How to recognize and recover from everyday sociopaths - narcissists

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Issues you should consider before taking a sociopath to court

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Lovefraud received the following email: I was previously married to a sociopath, and we have a 4-year-old son together.  I have sole legal and physical custody of our son, but have been fighting to reduce the amount of visitation for quite some time.  I recently read that having a forensic psychological analysis done on the entire family would reveal that my ex is a sociopath and possibly prevent him from having ANY visitation going forward.  Is this true, in your experience?  Do you have any advice for me as I embark on this process? Many, many Lovefraud readers have realized — to their horror — that they've had a child or children with a sociopath (someone with antisocial, narcissistic, b …

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Wednesday webinar: What do psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists want?

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I'm prepping for my webinar on Wednesday — What did they want? Psychopaths, antisocial and other exploiters in romantic relationships — and I'm very excited about the material. If you're trying to understand why sociopaths, narcissists and the rest of these toxic manipulators do what they do, this webinar is where you can get clarity. I explain the clunky terminology of psychology researchers and mental health professionals (and why I refer to human predators collectively as "sociopaths"). I'll show you Lovefraud's research on when most people see the warning signs of exploitative behavior — if it took you awhile, you're certainly not alone. And I explain how sociopaths become disordered — …

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On TV Feb 9 : How Derek Alldred scammed dozens of women in love fraud

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Last August, Derek Alldred was sentenced to 24 years in prison for scamming at least two dozen women out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a massive love fraud. On Saturday, Feb. 9, at 8 pm ET, Oxygen Media will present a documentary of the case, with the women he deceived telling what happened to them. Seduced by Evil delves into the world of the wickedly smart and dangerously evil Derek Alldred, a criminal mastermind who sought out relationships with unsuspecting women and entangled them in a web of lies to deplete their savings and support his fabricated life. Through the eyes of the countless women he deceived, the documentary will feature exclusive interviews with former victims …

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Video: When sociopaths say, ‘I love you,’ what do they mean?

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Most sociopaths in romantic relationships are quick to proclaim their love. But when sociopaths say, 'I love you,' what do they really mean? In this video, I offer 10 possible explanations — none of which have anything to do with real love. I will be addressing this topic — and much more — in my upcoming webinar: What did they want? Psychopaths, antisocials, and other exploiters in romantic relationships Wednesday, February 6, 2019 • 8-9 pm ET Instructor: Donna Andersen, author of Lovefraud.com If you want a primer on personality-disorder partners, here it is. I explain how these people behave, what they want, and why they turn so callous and cold. Their motivations are totally …

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Looks like Sen. Joni Ernst was married to a sociopath

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Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa endured verbal, mental and at least one incident of physical abuse during her marriage, according to documents filed in her divorce from her husband of 26 years, Gail Ernst. When they married in 1992, Gail Ernst was 39 and a career Army man. Joni Ernst was 22 and had recently graduated from college. In her divorce documents, Joni Ernst says: Her husband assaulted her after she confronted him about his "special relationship" with their daughter's babysitter. She fled to her mother's house with their daughter in the middle of the night. After the incident, Gail Ernst agreed to counseling, but told her not to discuss the assault in the sessions. She a …

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Love Fraud book excerpt: Was the relationship moving too fast, or was I just afraid?

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By Donna Andersen Not long after we met in person, James Montgomery proposed to me — he was smitten with me, and proclaimed we'd make a great team. But it felt like he was taking over my existence. What was I getting myself into? Life became a spinning tornado, with James at the center of it. He was working at full speed on all his projects, yet called me many times a day, keeping me apprised of his progress. He told me about his meetings, forwarding reports and faxes. He also asked for my help. James wrote newsletters for the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans Association and his new Lions Club. He wanted me to use my vendors to get them printed and mailed. I was busy as well. My b …

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Wed 1/30 – Sociopathic Seduction: How you got hooked and why you stayed

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Webinar tomorrow: Sociopathic Seduction: How you got hooked and why you stayed Wednesday, January 30, 2019 • 8-9 pm ET Instructor: Donna Andersen, author of Lovefraud.com You’re smart, loving and accomplished. Take this course and learn how your exploitative partner used your good human qualities against you, by targeting your vulnerabilities and hijacking the human bonding system. Purchase the webinar  Sociopathic Seduction: How you got hooked and why you stayed for only $25. More info. OR Sign up for the Lovefraud Understanding and Recovery 5-part Masterclass, and the webinar is included. You get six webinars for $99. More info. Highlights of this webinar: Why most …

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Signs of a sociopath: Man sinks his boat to kill wife on their honeymoon

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Lewis Bennett will be sentenced this week in Miami, Florida, for the death of his wife, Isabella Hellmann, who was lost at sea during their honeymoon in November, 2017. Bennett, an experienced British sailor, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Bennett had claimed that the boat had struck an unidentified object. However, photos released by federal prosecutors show that the hull was intentionally punctured from the inside, causing it to sink. The United States Coast Guard found Bennett floating in his lifeboat in the Atlantic Ocean. The body of his wife was never found. Signs that Lewis Bennett is a sociopath: Murder. Bennett saved himself — and $36,000 in rare coins h …

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As Valentine’s Day approaches: Why was I betrayed by the sociopath?

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When you're single, Valentine's Day is rough. I know, because from my teenage years through age 40, I never had a romance going on Valentine's Day. I was lonely, and loneliness sets you up as a fat, juicy target for a sociopath. The commercialization of the holiday doesn't help. When you're "between relationships," all the advertising for jewelry, flowers and special restaurant menus is painful — a constant reminder that romance is missing from your life. When I was alone, I couldn't figure it out. I was reasonably attractive, nice, considerate, successful, active and loved to have fun. What was the problem? Why couldn't I get a date? So there I was, single and about to turn 40, w …

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Legal Abuse Syndrome: the result of facing sociopaths in court

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Book review — Legal Abuse Syndrome: A Preventable Public Health Problem, by Dr. Karin Huffer Review by Donna Andersen You're traumatized by your experience with a sociopath. Then you face a divorce, child custody or some other court battle against the sociopath — and you're traumatized all over again. The sociopath lies about you, smears your reputation and makes false accusations against you. So do his or her attorneys. And the clueless judge allows all of it. Thirty years ago, Dr. Karin Huffer, a marriage and family therapist, witnessed this phenomenon among her clients. No matter what she did to help them, they kept getting worse. Then she realized that everything she did for the …

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