The Overwhelmed Brain

Emotional Intelligence for Better Relationships

Learning that your adult child suffered child sexual abuse

What is the right thing to do or say when your adult child tells you about their sexual abuse?

In this episode, I read an email from a mom who recently learned that her adult daughter was abused by another child when she was young. I bring my girlfriend Asha, an advocate for the prevention and healing of child sexual abuse, into the conversation for an honest, heartfelt discussion & guidance for the mom.

helpforsurvivors.org
Articles and resources for child sexual abuse survivors

thefionaproject.org
A music and arts movement for child sexual abuse prevention and healing

The emotional aftermath of getting free of the narcissistic relationship

The emotional challenges you experience after breaking up with a narcissist usually go way beyond grieving the end of a relationship.

You can be stripped of your ability to see life clearly from that point on unless you heal.

In this bonus episode, I cover a lot of ground when it comes to dealing with what happens to your mind and body as you transition out of one of the more toxic relationships that exist.

When your parent doesn’t make you feel worthy

Where does your self-worth come from if it isn’t instilled in you from your parents or caretakers? There is a path to a higher sense of self-worth and self-esteem. It may not be an easy path, but it does exist.

In this episode, I read a message from someone who’s father prefers his new family over his old one.

Escaping the Real World – Kids and the Narcissistic Parent – The Isolation of the Child Sexual Abuse Survivor

Do you fantasize, daydream, play video games or watch TV in hopes that you won’t have to deal with reality?

It’s not all bad but anything in moderation, right? In the first segment of this episode, I talk about the benefits of skipping reality for a little bit as long as you connect with yourself in other ways.

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The abuse victim’s perspective – Step-parents and step-children – When honoring yourself leads to loneliness

Why don’t abuse victims leave the relationship? The world can look at someone who is clearly being abused by their partner and say things like, “Why don’t you just leave?” But the abuse victim’s reality is a lot different from those who’ve not experienced what it’s like to have an abused mind.

Their perceptions and beliefs about the world are entirely different than ours so leaving isn’t the easy path others make it out to be. Segment 1 is all about the perspective of the abuse victim and why it’s not as easy to leave the abuser as it may appear to others.

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Rekindling with toxic family – The long-term results of honoring yourself – Even the victim plays a role – Contact or no contact your ex

How do you go about rekindling with toxic and/or dysfunctional family members? Is it worth “going home” and starting up those old, dysfunctional, family get-togethers again?

Is it possible to avoid the toxicity of a dysfunctional family past? There is a way to return to a toxic family environment but it’s going to take some courage to be the person you want to be with the people that have always known you the way you were. I talk about that and more in segment one.In segment two I read a message from someone who shares what it’s like honoring yourself. Joshua says that he’s been taking steps to stand up for himself and express his truths to people that he never has before. He is showing up as that authentic person he’s always wanted to be and things are happening for him in a way that never has.

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