The moment you recognize the pattern of narcissistic abuse, your brain starts to rewire. You stop explaining yourself to someone committed to misunderstanding you. You begin to separate your reactions from their manipulation. It’s disorienting and freeing all at once—the first step toward rebuilding self-trust.

Sick, alone, and under a playground slide… I felt more peace than I had in decades. This was the first sign I was disappearing — and something had to change.