Complex PTSD: When Single-Trauma Frameworks Fail
60% of Complex PTSD patients no longer met diagnostic criteria after phase-based treatment, a 2025 study found—not the standard single-trauma PTSD protocol.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
Complex Trauma
Still neon
9 articles, newest publications first. Browse this subject or search the full archive.
4 articles in the wider archive have updated wording and source notes. The other 164 have not been fact-checked as part of this review. Older topics and links are retained to keep existing articles findable.
Narcissistic Abuse: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about abuse, attachment, contact choices, and recovery. Practical support without diagnosing a partner, prescribing no contact, or imposing a recovery timetable.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
Dark Triad vs. Light Triad
What the Dark Triad and Light Triad describe, what personality research cannot tell you about a partner, and how to focus on behavior and support.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
Why People Miss Their Narcissist: The Withdrawal Paradox
Missing someone who harmed you can involve grief, affection, hope, and attachment. Explore those feelings without a fixed withdrawal story or recovery deadline.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
No Contact on Valentine's Day After Narcissistic Abuse
Planning for a difficult holiday after an abusive relationship: support, contact options, grief, and safety without treating one date as a test of your recovery.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
Mirroring: When Vodka on the Rocks Thinks It's a Martini
When shared interests feel like deep compatibility: recognizing pressure and deception without treating attraction as a drug or diagnosing a partner.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
Understanding “Narc Face”: What One Expression Cannot Tell You
An unsettling look can leave you with questions, but it cannot diagnose narcissism or reveal someone’s capacity for love. Focus on conduct, context, and your safety.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
The Narcissistic Abuse Cycle: From Belief to Awakening
A guide to idealization, devaluation, discard, and renewed contact, with practical questions and limits to the cycle model.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
Narcissistic Abuse Awakening: Recognizing a Harmful Pattern
Recognizing a harmful relationship can bring clarity, grief, and doubt at the same time. There is no fixed recovery clock or single contact plan that fits everyone.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article