Cults, Control, and the Machinery of Belonging
65% of ordinary people delivered what they believed were dangerous shocks under authority (Milgram). A clinician's field guide to how cults really work.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
narcissistic abuse
Still neon
14 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.
Vulnerable Narcissism: What It Is and How to Recognize It
A 2024 meta-analysis of 27 studies found vulnerable narcissism correlates with secondary psychopathy at roughly .56. Why the quiet presentation is easy to miss.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
Narcissistic Mothers Who Use Their Children as Props
75% of NPD diagnoses go to men — yet a 46,735-person meta-analysis found zero gender gap in vulnerable narcissism, the subtype most linked to harmful mothering.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
Narcissistic Abuse & Open Relationships
A licensed therapist maps the shared patterns in Corey Feldman, Sean Combs, and the Harbour/Allen split — how narcissistic abuse hides inside freedom.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
Narcissistic Abuse Isn't a Diagnosis. Stop the Behavior.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder affects 1–6% of adults (Stinson et al., 2008) — but narcissistic abuse is behavior, not diagnosis. Here's what the research says.
Matthew Sexton, LCSWRead article
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
Hoovering to Stalking: When a Narcissistic Ex Won't Let Go
Unwanted contact, threats, and stalking concerns deserve individualized support. What to document safely and why there is no predictable escalation timetable.
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