Relationships with narcissists are so difficult to come to terms with. They are unlike any other type of relationship, and the emotional damage they cause is often invisible to those on the outside. From the beginning, you're often love-bombed—made to feel like you’ve finally found someone who truly sees and values you. But over time, that illusion fades, and you're slowly broken down through manipulation, gaslighting, silent treatments, blame-shifting, and emotional abandonment.

And when it ends—if you’re lucky or strong enough to leave—it rarely feels like a clean break. There's no mutual closure, no honest conversation, no accountability from their side. You're left holding all the pain, the confusion, and the unanswered questions. They act like they were the victim, and you, the villain. They twist the story so convincingly that even you start to question your memory, your worth, and your role in it all.

The worst part is how few people truly understand the depth of this kind of psychological abuse. Most people think it's just a “bad breakup” or assume you're being dramatic. So you don’t get the support you need. You might even feel embarrassed to talk about it, unsure of how to explain the wounds you can’t show. You end up isolated, trying to heal in silence while others expect you to "just move on."

And recovery from narcissistic abuse isn’t linear. It’s messy. You might still feel the pull of trauma bonds, even after everything they’ve done. You might battle with guilt, shame, anxiety, fear of being alone, and fear of being hurt again. Sometimes, you still miss them—even when you know they were toxic. That’s the nature of emotional manipulation. It rewires your brain, causes you to second-guess your instincts, and leaves you feeling addicted to the very person who harmed you.

All the while, the narcissist may be out there charming new people, smearing your name, and pretending to be the one who was wronged. It’s cruel. It’s unfair. And it can feel like no one truly sees the battle you’re fighting.

But I do. I see you. I see the nights you cried yourself to sleep, the days you doubted your sanity, the strength it took to walk away, and the courage it takes every single day to keep going. I see how hard you're trying to break the cycle, to heal, to rediscover who you were before the damage.

So to every survivor of narcissistic abuse—whether you left years ago or you're still finding your way out—I want you to know: you are not alone, and you are not weak. What you went through was real, and your healing matters. You are worthy of real love, real respect, and real peace. You didn’t deserve what happened to you. And your pain is valid, even if no one else fully understands it.

I am so proud of you for surviving, for healing, and for refusing to let their cruelty define your future. Keep going. Your story isn’t over. In fact, it’s just beginning.