Did you know that narcissistic abuse causes your brain to literally change structure? Some people would say that means it causes brain damage. But there’s good news. You can change it back, thanks to a recently-discovered concept called neuroplasticity. By using this simple sort of “brain training,” you can overcome the effects of abuse – including panic attacks, stress, depression, fear, and more. This is science-based recovery from narcissistic abuse.
If you’re not already familiar with the concept of neuroplasticity, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about it, because these days, it just might be offering hope for survivors of narcissistic abuse in their healing.
Here is a quick introduction to neuroplasticity that can help you understand more about how this works.
What is neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity, according to a 2017 report, is “the remarkable ability of the brain to reorganize itself in response to various sensory experiences.” In layman’s terms, it means that our brains can sort of “rewire themselves” by forming new neural connections throughout life. This means that the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain can compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment.
Do adults still have neuroplastic brains?
The general belief used to be that after a certain age, the brain was pretty much sort of “set” in its ways. But relatively recent research seems to confirm that adults are also known to have neuroplastic brains, and researchers say this is good news for anyone who wants to create change in their lives. This article offers a thorough explanation of this concept and the science behind it.
If you want to dig into the science a little deeper, check out these resources too.
- Neuroplasticity: Learning Physically Changes the Brain – Edutopia
- Neuroplasticity and Positive Psychology in Clinical Practice – SCIRP.org
Tapping Into Your Bran’s Neuroplasticity for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
What does neuroplasticity have to do with narcissistic abuse recovery?
For the purposes of recovering from narcissistic abuse, adult neuroplasticity offers us something kind of amazing. Because we can intentionally control this process if we choose to do so, we can intentionally choose exactly what we want to change, at least up to a point, and we can do so at will. Oh yes! In other words, if you want to change the way your brain is working after the trauma of a toxic relationship, you can. You just have to tap into your brain’s natural ability to change – its neuroplasticity.
Mindfulness Helps Create Positive Change in Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
One point that I cannot stress enough here is that through the intentional practice of simple mindfulness techniques, you can begin to create actual change in your life.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is often used in both narcissistic abuse recovery as well as every day life, For the purposes of recovery, we use mindfulness to help us to intentionally focus on what is happening in any given moment. Even better, there are no special skills required – in fact, anyone can develop and use mindfulness to their advantage through the practice of meditation and through other training, such as the Intentional Vibration Management technique I teach.
What is Intentional Vibration Management?
Intentional vibration management is similar to mindfulness but it involves constantly being aware of your thoughts and emotions and choosing to intentionally form and experience both. In my experience, it can be used as part of a larger narcissistic abuse recovery program as a healthy way for survivors to take back control of their emotions, minds, experiences, and lives.
This video offers insight into intentional vibration management.
Resources for Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Support
- The QueenBeeing SPANily, Official – We consider this to be the best narcissistic abuse recovery support group on the web. Offers several subgroups and features a vigilant, compassionate admin team full of trained coaches and survivors, supporting more than 12k members. SPAN is an acronym created by Angie Atkinson that stands for Support for People Affected by Narcissistic abuse in toxic relationships.
- Other Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Support Groups – We also have separate groups for each stage in your narcissistic abuse recovery, as well as some for those who have moved past recovery and are evolving into the next stage of their own life. Survivors have unique and individual needs, even when they’ve moved on – so we’re still here for you.
- One-on-One Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Coaching – If you prefer to get more personalized support in your recovery, you might like to schedule a session with one of our coaches to plan and execute your own narcissistic abuse recovery plan.
- Find a Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Therapist – If you’re looking for a therapist for narcissistic abuse recovery, either because you cannot afford coaching and want to use your health insurance or because you have additional issues you need to address that do not fall within the realm of coaching, you will want to find the right therapist for you – and as far as we’re concerned, that therapist must understand what you’ve been through. This page offers assistance to help you do exactly that.
- Where Are You in Recovery? You might not be sure exactly where you fit in and what level of recovery you’ve achieved. If that’s the case, you’ll want to check out this self-assessment to help you determine exactly where you fall in the stages of recovery from narcissistic abuse. Once you finish and submit the assessment, you will be given resources for your own situation, along with recommendations of which groups to join.
- Which Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Program is Right for You? If you aren’t sure which program you want to utilize to facilitate your recovery from narcissistic abuse, this self-assessment will help you decide.
