Relational Trauma and the Narcissistic Parent

Narcissistic parenting isn’t about a diagnosis. Let me repeat. It isn’t about a diagnosis, it is instead about the traits that are so frequently discussed in popular culture recently and frequently taken out of context. That said, these traits leave a very strong impression because they are not just about having a difficult parent; it’s about growing up in an environment where love is given only under certain conditions and your sense of self is shaped around someone else’s expectations. This kind of upbringing can leave deep, lasting wounds, but understanding the dynamics is the first step separating yourself from it and creating a path toward healing.