In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon Chadwick does an educational follow-up to Helena’s survivor story, breaking down the core dynamics that shaped her abusive relationship. What began as listening, validation, and apparent insight slowly became control disguised as care, gaslighting, moving goalposts, and a desperate search for approval. Brandon explores how Helena’s childhood trauma, fear of losing family, obligation to hold the marriage together, guilt, shame, and the truth-teller dynamic kept her trapped in a relationship that slowly pulled her away from her own voice, instincts, and reality. This is a debrief about coercive control, emotional abuse, self-doubt, and the painful realization that love should never have to be earned. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at [email protected] Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related