Have you ever tried to explain what’s wrong in your relationship, only to be told you’re overreacting, imagining it, or making it up?
In this episode of This Complex Life, I’m talking about Cassandra Syndrome, the experience of feeling unheard, dismissed, or invisible in your own reality. While it’s often linked to partners of people with autism, ADHD, or other neurodivergence, the truth is it can show up in any relationship dynamic where your experiences are minimised.
We’ll explore how Cassandra Syndrome develops, why it’s so damaging to your sense of self, and what helps you break the cycle. This is not about blame, it’s about understanding, naming your experience, and finding ways to feel seen again.
In this episode I talk about:
- What Cassandra Syndrome actually is (and isn’t)
- How being repeatedly dismissed affects your mental health
- Why some partners shut down instead of responding
- The role of emotional labour in relationships
- How to set boundaries without falling into the rescuer role
- Steps to reclaim your voice and sense of reality
- How therapy can help couples rebuild connection and mutual understanding
Resources:
- The Four Horsemen: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling
- The Four Horsemen: The Antidotes
Connected Teens
https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/
Connect with Marie
https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/
Submit a question to the Podcast
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.