"How is beach-combing abuse? It isn't. It is a lure used by the charming narcissist who took away my confidence, controlled how I acted, what I said, what music I listened to, what friends I had. Gaslighting, control,and games.

He love-bombed me with beach trips, heart rocks, flattering social media posts. And the words, so many words. He told me stories of his "crazy exes that made him the victim. He used feelings for me to feel sorry for him, to make me feel I was making him a better person. He made me feel like HE had always been the victim.

Once you have fallen in love with a narcissist, it is torture. The abuse is so subtle and I'm not sure why I was so quick to fall but I did, I fell for all of his games.

I ignored these red flags: He couldn't hold a job for long, did not have close friends.

The wake up call I needed was a girl describing to me the way he lied, and built her up with words in the same way he did with me. I was not "making him a better person." This was NOT love. This was a

game. Emotional abuse leaves deep scars. It changes you. If you think you may be struggling with a narcissist, seek help, talk about it. A BIG thank you to Patrisha McLean and the Finding Our Voices tribe ofstrong individuals!”