Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse
Confused by your relationship? Do you catch yourself second-guessing, walking on eggshells, or feeling emotionally drained? Whether you’re still in the chaos or trying to rebuild after leaving, this podcast is your lifeline. Join retired psychologist Dr. Kerry McAvoy as she exposes the hidden dynamics of toxic relationships. You’ll learn how destructive personalities operate, the manipulative tactics they use, and the stages of abuse—plus the practical steps to heal and reclaim your life. If you’re ready to break free, rebuild your self-worth, and find lasting emotional freedom, hit play and start your recovery journey today.
Episodes
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
This week’s fan mail dives into two powerful questions about surviving emotional abuse.
First, Dr. Kerry explores what it means when you stop crying—and why emotional shutdown can be a survival mechanism in toxic relationships. Then she tackles whether the sunk cost fallacy is really what keeps us stuck with a narcissist, or if something deeper is at play.
Submit You...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Going through a custody battle or divorce with a narcissist? The you know the legal system can feel stacked against you.
This week, former family law judge and attorney Michele Locke reveals exactly how narcissists twist the truth, exploit legal loopholes, and weaponize the court process — and what you can do to outsmart them.
Whether you’re divorcing a narcissist, n...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
What do you do when you can’t just cut off a toxic person?
This week’s Fan Mail question comes from a YouTube listener who asks: “How do I stop the cognitive dissonance and self-doubt when I can’t go no-contact with a toxic person?”
In this episode, Dr. Kerry explains why cognitive dissonance is such a powerful trap in emotionally abusive relationships—especially whe...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Why do so many survivors miss they’re being abuse?
In this Labor Day Special, I’m revisiting three powerful interviews that follow the journey from denial to freedom.
First, we explore how abuse often hides in plain sight, even for smart, capable people. The author I’m referencing as “he” is Don Hennessey and his book, How He Gets into Her Head. Then, we examine how ...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Is my daughter-in-law a malignant narcissist? How did she hide her worst qualities for so long?
Today, Dr. Kerry answers 2 listeners’ questions.
The first is from New York, New York about narcissists’ public and private personas. Many narcissistic individuals create a false mask to hide their worst qualities.
The second comes from Southern Pines, North Carolina, who...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
What if the person you fell in love with never really existed?
In this episode, Dr. Nae — psychologist, author of Run Like Hell, and former wife of the real “Wolf of Wall Street” — exposes how master manipulators use love-bombing, mirroring, and coercive control to create a false sense of intimacy.
Learn:
- How abusers build a fake romantic persona to hook their ta...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Welcome to our new podcast segment called Fan Mail! This is where Dr. Kerry answers your questions.
To kick off our weekly bonus episode, Dr. Kerry is responding to a listener who writes, “He has destroyed me and my world after 16 years of marriage.” -- from Westminster California
More About the Episode
Today Dr. Kerry answers two fan mail requests:
1....
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
What’s the single biggest giveaway that someone lacks emotional maturity — especially when the pressure’s on?
In this episode, Dr. Les Carter, psychologist, best-selling author, and expert on narcissism and emotional health, reveals the #1 sign of low emotional maturity during conflict. We dive into how this pattern plays out in everyday disagreements, why it derail...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
This week, I’m pulling back the curtain on something few of us talk about—the emotional toll of surviving narcissistic abuse after the relationship ends. Healing is hard. Helping others heal while still navigating your own recovery? Even harder. In this episode, I share why I’m taking a short summer hiatus—and how you can still stay connected and supported during t...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
This US holiday weekend, let’s revisit three of your favorite podcast episodes. Interestingly, they all have the same theme: why narcissistic abuse survivors initially think they’re the problem.
Clip 1 is from Season 3 Episode 64: "How mad can I make you?" The Toxic Games Covert Narcissists Play”
Video: https://youtu.be/pfU0y1ycgtg
Audio: https://www.buzzspr...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Why do we pick bad partners? Is purely because of deception or are we missing early warning signs of a toxicity?
This week, author and clinician, Mary Crocker Cook joins us to discuss the problems of early socialization and different expectation in the dysfunctional relationship.
Looking for the Podcast Extra Interview with Mary Crocker Cook?
🔹 Are you wondering how ...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Can someone be both narcissistic and neurodivergent?
This week, ADHD coach and neurodiversity educator Sheila Henson joins Dr. Kerry to explore the nuanced overlap between narcissistic traits and ADHD. Together, they unpack how these two very different dynamics can sometimes co-exist—and what that means for the health of your relationship.
Looking for the Podcast Ext...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Is your relationship displaying signs that it’s over? Maybe it’s on its last legs, and you wonder if it can be saved?
In this episode, Dr. Becky Whetstone delves into the complexities of relationships, particularly focusing on the challenges faced during marriage crises. She shares her experiences and insights as a marriage therapist, emphasizing the importance of s...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Are you living with a narcissist or a stressfully demanding person? These types of relationships often require us to step up with extra emotional labor without us even realizing it.
This week, psychotherapist and author Terri Cole joins us to explore the hidden costs of high-functioning codependency. Learn why over-helping is often a trauma response, not a personal...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Are female friendships just as damaging as pathological love relationships?
This week, Sabrina Kirberg, author of We Used to be Best Friends, joins us to discuss the harmful consequences of toxic women friendships. Learn why we often miss spotting toxic female relationships and their common harmful dynamics.
Looking for the Podcast Extra Interview with Sabrina Kirber...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Living with a narcissistic or emotionally toxic person will wreak havoc on your personality or sense of self.
This week, Lynn Strathdee, mental health therapist and expert, joins us today to discuss the effects of chronic exposure to narcissistic abuse. Learn how dysfunctional relationship shapes your personality, giving “echoistic” tendencies.
Looking for the Po...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Are you trying to heal from a betrayal?
If you have survived a narcissistic relationship then you have experienced betrayal. Often repetitive, devastating breaches of trust.
This week, Dr. Debi Silber joins us to discuss how to rebuild renewed confidence after betrayal. She outlines the five stages of betrayal recovery as well the common pitfalls that keep survivors...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Toxic relationships tremendously impact our emotional selves, but what about our sexual selves?
Dr. Lisha Antiqua, an expert in sexual intimacy and soul psychology, joins us to discuss how common toxic dynamics in narcissistic relationships, such as objectification and transactional relationships, diminish our intimate connection with one another. She also defines ...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Is it autism or narcissism? It’s become trendy lately to excuse toxic/abusive behavior as neurodivergence.
Today, Erica Little-Herron, an expert/advocate on autism, joins us to discuss the key differences between narcissism and autism.
Looking for the Podcast Interview with Erica Little-Herron?
🔹Learn in this week's exclusive Podcast Extra interview why Erica Li...
Submit your question be answered on air to the Fan Mail link below!
Going no contact with a parent, particularly when it’s your mother, is a gut-wrenching decision.
Alex Anderson, an independent film-maker and writer joins me to discuss his timely movie, FOG, which explores a toxic mother-daughter dynamics. He describes how Fog-Obligation-Guilt drives this challenging relationship.
Learn more about Alex and his work here: https://www...
Popular Podcasts
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
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.
Charlie is America's hardest working grassroots activist who has your inside scoop on the biggest news of the day and what's really going on behind the headlines. The founder of Turning Point USA and one of social media's most engaged personalities, Charlie is on the front lines of America’s culture war, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of students on over 3,500 college and high school campuses across the country, bringing you your daily dose of clarity in a sea of chaos all from his signature no-holds-barred, unapologetically conservative, freedom-loving point of view. You can also watch Charlie Kirk on Salem News Channel