Narcissist Apocalypse: Patterns of Abuse

Abuse Survivor Network
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Narcissist Apocalypse is a Purple Ribbon Award-winning storytelling podcast that amplifies the voices of those who have experienced narcissistic abuse, coercive control, emotional abuse, domestic violence, family relationship abuse, and relationship trauma. Our guests share their stories of abuse survival, providing a source of validation, education, inspiration, and hope for those going through similar experiences. Join us and discover how you, too, can overcome the narcissist apocalypse.

  1. 2D AGO

    When Responsibility Turns Into Over-Functioning | Lessons From Justin’s Story

    In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, we step back from Justin’s survivor story and examine the pattern beneath it. Justin believed in partnership. He leaned into responsibility, tried to stabilize tension, and carried the weight of keeping everything together. Over time, those strengths slowly shifted into over-functioning — where effort replaced evaluation, and stability depended increasingly on him alone. In this episode, we explore: how rapid commitment and shared responsibility can crowd out clarity why capable, dependable partners often stay longer in unstable dynamics how accusations and instability condition self-monitoring the illusion of control in relationships and how over-functioning can mask structural imbalance Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    25 min
  2. You Might Also Like: Infamous

    2D AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: Infamous

    Introducing Selena Gomez’s Failed Startup from Infamous. Follow the show: Infamous This week, Vanessa and Natalie talk to The Cut writer Angelina Chapin about Selena Gomez and her mother Mandy Teefey’s mental-health startup, Wondermind. They discuss allegations from former staff and the pressures created when celebrity and mental health advocacy become a business. Read Angelina’s story, “What Happened at Wondermind?” and stay tuned at the end of the episode for more on mother-daughter estrangement from Vanessa’s podcast, So Your Parents Are Old. Click ‘Subscribe’ at the top of the Infamous show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts  Read Vanessa’s book, Blurred Lines: Sex, Power and Consent on Campus, and check out Natalie on Instagram at @natrobe To connect with Infamous's creative team, join the community at joincampsidemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. 3D AGO

    He Was a Team Player — But His Teammate Never Told Him the Rules | Justin’s Story

    In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Justin shares the story of a relationship where he believed he was part of a team — until he realized he had been navigating it alone. What began as a promising relationship with his second wife quickly accelerated into a rushed engagement, marriage, and parenthood. Justin noticed early red flags — overreactions that left him feeling off balance and growing control over their finances that he struggled to fully understand. Still, he believed in working through challenges, trusting that commitment meant showing up, adapting, and doing his part. But over time, the emotional and financial pressure intensified. Justin found himself increasingly isolated, carrying responsibility while losing clarity and stability. As he worked harder to keep things together, the reality beneath the surface became harder to ignore.  It’s a story of rushed commitment, financial control, isolation, shame, obligation, guilt, fear, control, religious beliefs, being good enough, accusations, shifting expectations, divorce, custody, self-doubt, loss of identity, rebuilding, rediscovering freedom, finding peace in the small things again, and becoming the parent he always hoped to be.  CONTENT WARNING - This episode mentions child sexual abuse.  Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 16m

  4. 5D AGO

    He Married Her for Her Money — Inside a Financial Abuse Trap | Lyric’s Story (Rerelease)

    In this Narcissist Apocalypse rerelease, Lyric shares her story of surviving financial abuse inside her marriage. What began as persistence, charm, and devotion slowly turned into control, accusations, and financial exploitation. After marrying, Lyric found herself paying for nearly everything while her partner dismantled her stability piece by piece. This episode explores how financial abuse develops, why abusers target successful partners, and the warning signs survivors often recognize only in hindsight. It’s a story of persistence, creating narratives, peer pressure, the value of letting go, mirroring, love bombing, sexual abuse, shame, the fear of being alone, charisma, friends with good intentions, suffering in silence, lying, infidelity, gut feelings, legal mistakes, and divorce.   Content Warning - This episode briefly discusses childhood sexual abuse Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Narcissist Divorce Financial Abuse Quotes Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 38m

  5. 6D AGO

    When They Can’t Control You, They Punish You: Vindictive Narcissists

    In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse Q&A, we explore why some abusive partners don’t let go after the relationship ends — and instead escalate their behavior in an attempt to regain control. Many survivors expect leaving to bring peace. But for those dealing with a vindictive narcissist, separation can trigger retaliation, punishment, and prolonged psychological warfare. Drawing from survivor patterns we’ve heard in stories like Rose’s, and Wednesday’s, we break down what vindictive behavior really means, what causes it, and why it often emerges after a narcissistic injury — when the abuser experiences your independence as a threat to their identity and control. In this episode, we discuss: • Why narcissists escalate after you leave • What a narcissistic injury is and why it triggers retaliation • How vindictive narcissists weaponize courts, finances, and social systems • Why their behavior feels calculated rather than emotional • Why reasoning, appeasement, or fairness rarely stops the pattern • And the turning point survivors reach when they stop trying to fix the abuser and begin reclaiming themselves If you’ve ever felt punished for leaving, this episode will help you understand the psychology behind vindictiveness — and why their behavior was never a reflection of your worth, but of their need for control. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    12 min

  6. FEB 17

    When Trust Is Used to Take Control: Lessons from Rose’s Story

    In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon examines the psychological patterns underneath Rose’s survivor story, focusing on how trust, vulnerability, and emotional connection can be gradually used to establish control. Rose entered her relationship independent, capable, and financially secure. She had built a life on her own and trusted her ability to maintain it. But over time, what initially felt like partnership slowly became something else. Through shared decisions, emotional influence, shifting promises, and the strategic use of vulnerability, Rose’s autonomy was quietly dismantled. What once belonged entirely to her began to feel uncertain, conditional, and no longer fully under her control. Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    27 min

  7. FEB 15

    The Belittling Con Man Who Took Everything: Rose’s Story

    In this episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Rose shares her journey of surviving childhood abuse, coercive control, and financial exploitation at the hands of a manipulative partner who quietly dismantled her autonomy. Growing up, Rose endured sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect, and chronic betrayal from the very people meant to protect her. With no safe parent, no validation, and no protector, Rose learned to survive by becoming invisible, self-reliant, and emotionally self-contained — carrying shame that would later be weaponized against her. As an adult, Rose built independence, financial stability, and a life of her own. But when she met a charismatic lawyer who quickly love-bombed her, he exploited her vulnerabilities, her longing for family, and her deeply conditioned tendency to people-please. What began as excitement and possibility slowly revealed itself as financial abuse, sexual coercion, emotional degradation, and relentless manipulation. It’s a story of childhood trauma, shame, scapegoating, put downs, people pleasing, excuses, dangling carrots - shifting goal posts, breadcrumbs of attention, depression, exhaustion, verbal abuse, breakup threats, power dynamics, complying, self blame, victim hood, love bombing, financial abuse, future faking, goalpost shifting, trauma bonding, guilt manipulation, sexual coercion, post-separation abuse, legal intimidation, psychological collapse, suicidal ideation,  rebuilding independence, and ultimately reclaiming autonomy.  Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation, physical abuse, sexual coercion, and childhood sexual abuse.  Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Coercive Control as Care: Signs & Patterns Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 25m

  8. FEB 12

    Letters To The Narcissist (Volume 3) | Rerelease

    In this re-release episode of Narcissist Apocalypse, Brandon and his old pal Melissa listen to unsent 'Letters To My Narcissist' that they received from a handful of courageous narcissistic abuse survivors. It's an emotional roller coaster of an episode that will make you laugh and cry, with some goosebumps in between. Prepare to be impacted.   CONTENT WARNING - Some letters discuss sexual assault and child abuse  Click if you want to be a guest on our survivor story podcast, please send us an email at narcissistapocalypse@pm.me Click on the title to read about Self Gaslighting & Why You Doubt Your Reality Sign up to our Domestic Violence Newsletter  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 11m
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4.7
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About

Narcissist Apocalypse is a Purple Ribbon Award-winning storytelling podcast that amplifies the voices of those who have experienced narcissistic abuse, coercive control, emotional abuse, domestic violence, family relationship abuse, and relationship trauma. Our guests share their stories of abuse survival, providing a source of validation, education, inspiration, and hope for those going through similar experiences. Join us and discover how you, too, can overcome the narcissist apocalypse.

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