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
trauma bond
Still neon
6 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.
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
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