Could you be using the term "trauma bond" totally wrong?

Dating can be a nightmare. Of course, it can also be fun and exciting. But after being manipulated by a narcissist, dating can feel like entering a battle when you're still limping from the last fight.

So, how do you learn to trust your judgment? How do you identify the red flags? Listen in for some of my thoughts on the subject of dating after narcissistic abuse.

Narcissists do all kinds of things to gain your sympathy, time, money, and energy. One of the worst (in my opinion), is when they pretend they are ill or injured to use you, to appear less scary, or to keep you coming back to them when you try to leave.

It's really hard to say no to someone who is hurting, right? But what if it's all a ruse?

Narcissists come in all shapes, sizes and ages, but here are three types to look out for. The end result is similar for all three, but their approaches are strikingly different.

Do you recognize someone you know from this list?

This is Casey's Story, a true-ish story of narcissistic abuse, told in installments.

Follow along as Casey meets the love of her life, only to realize he's the stuff of nightmares.

This is a new, limited series I'm offering for free to subscribers.

Click here to subscribe to the series. You'll receive new episodes in your email inbox as they come out.

Music, in order of appearance:

1. Perfection by MaxKoMusic https://maxkomusic.com/

2. Hope by Ghostrifter Official https://soundcloud.com/ghostrifter-official 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

3. Reporting From The Scene by MaxKoMusic https://maxkomusic.com/

All music under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0, promoted by Chosic.

Sometimes we can't avoid the narcissists in our lives. So, here are three ways to cope with the triggering experience of contact with the narcissist in your life.

If you're used to the turmoil of toxic relationships, you may not be sure how to tell if a relationship is healthy or not. In this episode, we'll go through 5 key signs of a healthy relationship, and you'll notice how different these are from the dynamics you'll have with a narcissistic person.