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TL;DR Narcissistic families assign roles to keep control: one child idealized, the other blamed. The Golden Child is praised to uphold the parent’s image. The Scapegoat is blamed to carry the family’s problems. Both roles are harmful—and both children deserve healing, truth, and freedom from the script. In many narcissistic family systems, children are not…
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TL;DR Parentification forces children to grow up too fast. In narcissistic families, children are often made responsible for meeting the parent’s needs — emotional, practical, or both. This role reversal is called parentification, and it leaves deep scars of guilt, anxiety, and lost childhood. Childhood is meant to be a time of growth, play, and…
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Boundaries protect your peace — which is why unhealthy people resist them. In healthy families, boundaries are respected because the person matters. In narcissistic family systems, boundaries are treated as threats to control and image. A simple, calm “no” is enough to trigger pushback. You’re not the problem — the loss of their control is.…
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A mother’s love is meant to be nurturing, protective, and unconditional. But for many Adult Children of Narcissists (ACONs), their mother’s love came with strings attached — or worse, was used as a tool of control. Recognizing the red flags of a narcissistic mother is not about blame — it’s about clarity. If you grew…
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For many Adult Children of Narcissists (ACONs), criticism wasn’t rare — it was daily life. Instead of encouragement, warmth, or guidance, you may have received a steady stream of negative comments about your appearance, abilities, or worth. For many ACONs the focus was on the passions of your life. Over time, constant criticism becomes more…
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Many Adult Children of Narcissists (ACONs) describe their childhood homes the same way: “I always felt like I was walking on eggshells.” This phrase captures the constant tension, fear, and unpredictability that comes with growing up in a narcissistic family system. But here’s the truth: walking on eggshells is not normal. It’s a sign of…
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When people think of family abuse, they often imagine shouting, violence, or obvious cruelty. But for many Adult Children of Narcissists (ACONs), the deepest wounds come not from what was done to them, but from what was withheld. This is called emotional neglect. Understanding the difference between neglect and abuse is important for healing. Both…
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One of the most mind melting and confusing forms of abuse in narcissistic families is gaslighting — the supreme manipulation tactic which makes you question your own reality. For Adult Children of Narcissists (ACONs), gaslighting often begins in childhood and continues into adulthood, leaving deep wounds of self-doubt and confusion. Gaslighting isn’t always obvious. It’s…