In this episode of Mother Mayhem, we’re talking about one of the most emotionally damaging tactics used by narcissistic and emotionally limited mothers: the silent treatment.

This episode explores the emotional and psychological effects of the silent treatment and provides listeners with strategies to heal and regain control of their lives.

When your narcissistic mother uses silence as a weapon, it doesn’t just hurt in the moment. It lingers, leaving you trapped in a cycle of self-doubt, anxiety, and emotional chaos.

Learn how to recognize these behaviors for what they are: emotional manipulation. Learn how to break free from the cycle of seeking approval and validation from someone who will never give it to you.

Key points discussed in this episode:

• The Silent Treatment as Emotional Manipulation: Understanding how the silent treatment is used by narcissistic mothers to control, manipulate, and emotionally harm.
  

• The Impact on Your Nervous System: Why silence triggers fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses and how this affects your mental health and emotional regulation.
  

• Breaking the Cycle: Practical steps to stop chasing approval and reclaim your peace.
  

• Nervous System Regulation and Self-Trust: How calming your nervous system and rebuilding self-trust is crucial for healing from the silent treatment.
  

• Moving Beyond the Silence: What to do when your mother’s silence ends, how to prepare for re-engagement, and how to protect yourself from falling back into old patterns.
  

Healing Strategies:

This episode provides actionable advice to help you:

• Recognize the toxic patterns of behavior from your narcissistic mother.

• Manage anxiety and emotional overwhelm caused by the silent treatment.
  

• Focus on self-trust and emotional regulation to reclaim your peace.
  

• Set boundaries and break free from the need for external validation.

Mayhem is here to support you as you navigate the complexities of healing from narcissistic abuse. The journey may be long, but breaking the cycle of emotional manipulation starts today.

If you’re ready to stop chasing approval and reclaim your peace, join us in Mayhem Daughters, our trauma-informed community where daughters of narcissistic mothers come together to heal and support each other.

Check out the Tuesday Group and Thursday Group, where you’ll find the connection, support, and guidance you need on your journey of healing.

Also mentioned: Simple Scripts for Saying Hard Things

In today’s episode of Mother Mayhem, we dive deep into the process of healing from narcissistic abuse and I offer insight into how daughters of narcissistic and emotionally limited mothers can begin to trust themselves and find joy in their lives again.

If you've struggled to feel safe in your body, or have a hard time trusting yourself after years of emotional neglect or narcissistic manipulation, this episode is for you. I walk you through the three key pillars of healing: nervous system safety, emotional processing, and self-trust.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Understanding the role of the nervous system in healing from trauma

• How to process your emotions safely and without fear of being overwhelmed

• The importance of self-trust in healing and how to start rebuilding it

• Learning to embrace vulnerability and enjoy life despite your past trauma

• Why healing from narcissistic abuse isn’t a one-time fix but a continuous journey of self-compassion and growth

• Grief as a part of healing: How it helps us let go of the past

• Reclaiming joy and learning to connect with others around you without fear of being hurt again
  

Want to feel more supported on your healing journey?

Join Mayhem Daughters, our online community for Daughters

Bring it to TUESDAY GROUP

Bring it to THURSDAY GROUP

Find me at: Heather@DaughtersNPD.com to get more information or share your story.

Also mentioned: Simple Scripts for Saying Hard Things

Welcome to Mother Mayhem, the podcast for daughters of narcissistic and emotionally limited mothers. In today’s episode, we dive into one of the most common struggles many daughters face: questioning whether their childhood trauma and mother wound "count."

If you've ever found yourself wondering, "Am I overreacting?" or "Is my experience really trauma?" this episode is for you. Whether you’ve been dealing with emotional neglect, narcissistic manipulation, or toxic family dynamics, it’s common to doubt the validity of your feelings.

In this episode, we explore:

• The struggle of self-doubt: How trauma brain and wise mind are often at odds, leaving you stuck in a loop of questioning whether your experiences are “bad enough” to be considered trauma.
  

• The shame spiral: Why you may feel guilty or ashamed for even acknowledging the pain of your mother wound, and how this internal conflict can keep you stuck in emotional turmoil.
  

• Understanding narcissistic abuse: How narcissistic mothers and emotionally limited parents create environments where their daughters question their reality and invalidate their feelings.
  

• Practical tips for breaking the cycle: Tools and strategies to help you navigate the tension between your trauma brain and wise mind, so you can start validating your own experiences and reclaiming your peace.
  

If you’re wondering whether your trauma “counts” or if you feel like you’ve been stuck in a cycle of doubt and guilt, this episode will help you understand why—and more importantly, how to break free.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• Tuesday Group

• Thursday Group

• Mayhem Daughters

• Simple Scripts for Saying Hard Things
  

Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share it with someone who might benefit. Your support helps the show reach more daughters in need of community and healing.