We experience trauma and abuse in relationship and we find healing in healthy, supportive relationships. Support groups for narcissistic abuse recovery offer you a community of people that have gone through similar experiences. Together healing is found as you untangle the web of lies you learned from narcissistic abuse.
Early in my work with individual clients it became very clear that facing abuse in family and relationship can really feel like a solo journey. Very often, there is not a lot of support (or often none at all) from other members in the family system. Surprisingly, their experience can be very different and, even more surprisingly, they may think they have never been directly exposed to the abuse, even if they have witnessed it happening to you.
When that happens you are left feeling very alone and unsupported. Or worse, not believed and “feel crazy.” You are left questioning your perceptions and the habituated coping patterns of appeasement and minimizing take over as you talk yourself out of your experience over and over again. You tell yourself it’s nothing or I’m just over-reacting. You continue to think you are the problem which is reinforced by the abuser who is happy to blame you and shame you for your feelings and reactions.
This is why support groups for narcissistic abuse recovery matter.
They are a place where you can “reality check” your perceptions with others who are very familiar with what you are experiencing. “They really get it” is the phrase I often hear. No one in the group will question your reality because they have been there. No one will ever get tired of talking about it and tell you to “get over it” or “move on” because your story is their story too.
An important piece is reclaiming your reality after narcissistic abuse
Your experience has been true and real. When you feel that firm ground under you moving forward with a sense of direction can happen. A common language and a shared reality is what has been missing and support groups offer that. A place to validate and strengthen your perception. You are NOT crazy! Your reactions are completely normal, understandable and healthy!
If you would like to learn more about the groups I offer and to see if any of these groups would be of help to you, please go to https://changewithinreach.com/support-groups/
You are not alone. You just need to find others who have shared your journey. You can make your way through and heal from Narcissistic Abuse. And eventually you can thrive.
You can find out more about narcissistic abuse here – Narcissism & Abuse
You can find resources/books here – Resources & Books