Last week, I released an episode from my podcast, Bent Not Broken, that discussed unresolved trauma and its impact. Having dealt with some trauma in my own life, I was surprised to learn how unresolved trauma can manifest itself in our bodies – physically and emotionally – and I wanted to learn more.

The holidays are often wrapped in sparkle, celebration, and family gatherings. But for many people—especially women navigating divorce, healing from emotional abuse, or rebuilding life after trauma—this time of year brings something very different:

Loneliness.
Silence.
Grief.
Triggering memories.
And a sense of not belonging anywhere.

As I’ve been interviewing guests for my new podcast, Bent Not Broken: Starting Over After Abuse, several have mentioned the term “covert narcissist.” I’ve experienced narcissistic behavior before, but it made me wonder—what’s the difference between a narcissist and a covert one? The word “narcissist” has become more familiar in recent years as research sheds light on this complex personality disorder.