Recovery from a sociopath Archives | Page 27 of 93 | Lovefraud | Escape sociopaths

Radical Acceptance – a path to true emotional healing after the devastation of a sociopath

January 30, 2017 // by Donna Andersen// Leave a Comment

Book Review: Radical Acceptance Embracing your life with the heart of a Buddha, by Tara Brach. Review by Donna Andersen You realize, or at least suspect, that you have a sociopath in your life — that's why you're reading Lovefraud. You may still be in a state of shock — you never really understood that people like this actually existed. But they do; now what do you do? Lovefraud is full of information and advice about escaping a sociopath and dealing with the fallout. Generally, recovery means moving forward along two paths. You can pursue both paths at the same time, and progress on one path helps you with the other one. The first path is solving the practical problems the soc …

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If our emotions are triggered, there’s more pain to process

January 4, 2017 // by Donna Andersen// 4 Comments

Lovefraud recently received the following e-mail from a reader—we'll call her Sally: It's been almost four years since I left my ex psychopath. He almost had me take my own life through guilt, when it was him lying, cheating, committing fraud, you name it—a textbook case. The reason I write to you today, however, is I am so sad and disappointed in myself yet again. Four years and I thought I was over the damage done by the psychopath so I stepped out of my comfort zone to contact an old friend I had not seen since before the psychopath came into my life. I made a decision to visit my male friend and we had a nice time. When I returned I started analysing the situation. Was my friend ju …

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For the holidays, give yourself the gift of honoring your experience

December 24, 2016 // by Donna Andersen// 3 Comments

How do you get through the season of joy and hope when a lying, destructive, individual has wreaked havoc in your life? First, be gentle with yourself. You are a normal, caring, person. Perhaps you wanted to love and be loved, as all normal people do. Perhaps you felt sorry for the individual and wanted to help. Your intentions were honorable, but the exploiter took advantage of your humanity. Second, honor your experience. What does that mean? It means accepting that it happened. Much of the pain and confusion of tangling with a sociopath comes from not wanting to believe that these individuals are what they are, and they do what they do. Accepting that yes, they exist, and yes, you were …

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Groups – a key to healing from a sociopath

October 26, 2016 // by Mary Ann Glynn, LCSW, CHT// 2 Comments

By Mary Ann Glynn, LCSW, CHT Most of you who have been involved with a sociopath have been to therapists either with your partner or individually. Therapy is critical to healing from the PTSD of these relationships from control, abuse, manipulation and deceit, and hopefully you have found a therapist who knows techniques for helping PTSD. There is also the rebuilding of self and the grief of loss that therapy can help with, not to mention the potential stressful impact of divorce on yourself and any children. It would be fortunate if your therapist understands the type of relationship you've been in and the person you were with. This is all necessary and important, but there's a critical …

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7 Social Science Insights that Will Help You Understand Why It’s Not So Easy to “Just Get the Hell Out”

October 4, 2016 // by Lovefraud Professional Resources// 3 Comments

By Amber Ault, Ph.D. One of the many difficult questions survivors of toxic relationships ask themselves is “why is it so hard to leave someone who treats me so badly?” As rational people, we recognize that a relationship is extremely problematic and believe that the rational course of action would be just to stop the drama. And yet. And yet, this is usually harder than it sounds. While there are practical and logistical barriers to people exiting, the emotional resistance to leaving is usually present even when there aren't kids or property or business deals or divorce laws slowing us down. What accounts for this? Why is it so common? Social science has some insights that hel …

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12 songs to help you heal from a sociopath

September 24, 2016 // by Tracy Andersen// 2 Comments

[youtube_sc url="https://youtu.be/o40fwZgSFPI" title="My%20Give%20a%20Damn%27s%20Busted"] By "JustAboutHealed" The songs that resonate with you can help pinpoint where you are in the healing journey. Written from the heterosexual female viewpoint, ”˜cause that is the path I know. Try using music to chart your past and where you want to get to! 1.Yeah, maybe a bad boy, but still”¦ You think it is mostly an act. If you aim for his heart, you're sure he'll behave, he's got the key. Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5, featuring Christina Aguilera 2. You're In Deep, and Quickly “Crazy for you” is truer than you realize”¦ Crazy for You By Madonna 3. Maybe Something is Wrong”¦ Maybe I'm just im …

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Help for building your support team so you can end a toxic relationship

September 7, 2016 // by Lovefraud Professional Resources// 1 Comment

By Amber Ault, Ph.D., MSW Starting September 24, 2016, I will be hosting a five-week Roller Coaster Relationship Recovery Seminar & Support Group by teleconference for people in the US and EU. I especially invite readers of Lovefraud.com to join me in this powerful, supportive environment dedicated to cultivating the skills and strategies you need to create your best, happiest, sanest life possible after a difficult relationship with a toxic partner. In my recent book, The Five Step Exit: Skills You Need to Leave a Narcissist, Psychopath, or Other Toxic Partner and Recover Your Happiness Now, I recommend that anyone who is involved with a toxic partner, preparing to …

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How do I avoid dating a sociopath like my father?

September 5, 2016 // by Donna Andersen// 2 Comments

[youtube_sc url="https://youtu.be/UKtYJyhTe40" title="How%20do%20I%20avoid%20dating%20a%20sociopath%20like%20my%20father?"] A 24-year-old woman asks for advice. Her father is a sociopath, and so was her boyfriend. She doesn't know what a healthy relationship looks like so how can she learn to avoid dating another sociopath? I explain that the young woman not only had poor role models, she's suffering from a betrayal bond. The best thing she can do is work on her personal recovery. Then, I tell her how to protect herself from sociopaths. Letters to Lovefraud Videos is a new feature of Lovefraud.com. If you have a question that you'd like me to answer in a video, please send it to donna at l …

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Domestic violence and brain trauma

August 27, 2016 // by Donna Andersen// 1 Comment

Many women who endured domestic violence suffer from headaches, memory loss, and confused thinking. The cause may be traumatic brain injuries due to blows to the head. Women may be exposed to the same type of head injuries as football players. Fists not football: Brain injuries seen in domestic assaults, on Foxnews.com. …

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The Recovery Poem – ‘I could not care less’

July 30, 2016 // by Lovefraud Reader// 1 Comment

Editor's note: This poem of recovery was written by Lovefraud reader, Arpinsandie. (To clarify the first line, a "6th form pupil" is a British term roughly equivalent to a high school student.) By Arpinsandie You cheated on your first wife with a 6th form pupil and groomed pupils You lost your family because of your behaviour You blamed your wife Your second wife found real love through your abhorrent lies anger rage and dominance You blamed her The 3rd - long term partner - Me You tried to control destroy by lying cheating verbally assaulting bullying a classic case of narcissistic behaviour I dumped you You will blame me But then be proud you are an A1 sociopathic robot Who has lost …

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eleanoreliza1234 on When bad behavior shows symptoms, not flaws : “What a beautifully composed response by Emilie 18! Reassuring to know that others have experienced the same. Thank you, Emilie.”
jhmb6 on Narcissists and hoarding disorder: “This article suggests that all narcissists are not simply narcissists. There always seems to be a co-occurring disorder. All evidence…”
Joanie Bentz, B.S., M.ED, LBS, CCBP on Narcissists and hoarding disorder: “Happy Sunday Donna, and I am not surprised based on the story of your ex that he may have been…”
Donna Andersen on Narcissists and hoarding disorder: “Hi Joanie — thanks for this article! My ex was a complete pack rat. I converted my basement into an…”
Donna Andersen on When bad behavior shows symptoms, not flaws : “Emilie 18 posted the following comment in the Forum. Eleanor Cowen posted a beautifully said piece in the Blog about…”