Welcome to episode 3,224 of the Daily Meditation Podcast. I'm Mary Meckley and I welcome you to this week's very special series by request from a fellow meditator.

And the theme we're exploring this week is breaking free. It's a seven-day

challenge to overcome narcissistic abuse. Now, whether or not you've experienced a narcissistic

abuse, it's important to know the warning signs and also to beware of how not to become entangled

with a narcissist.

I want to thank you for reaching out to me.

So many of you have reached out and shared your journeys with me

as you've dealt with different kinds of narcissistic abuse.

Most of the messages have been narcissistic abuse in a relationship from a loved one,

which is considered to be the most devastating of all.

I've also heard of narcissistic entanglements with a neighbor or a friend or someone you work with.

Whatever the case, narcissistic abuse stands out. It's different from

regular abuse. So of course any abuse is deeply damaging, but with narcissistic abuse,

there are distinct characteristics that set this type of abuse apart. It has to do with

subtlety and manipulation. And this is important because with, I'll say, traditional types of

abuse, you often recognize it. You see it's there. You can avoid it. But the most

traumatic part of narcissistic abuse is that you often don't know you're being abused. So

there's this subtlety and manipulation. It's so often very covert.

There's gaslighting and I shared that with you in yesterday's episode where narcissists

often manipulate their victims into doubting their own perceptions and even your own sanity.

There's emotional manipulation where narcissists use guilt, shame, and fear, and this controls and dominates you.

There's also love bombing and then the silent treatment. This is where narcissists

...