Skip to main content

Narcissistic Abuse is Real!

Have you been a victim of gaslighting and struggled with emotional whiplash?
This photo was taken the day I woke up after having 11 hours of deep sleep. It has been months since I’ve had a restful sleep like that.

It was truly an awakening when I consulted a psychologist and was told to my face that I have been exhibiting symptoms of stress due to narcissistic abuse.
It was early this year that God’s word specifically told me to let go of a friend because we no longer share the same values and I need to protect my circle from narcissistic abuse as well.
But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate - Mark 6:11
It was a hard pill to swallow but I obeyed. With that came freedom.
The guilt of having to let go was a remnant of how my brain was wired to respond to a vulnerable narcissist. One who always plays a victim and gets furious when you set boundaries. It has taken its toll on my body by weakening my immune system and messing up with my cardio metabolic markers.
God said if I wanted to be healed I have to surrender the resentment and feelings of betrayal. I need to learn to forgive myself for allowing that abuse for many years. To extend grace and to decide to forgive. It simply means cutting off and trusting that God will take care of that person.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean everything is okay. It simply means you’re giving up your right to hurt back. Not to deny the abuse but to seek healing from Jesus and decide to forgive even if the heart doesn’t feel like it. Forgiveness doesn’t mean reconciliation and tolerating abuse if the other party isn’t willing to repent and allow true transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit.
After all, God commanded us to love our enemies. And praying for them to come to repentance from a distance is love.





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Dealing with Disappointments in the Desert

A desert is a place of death. One we might call,  godforsaken wasteland.  As a consequence of living in this fallen world, we go through deserts and sometimes even find ourselves stuck in this dreadful place. The deserts in our lives come in the form of inconvenience, disappointments, difficulties, pain and sufferings. What is the cause of all these? Sin, our wrong choices in life and the consequences of sin committed by others.   Why does God lead us into the desert?  Being in the desert is a humbling experience. You see, when we encounter difficult times, we are reminded of who we are and who God is. We experience His love and grace. We become more dependent on Him. It also puts us in a position wherein others notice our dire situation but not in any way to disgrace or shame us but rather see how God works in us. Our stories give hope to the hopeless. And we know that in all things God works for the good  of those who love him, who  have been...

Confessions of a single woman' s heart (CLOY Edition)

While almost everyone else was binge watching K-drama over the lockdown, I was too busy working long hours, from 6am to 12 midnight. I didn't realize that I have allowed people to overstep the boundaries of my time. I would get frantic calls from anxious patients, caregivers and whoever needs me at an ungodly hour. I would do my best to help them calm down while I was crying inside my heart.  I was emotionally, mentally and physically burned out after 8 long months. I began to resent the internet (online meetings and webinars were too much!) yet oh so grateful for it because it kept me connected to the people I love and it enabled me to work while many have unfortunately lost their jobs. It was on my birthday weekend in November 2020 that I finally had precious time to spare after months of striking a balance between taking care of my patients, remotely working for my family's businesses, ministry, coping as much as I could (because I terribly missed my family) and keeping my s...

Silly Prayers

Sometime in January this year, I saw beautiful flowers as I passed by a flower shop which prompted me to say a silly prayer: "God gusto ko ng flowers. Yung nice. (God I want nice flowers). But it should not come from a guy who has romantic illusions in mind."  Fast forward to a couple of weeks later, I received a dozen luxurious Ecuadorian roses from my female patient with a thank you note. You see, we have been through a lot the past two years and saw how the hand of God works!   That's one silly prayer answered but it didn't end there. On the same day, I said another silly prayer while attending an event at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel. I asked God to give me another surprise. Lo and behold, the hotel's GM called my name and handed me a gift certificate for an overnight stay with spa treatments!  Isn't Jesus romantic? He knows how to make my heart go lub dub. In June of 2010, I was exhausted after coming home from my Ateneo school trip in Vie...