As a psychotherapist, Vanessa has extensive experience with narcissism based on her own encounter with a narcissist in her personal life and so she offers not just the clinical perspective, but an extreme and very exclusive story of abuse. She has developed a coaching program based on her own experience and what helped her to recover from her psychological trauma after fleeing from her narcissist in the middle of the night.

Her practice works to educate you on narcissism and what/who you are actually dealing with; Narcissism is categorized as a personality disorder by the mental health profession and is referred to as NPD or Narcissistic Personality Disorder, but it is FAR bigger than what is stated clinically in the DSM-V and few people are diagnosed because few people go to therapy.

Vanessa ran across the state of New York in a wedding dress to raise awareness about narcissistic abuse. In this episode, she shares her unique perspective on narcissism and cults, the brain damage caused by narcissistic abuse & trauma and actionable tips for survivors.

Connect with Vanessa:

Visit her WEBSITE

Follow her on INSTAGRAM

Order her BOOK

Find a THERAPIST

We LOVE collecting 5 stars -- Don't forget to follow, leave a review or rating and share Drinking With Gin. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 And share your favorite episode with a friend!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

ine+ nutrition: Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inenutrition.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use discount code GIN10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order today! *Discount code does not apply to sample packs or stacking to a subscription purchase.

Xtressé: Head to ⁠www.Xtresse.com⁠ to learn more. Ready to get started today? Visit ⁠www.germaindermatology.com⁠ and use code GIN20 at checkout to receive 20% off your order!

Sajic Skin Science: Use code GIN20 at ⁠www.sajicskin.com⁠ to receive 20% off Rejuvenat today! *Offer valid for US and Canada residents.

Connect with Ginny:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Ginny on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ginny for Speaking⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to Ginny's free newsletter⁠

⁠⁠⁠Watch the episodes on YOUTUBE

Since this episode is a New Year's Day 🎉 episode on January 1, 2025, it seemed fitting to discuss resolutions, goals, affirmations, intentions, and having a word of the year.

Let's start discussing what we are going to UNSUBSCRIBE from in 2025. Leave yours in the comments ⤵️ or send a DM on Instagram.

This Season 3 launch also shares updates on happenings and learnings between Season 2 and Season 3. This includes Ginny becoming a Swiftie, getting a tattoo in honor of her favorite guy -- her dad, and the importance of going on solo trips or "soul-o" trips.

And of course there is always a tie in to narcissism and toxic people.

We LOVE collecting 5 stars -- Don't forget to follow, leave a review or rating and share Drinking With Gin. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 And share your favorite episode with a friend!

Special thanks to our sponsors:

ine+ nutrition: Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inenutrition.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use discount code GIN10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order today! *Discount code does not apply to sample packs or stacking to a subscription purchase.

Xtressé: Head to www.Xtresse.com to learn more. Ready to get started today? Visit www.germaindermatology.com and use code GIN20 at checkout to receive 20% off your order!

Sajic Skin Science: Use code GIN20 at www.sajicskin.com to receive 20% off Rejuvenat today! *Offer valid for US and Canada residents.

Connect with Ginny:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Ginny on INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ginny for Speaking

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to Ginny's free newsletter

⁠⁠Watch the episodes on YOUTUBE

This episode unpacks a concept called mirroring. This has been studied by psychologists for years and can be used to create connection between people.

BUT...when narcissists implement this craft, it's dangerous and incredibly manipulative. Narcissists lack a true identity, so they study you: your mannerisms, what you like to eat, your likes and dislikes, where you like to go, your interests, your hobbies, your dreams, ambitions. This is so they can create a desirable image for their target.

They tend to do this in the idealization phase when they are love bombing you, showering you with attention. This is to create a false sense of intimacy and closeness with their targets. Maybe it's even making you feel like they're your "soul mate." If it feels too good to be true...it might be.

None of the narcissist's behavior is authentic and why it's so dangerous. They are looking to gain control of the target and fuel their ego. It can create a toxic cycle in the relationship if it goes on long enough and creates confusion for the target when the narcissist begins the devaluation phase.

Mirroring tends to happen most in the idealization phase and this is part of the narcissistic mask. They will string you along with this vision until they have you hooked and for as long as they can until the mask starts to slip.

Healthy relationships tend to have some things in common and some differences.

Listen through to the end to hear how you can increase your NarcDAR™️: How to Recognize, Respond & Repel narcissists. This will help you become more aware and how to best navigate if you believe you might be dealing with a narcissist or if you have or are experiencing mirroring.

Resources:

ARTICLE

Don't forget to follow, leave a review or rating and share Drinking With Gin. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Special thanks to our sponsor, ine+ nutrition! Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.inenutrition.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use discount code GIN10 at checkout to receive 10% off your order today! *Discount code does not apply to sample packs or stacking to a subscription purchase.

Connect with Ginny:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for speaking

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LINKEDIN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to free newsletter

⁠YOUTUBE