No Visible Bruises

• Men Can Be Victims Of Narcissistic Abuse Too

  In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Russell Tellup, a brave and deeply reflective man who opens up about the childhood abuse that shaped every corner of his life. From a young age, Russell was made to feel like the problem. Unseen. Unheard. Unloved. His sense of worth was crushed before it had a chance to form, leaving him to carry the unbearable belief that he didn’t matter.As we talk, Russell shares how those early wounds followed him into adulthood, leading him into relationships with narcissistic partners who mirrored the same emotional neglect and manipulation he experienced as a child. What unfolds in this conversation is raw and real. There are moments of deep sadness. There’s anger. And there’s a profound sense of clarity as he begins to piece together the lifelong pattern of trauma that kept him stuck as he now helps other men in this position.This is not just a story of pain, it’s a story of awakening. Russell’s courage to speak his truth is what transforms it. And in his vulnerability, you’ll find extraordinary strength.So often, we don’t hear the stories of men who’ve endured narcissistic abuse. But it happens. And it matters. Russell’s voice cuts through the silence and reminds us that abuse doesn’t discriminate, it just hides where shame lives.If you’ve ever felt like the black sheep, like you were never enough, or like you kept attracting the same kind of pain, you are not alone. This conversation will stay with you. Russell’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest places, there is the possibility of healing, and there is always power in finally being heard.If you need to get in touch with Russell, he has a private Facebook community for men: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AYsbsh7uw/Don’t ever be alone in your journey and make sure you come and join my private Facebook community, No Visible Bruises where you can connect with other survivors of narcissistic abuse, domestic abuse and coercive control:https://www.facebook.com/groups/novisiblebruisesDisclaimer:The views and opinions shared in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and are intended for informational and educational purposes only. They do not substitute professional or medical advice. If you’ve been affected by anything discussed in today’s episode, please consider reaching out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional for support. You’re not alone, and help is always available

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• My Childhood & Narcissistic Abuse Caused My Lyme Disease

  This is not the kind of story that wraps up neatly with a bow. Rebecca Fraser’s story is raw, messy, and unfinished because healing after deep betrayal, family fracture, and years of abusive relationships with narcissists is never clean or simple. It’s the kind of survival story that digs into the parts most people don’t want to talk about, the shame, the loneliness, the repeated heartbreak, and the unbearable weight of carrying trauma in your body for years.In this episode, Rebecca shares her lived experience of growing up in a home torn apart by infidelity and addiction, being cast as the “problem child,” shuffled into foster care as a teenager, and entering a series of romantic relationships that only deepened her wounds. Alongside this emotional pain, she has been fighting a long battle with Lyme disease, a battle she believes was intensified by the unrelenting stress and trauma she endured.We explore the nervous system scars left by betrayal trauma, the painful roles children are assigned within dysfunctional families, and the long-term impact of being repeatedly gaslit, invalidated, and silenced not just by partners, but by family and community. Rebecca speaks openly about the heartbreak of losing friendships, the feeling of being “too much” for others, and the internal struggle of not trusting herself to choose safe people anymore. Don’t ever be alone in your journey and make sure you come and join my private Facebook community, No Visible Bruises where you can connect with other survivors of narcissistic abuse, domestic abuse and coercive control:https://www.facebook.com/groups/novisiblebruises.Disclaimer:The views and opinions shared in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and are intended for informational and educational purposes only. They do not substitute professional or medical advice. If you’ve been affected by anything discussed in today’s episode, please consider reaching out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional for support. You’re not alone, and help is always available.

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• Narcissistic Marriage, Alcoholic Mother & Emotionally Unavailable Father

  In today’s episode, I sit down with Radka Crossley, an incredibly courageous woman whose story will stay with you long after the episode ends. Radka spent 18 years in an abusive marriage to a narcissist, but the roots of her pain began long before that. Raised by an alcoholic mother and an emotionally unavailable father, her nervous system was wired for survival from a very young age.Together, we explore how her early childhood environment shaped the parts of her that tolerated abuse, ignored red flags, and questioned her own worth. This episode is a powerful exploration of inner child wounding, attachment trauma, and how patterns of neglect and addiction in our upbringing can set the stage for toxic, coercive relationships later in life.Radka’s story is heartbreaking, raw, and full of insight but it’s also a story of resilience. You’ll hear how she began to slowly find her way back to herself, reclaiming her voice, and starting to understand that none of it was ever her fault.This one is especially for you if you’ve ever wondered,Why did I stay so long?Why do I keep attracting unavailable people?Why does this feel so familiar, even when it hurts?Radka’s story lifts the lid on the shame so many survivors carry and together, we bring compassion to the parts of her still holding the pain. This conversation will help you feel less alone and more seen in your own healing journey.Don’t ever be alone in your healing.Come and join my private Facebook community, No Visible Bruises, where you can connect with other survivors of narcissistic abuse, domestic abuse, and coercive control:https://www.facebook.com/groups/novisiblebruisesDisclaimer:The views and opinions shared in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and are intended for informational and educational purposes only. They do not substitute professional or medical advice. If you’ve been affected by anything discussed in today’s episode, please consider reaching out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional for support. You’re not alone, and help is always available.

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• Cocaine Numbed The Pain Of Narcissistic Abuse

  In today’s episode, I interview Mandy Metters, a recovered cocaine addict. You’ll hear her story of resilience, strength and shame that because of her abuse, she turned to drugs to numb out the pain of feeling worthless. She grew up with a narcissistic, alcoholic father and was diagnosed with bi polar. Or was this all because of trauma? Mandy’s courage and resilience shine through alongside the pain of the shame. You will see us examine those shame parts of her and the emotions still trapped in her body due to the trauma of experiencing narcissistic abuse. This one is definitely for you if you took a substance to numb out your pain and we lift that shame and celebrate the beauty of a nervous system trying to protect you. Don’t ever be alone in your journey and make sure you come and join my private Facebook community, No Visible Bruises where you can connect with other survivors of narcissistic abuse, domestic abuse and coercive control:https://www.facebook.com/groups/novisiblebruises.Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and are intended for informational and educational purposes only. They do not substitute professional or medical advice. If you’ve been affected by anything discussed in today’s episode, please consider reaching out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional for support. You’re not alone, and help is always available.

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  1:00:33
• Narcissistic Abuse & Cheating - A True Story of Bigamy

  In our 2nd episode of my rebranded podcast, No Visible Bruises sharing real survivor stories of narcissistic abuse, domestic abuse and coercive control, I sit down with Sandra Dec. I knew this would be a raw yet familiar conversation about narcissistic abuse. But very quickly, her story unfolded into something far more complex, a web of betrayal, cheating, hidden pasts, and shocking truths that could rival any Netflix drama.What began as love was built on lies- bigamy, secret families, manipulation, and the slow erosion of self-worth. But Sandra’s story is not just about what happened to her. It’s about how she survived… and how she healed.In this episode, we explore how trauma lives in the body and how reconnecting with physical awareness and grounding practices can help you heal. We unpack the patterns of deception and narcissistic abuse that creep in over time, often rooted in childhood wounds and shaped by familiar dynamics from narcissistic parenting.We talk about emotional and financial abuse, the invisible kind, the slow self-sacrifice, the erosion of identity, the subtle control that doesn’t leave bruises. We go deep into the confusing experience of reactive abuse and self-blame, where victims are left doubting themselves more than their abuser.And we explore why leaving isn’t as simple as walking away and how survival responses, fear, physiology, and a longing for love can keep people stuck in places they know are breaking them.But this is also a story of rising. Of breaking generational cycles. Of embracing the shadow self and finding safety in truth, self-love, and the courage to reclaim identity.This episode is for anyone who has ever doubted their reality. Who’s ever stayed too long. Who has ever been cheated on. Who’s learning to trust themselves again.Sandra’s story will stay with you, not just because of the twists and turns, but because of her strength, her honesty, and the light she now shines for others.So take a deep breath, and press play. This one is powerful.Don’t ever be alone in your journey and make sure you come and join my private Facebook community, No Visible Bruises where you can connect with other survivors of narcissistic abuse, domestic abuse and coercive controlhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/novisiblebruises.Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in this podcast are those of the individuals involved and are intended for informational and educational purposes only. They do not substitute professional or medical advice. If you’ve been affected by anything discussed in today’s episode, please consider reaching out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional for support. You’re not alone, and help is always available.

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  1:04:09

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