If you’ve ever confronted a narcissist about the pain they’ve caused you, you probably didn’t get an apology—or if you did, it was hollow and laced with manipulation. That’s because narcissists don’t actually care if they traumatized you. What they do care about, however, is controlling the story. The Truth Doesn’t Matter to Them—The Story Does Narcissists thrive on perception. Their biggest fear isn’t that they’ve hurt you—it’s that others will see them for who they really are. So instead of acknowledging the harm they’ve caused, they rewrite reality to make themselves the victim, the hero, or the misunderstood genius....

Abuse doesn’t always look the way we expect. It’s not always bruises or raised voices. Sometimes, it’s silent manipulation, slow isolation, or the constant erosion of your self-worth. Abuse can take many forms—physical, emotional, verbal, financial, or psychological—and recognizing it is the first step toward breaking free.

We’ve been told that love, success, and even our worth are measured by how much we give to others. Sacrificing our time, energy, and even happiness can feel like the ultimate proof of devotion—whether in relationships, careers, or friendships. But when does self-sacrifice stop being noble and start becoming self-destructive?

Unconditional love is often seen as the purest form of love—one that exists without expectations, conditions, or limits. It is love that remains steadfast through hardships, mistakes, and change. However, unconditional love does not mean unconditional self-sacrifice.