The Mend Project’s blog offers articles, personal stories, and more to help victims and responders of narcissism and emotional abuse.
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Recognizing and responding to gaslighting can be a daunting task, but understanding its nuances is the first step towards liberation from its manipulative hold on you. Gaslighting may occur in romantic relationships, family relationships, friendships, at school and in the workplace. If you are experiencing gaslighting, it’s important to learn the best ways for responding…
Most of us are now familiar with the term “Gaslighting”, which is used loosely in response to many situations within diverse relationship types. Gaslighting isn’t always abusive but when it is, it’s exceedingly difficult to spot. It is known as a “hidden” or covert form of emotional abuse. It’s essential to your mental and physical…
The terms “narcissist” and “gaslighting” are widely used in our culture, but they are rarely understood. Narcissistic gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that is very destructive, more than many other forms of abuse. It is exceedingly difficult to discern and know how to respond. In this article, we provide clarity about what narcissistic…
One of the most common questions victims of domestic abuse ask is whether abusers can change their behavior or not. In this article, we will explore this question in depth by discussing the psychological and emotional profile of an abuser, whether change is possible, and end with a final note about the support a survivor…
If you have experienced any form of emotional abuse – from family, friends, or romantic partnerships – you may wonder if you’ll ever find complete healing from the painful outcomes of that abuse. Perhaps you have resigned yourself to never feeling “normal” again. We believe you can find healing and even feel better than normal.…
Spiritual abuse, or religious abuse, is one of the most damaging forms of psychological coercion which can take years before a person fully heals from the trauma it causes them. Spiritual abuse happens in all religious or spiritual beliefs and systems. It is used within intimate relationships, parent-child relationships, and institutional or organizational structures (churches,…
The trauma bond created in some abusive relationships can make it difficult, and seemingly impossible to stay or leave the harmful relationship. Trauma bonds to abusive relationships as adults often are a perpetuation of trauma bonds first formed in early childhood. In romantic partnerships or other intimate relationships with interpersonal violence, trauma bonding takes place…
If you are in an abusive relationship, it may become so volatile that you can no longer avoid the reality that you need to leave or you may not live. Even then, leaving an abusive relationship isn’t easy and can be more dangerous than staying, if you’re not prepared and careful. In this article, we…
If you have ever witnessed a friend or family member in an abusive relationship, you likely feared for their safety, even their life and you would do anything to protect them. Yet, it seems that no matter what you say or do, many women remain in abusive relationships. Seeing them “choose” to stay with their…
Many of us feel uncomfortable interviewing therapists before choosing them. It’s hard enough right now to find a therapist with the capacity to see new patients. So, when we finally find one “in-network”, we dive in head first. That’s not the wisest thing to do. Have you ever wondered, “Can couples therapy make things worse?”…