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The Mental Healness Podcast

Why You Still Want Them (The Brutal Truth About Trauma Bonding)

The Mental Healness Podcast

Lee Hammock

Mental Health, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 1 January 2026

⏱️ 78 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What does it take to finally walk away after YEARS of manipulation and abus3? In this powerful episode, Lee Hammock (Self-Aware Narcissist) sits down with Louella to discuss her harrowing and inspiring journey of surviving a long-term narcissistic relationship.

Louella shares the raw truth about the "slow erode" of self-esteem, the confusion of the trauma bond, and the specific moment she realized that the person she loved was never going to change. This isn't just a story of survival; it’s a roadmap for anyone currently feeling trapped in a toxic cycle.

In this interview, we dive into:

  • The Long Game: How narcissistic manipulation evolves over the span of many years.

  • The Turning Point: The specific "red flag" that finally broke the spell for Louella.

  • Generational Trauma: How our pasts can sometimes lead us into the arms of a narcissist.

  • Life After the Exit: The reality of healing, helping, and finding peace after the discard.

As a self-aware narcissist, Lee provides feedback on the tactics used against Louella, offering a unique "inside look" at why her ex acted the way he did—and why her decision to leave was the ultimate power move.


Connect with Lee:

Transcript

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0:00.0

What if healing isn't about moving on, but finally believing yourself?

0:04.4

On the Mental Healness podcast, Lee Hammock speaks with Luella, a single mom and founder of thriving beyond abuse.

0:11.8

She shares what it's like to love someone who slowly breaks you down, the red flags, the gaslighting,

0:18.0

and the quiet moment you realize this isn't love we're told abuse is obvious

0:23.1

but sometimes it's subtle emotional and it makes you doubt your own reality this conversation

0:28.9

isn't about fixing yourself it's about reclaiming your voice your worth and remembering that

0:34.4

healing means coming back to who you were and if you've ever ever whispered, maybe it was me. You're not alone. What is going on? Beautiful folks, welcome to another episode of the Mental Healthness Podcast. I am your favorite, self-war narcissist, Mr. Lee Hammock, your favorite diagnosed nurses today. We're interviewing the lovely, the powerful, the strong, Miss Luella, what is going on?

0:55.5

Welcome to the podcast.

0:56.8

Thank you.

0:57.4

Thank you so much for having me.

0:59.1

No problem.

0:59.5

Thank you so much for being on.

1:01.6

Well, tell us a little bit about yourself.

1:03.7

So my name is Luella, of course, and I am a single mom.

1:09.8

I raised my daughter.

1:14.7

She's an adult now. I am retired from government.

1:22.4

I had a lovely experience in a very, very abusive relationship. So that's what brings me here today.

1:28.2

I am now a, I am the founder of thriving beyond abuse. And I now help others through my experience.

1:32.6

It's called Thriving Beyond Abuse.

1:35.1

Driving Beyond Abuse, yes.

1:36.5

Okay.

1:37.0

That's a very, it's a cool name.

...

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