. Overcoming Procrastination: Explore strategies to overcome the procrastination that often accompanies trauma recovery and clutter management. Creating a Supportive Environment: Discover how your living space can be transformed into a sanctuary that supports your emotional well-being. Navigating Triggers: Gain insights into dealing with triggers that might arise during the decluttering process and learn how to manage them. Small Steps, Big Impact: Embrace the power of incremental progress and simple habits that can make a significant difference in your environment and mindset. Moving Forward: Embrace the journey from chaos to clarity as an integral part of your narcissistic abuse recovery. ⁠Grab your Chaos to Clarity Guide here. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Today we’re tackling a common obstacle to narcissistic abuse recovery: alcohol dependency.  Listen in for a quick conversation as to why trauma and alcohol dependency get along so well but then stay for the rest where I offer a frame for alcohol abuse recovery that will complement the work you’re already doing in your own narcissistic abuse recovery work. It can feel like problems are piling on top of each other but it’s all the same thing.  I am getting clear so you can heal. I even took notes for you so you don’t have to: Get the framework Learn the strategies Grab the guide: No More Solace Sipping: Overcoming Alcohol Dependence in Narcissistic Abuse Recovery --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

In today’s AMA, I am helping three listeners whose fathers enable their narcissistic mothers.  I’ll explain how this dynamic can perpetuate the trauma experienced by these daughters, impacting their emotional well-being and relationships. 🔍 Key Topics: Enabling Behavior: We shed light on the enabling father's role in reinforcing the narcissistic mother's behavior, inadvertently contributing to your emotional challenges.The Impact on Daughters: I’ll talk about the  effects of growing up with an enabling father, including low self-esteem, boundary difficulties, and emotional regulation challenges.Breaking Free: I’ll offer strategies to help daughters set boundaries, practice self-compassion, and challenge perfectionism for a path towards healing and growth.Inner Child Work & Reparenting: Discover accessible and common sense ways to do some inner child work.   Mother Mayhem Resources Grounding Techniques Needs Navigator | Boundaries Blueprint Slow & Steady Strategies for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

On today’s Mother Mayhem, we look into how you can have a relationship with your mom given her limitations. We get clear on the importance of boundaries and how they help you love yourself and help you have a relationship with your mom.  Episode Highlights: Understand the concept of boundaries and its significance in navigating a relationship with a narcissistic mom. Explore the impact of setting healthy boundaries for your emotional well-being and personal growth. Learn practical strategies to maintain a connection with your mother while protecting yourself from emotional manipulation. Discover the power of empathy and self-compassion as you embrace a path of loving detachment. Gain insights into preventing generational trauma and fostering healthier family dynamics for future generations. Join us for this discussion as we explore detaching from the negative effects of narcissistic behavior while fostering a meaningful connection with your mom. If you have questions or experiences to share, we'd love to hear from you! Want to ask me anything? Send your story and questions in an email or recorded voice memo to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com Don't forget to follow, leave a review, and share this episode with other women who might need this conversation in their life, too. From the US to Canada to Peru to New Zealand, Iceland and even Tunisia, this show is connecting women impacted by maternal child abuse. You are not alone, Others are in it with you. Welcome to this conversation, Happy to have you. Mother Mayhem Resources Self-Doubt to Self-Love: Journal Prompts for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Grounding Techniques Needs Navigator | Boundaries Blueprint Slow and Steady Strategies for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Your mom melted down. What happens next?  In this episode of Mother Mayhem, we look at what happens after the narcissistic storm and we look at whether or not no contact has to be the rule.  Join us for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session where we address questions on setting boundaries, navigating family dynamics, and beginning the healing journey of narcissistic abuse recovery. Episode Highlights: Understanding the concept of boundaries and their importance in dealing with a narcissistic mother's meltdown. Exploring the choice of going no contact: Is it the right decision for you? We provide insights and considerations to help you make an informed choice. Strategies for communicating your boundaries effectively to family members of the narcissist, fostering understanding, and minimizing conflicts. Starting the process of narcissistic abuse recovery:  Join us for this conversation. We’re navigating narcissistic abuse recovery in real time. Have a question for the show? Send an email or recoded voice memo to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

In this AMA episode of Mother Mayhem, we tackle the thing you all likely came to this show wondering: If my own mother couldn’t love me, how do I learn to love myself?  Join me, Heather Gray, a licensed therapist and narcissistic abuse recovery expert, as I guide a listener through the process of rewriting her narrative and finding healing after experiencing the aftermath of maternal child abuse and neglect. I’m highlighting key steps and strategies designed to guide you through the steps of reclaiming your self-worth and embracing a new narrative: Giving Yourself Permission: Learn how to rewrite the questions and narrative surrounding your self-worth, allowing yourself to be mothered by someone other than your mom, including yourself. Changing Your Relationship with Your Body: Discover the importance of shifting the language you use about your body and considering it from a place of empowerment and self-love. Nurturing Your Feelings: Explore the significance of naming and acknowledging your feelings without blaming or shaming yourself, creating a safe space for emotional healing. Transforming Your Inner Dialogue: Uncover effective techniques to edit the negative self-talk and limiting beliefs, allowing for a positive and nurturing inner dialogue. Prioritizing Regulation and Control: Understand the significance of paying attention to your body's needs and prioritizing self-regulation, taking charge of your emotional well-being. Building Healthy Boundaries: Recognize the impact of relationships that replicate your mother's treatment or the inner critic within yourself, and learn how to create distance and establish healthy boundaries. Self-Care as a Radical Act: Discover why narcissistic abuse recovery work is the ultimate act of self-care and how to cultivate a healthier relationship with rest and restoration. Have a question for the show? Send an email or recorded voice memo to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

In this episode of Mother Mayhem, The Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Podcast for Daughters, we dive into the critical topic of overcoming self-gaslighting. Learn effective strategies to break free from the cycle of self-doubt, reclaim your truth, and move forward with your healing and recovery. Finding value in the show? If you haven't already, please do leave a review in your podcast app so other women can find the show. Be sure to subscribe, too, while you're at it so that you don't miss a single episode. Mentioned in the Show (no email required) Slow and Steady Strategies for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Needs Navigator | Boundaries Blueprint --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Today. we're delving into covert narcissism This is an elusive form of narcissism that often goes undetected, leaving a lasting impact on your life. I’ll be exploring  the subtle and profound effects that growing up with a covertly narcissistic mother likely had on you. We'll take a deeper look into your mom’s manipulative tactics, emotional invalidation, and boundary-crossing behaviors that likely left you feeling unseen and unheard.  . I’ll get real about the unique challenges faced by daughters of covert narcissists as you all try to navigate your adult lives. We'll talk about the emotional aftermath and its impact on self-esteem, identity, trust, and relationships. You'll gain a deeper understanding of how covert narcissism shapes your perceptions, I'll share practical strategies to support your healing journey. Learn how to reclaim your sense of self, build strong boundaries, and cultivate self-compassion. We'll provide guidance on nurturing your inner child, rediscovering your authentic identity, and finding strength in your own voice. Your mom did a number on you but you can take charge of your healing process.  Tune into today’s episode and remember, you're not alone on this path to recovery.  If you haven’t already, please do subscribe to the show and leave a review on your podcast app. It’ll help other women who need this conversation in their lives to find it. Have a question for the show? Send an email or recorded voice memo to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Our first listener Q&A! In this episode of Mother Mayhem, I am helping a listener navigate her way through her mother’s months long silent treatment and smear campaign. Listen in for strategies for managing and responding to these manipulative tactics. Aid your own journey in narcissistic abuse recovery in the company of other women sharing your struggle. Have a question for the show? Send an email or recorded voice memo to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com Like what you're hearing? Please consider leaving a review on your favorite podcast app. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Understanding your triggers and learning how to respond to them is a critical part of narcissistic abuse recovery. It’s a core component of trauma work. Triggers can make you feel crazy and out of control. But you’re not. You are having a reaction that is causing your body to get stuck in fight, flight, or freeze. Learn how to understand your reactions and what to do about them going forward.  Grab Your Grounding Worksheet for tools and strategies to calm your body when activated. (No email required) Check out From Self Love to Self Doubt for guided journal prompts. (No email required) Have a question that you'd like answered on the show? Send an email or recorded voice memo to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

In this episode of Mother Mayhem: Narcissistic Abuse Recovery for Daughters, we tackle the crucial topic of boundary setting. Join me as I explore various boundary situations faced by daughters of narcissistic mothers and provide practical strategies and scripts to establish healthier boundaries. Get back in the driver’s seat of your life. This discussion will help you navigate personal space, emotional manipulation, financial boundaries, boundaries on your time, criticism, unrealistic work demands, and social pressures. See the worksheet: Needs Navigator: Uncovering Your Boundaries. It’s a direct link and you don’t need to enter an email address to obtain it. Have a question for the show? Send in a recorded voice memo or email with your question or struggle and I will happily offer my take in an upcoming episode. You can find me at: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com Find me, too, on Instagram: @DaughtersNPD --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

In today's episode, we’re tackling: people-pleasing, perfectionism, and we're starting the conversation on boundary setting. Learn how being raised by a narcissistic mother leads to perfectionistic and people pleasing tendencies.  I’ll walk you through a conversation of identifying your own needs so you can begin to identify your boundaries. Follow this link for journal prompts you can use to dive deeper into the discussion Listen in as we discuss practical strategies and tools to identify, establish, and maintain healthy boundaries.  If you've ever felt trapped by the need to please others, striving for unattainable perfection, or struggled to set and maintain healthy boundaries, I’m starting this conversation for you. Here’s to starting to break free. Here’s that journal prompt link again: Needs Navigator | Boundaries Blueprint In it with you. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

A childhood marked by maternal narcissistic abuse and emotional abandonment often leads to an adulthood marked by trauma triggers, hypervigilance, and anxiety. Gaining control over your trauma responses and getting yourself out of fight, flight, or freeze is an important piece of narcissistic abuse recovery. I start this conversation with a brief reminder of grounding techniques that we discussed in earlier episodes. Follow this link for a worksheet you can use in your recovery toolbox. Our conversation continues with a discussion of how anxiety has functioned in your life and offers new insights about its role with ways for recovery. Struggling to get a grip on your triggers? I would love to learn and understand more. Share your questions in an email or recorded voice memo to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com The grounding techniques worksheet --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

In this episode of Mother Mayhem, I explore how being raised by a narcissistic mother can impact your experience in relationships. I discuss how trauma affects your ability to connect with others, your attachment style, the kinds of people you may attract, and the behaviors you may display in relationships. Join me as we dive into the challenges of navigating relationships after narcissistic abuse. I'll provide you with insights and strategies to help you overcome unhealthy relationship patterns, rebuild your trust in others, and develop a secure attachment with a trauma-informed partner. If you're a daughter of a narcissistic mother and you're looking for guidance on how to break free from the cycle of abuse and build healthy, fulfilling relationships, this episode is for you. Tune in now to learn more. Have a question for the show? Submit a pre-recorded voice memo or email to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Welcome to Mother Mayhem. I'm Heather Gray, a licensed therapist. In this first episode, I'm starting the conversation with daughters of narcissistic moms. I'm breaking down what narcissism really means and how you likely experienced your mom. We’ll begin to address the impact it has had on your relationship with yourself and with others.   Healing from childhood trauma is possible. We have to be careful and structured about it as we introduce you to a new way of thinking about your mother/daughter bond and help you heal from childhood trauma and emotional neglect. This is the first episode of a 6 episode foundational series that will guide you through narcissistic abuse recovery. Follow the series and subscribe to the show to learn more and begin to hurt less. Have a question about your own journey with narcissistic abuse recovery? Submit a pre-recorded voice memo or send an email to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com Your questions will build this show. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Welcome Back to Mother Mayhem: In this episode, I’m guiding you through the first steps toward building a better relationship with yourself.  Whether you struggle with self-doubt, negative self-talk, or a lack of self-care, learning to cultivate a positive relationship is a critical part of your healing. Follow along with the conversation using prepared journal prompts designed to accompany this discussion: Join me as I break it down and discuss: Improving your self awareness in body, mind, and spirit How to start yourself on a path toward more self compassion Decreasing and removing the amount of space negative self talk takes up in your head How to engage in healthy goal setting without unrealistic expectations How to work toward greater self acceptance How to think about increasing your self protection without guarding up How to consider self care in a realistic way that doesn’t leave you rolling your eyes  Here’s that link for journaling prompts. Have a question about your own journey with narcissistic abuse recovery? Send an email or recoded voice memo to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com I’ll answer your question in an upcoming show. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Childhood emotional abandonment is a painful reality for daughters with narcissistic mothers. But as an adult now, you might not even be aware that it is a considered to be a childhood trauma. You might be having a hard time connecting the struggles you're having today to your mother wounds from childhood. In this episode, I am working to define trauma for you so that you can understand it and begin to feel more ownership over it. In an in depth discussion, I'll work to increase your understanding of how your trauma is showing up in your body, how you might be affected by PTSD or cPTSD, and I'll introduce you to ways you can help calm your body down and get out of fight, flight, or freeze. We'll also explore practical strategies for managing trauma and building resilience, including mindfulness and self-compassion. Whether you're a daughter of a narcissistic mother or simply interested in the topic, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the power of trauma and how to begin healing. Have a question for the show about your own journey with narcissistic abuse recovery? Send a recorded voice memo or email to: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message

Welcome to Mother Mayhem. If you’re an adult daughter of a narcissistic mom, you know that your childhood was missing more than a few things. Making sense of yourself, others, and the world around you after a childhood marked by emotional abandonment is really hard, painful, and lonely. Hi. I'm Heather Gray, a licensed therapist with a private practice specializing in helping adult daughters of narcissistic mothers have better relationships with themselves and with others. That's what I hope to help you with by offering this show and space for your own healing. In this trailer episode, I introduce you to the show and give you insight into the topics I'll be covering in future episodes. Have a listen to see if this might be a show for you. Be sure to share it with any other woman who might need this conversation in her life, too. Have a question about your narcissistic abuse recovery journey? Send me a recorded voice memo or email and I will address your question on a future episode of the show: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothermayhem/message