The popular TLC show, “Sister Wives,” has sparked extensive conversation about polygamy, narcissism, and the dynamics of healthy relationships. Kody Brown, the family’s patriarch, has long been a vocal advocate for polygamy, often quoting that “love should multiply.” Over the years, Kody expanded his family from one wife to four, fathered eighteen children, and now finds himself back with just one wife. What led to this change?

Fans of TLC’s “Sister Wives” are getting a deeper look into the unraveling of Kody’s polygamous relationships, with three of his four wives now having separated from him. As with many relationship breakups, the blame game has taken center stage, making it even more challenging when children are involved.

Are there any fans of the TLC’s “Sister Wives” show out there? Or, perhaps, maybe you’ve watched an episode or two? You might be surprised to learn that I’ve been captivated by the show for several years and its 19th season has just started. Why the interest? The concept of polygamy piqued my curiosity — not only because I initially thought it was illegal, but also because it’s so fascinating. What kind of men and women choose this lifestyle, and how do they manage their relationships when even “traditional” marriages are challenging?

As most of us already know, October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.  This is the time when some light is shed on this very dark topic in an effort to bring awareness and education to stop the abuse.  Domestic abuse, also known as domestic violence, is a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Domestic abuse can occur within a range of relationships including married couples, cohabiting couples, or dating couples, and can affect individuals regardless of age, gender, economic standing, or sexual orientation.

Have you noticed when scrolling social media that the words “gaslighting” and “narcissism” seem to constantly appear?  Or perhaps listen to the news, particularly political news, and we hear or see gaslighting and narcissism in action.  So then what exactly is narcissism, and can it be prevented?

Having been subjected to gaslighting myself where I have written two books on the subject, I wondered if someone could be gaslighted unintentionally.  The answer is “yes”.  So, if the answer is “yes”, how and when can gaslighting be unintentional?  Let’s look at what this is.  Unintentional gaslighting often arises when individuals, without malicious intent, invalidate or dismiss another's feelings or experiences due to their own biases, misunderstandings, or lack of awareness. It can occur in various settings, including personal relationships, workplaces, or social interactions. Here are a few examples:

Almost 30 years ago, I found myself waking up in a psych ward realizing that I survived a suicide attempt.  The doctor came in and simply said, “Your environment is making you sick.”  That statement got my wheels in motion.  Laying in that room I reflected on the past seventeen years and what led me to attempt suicide.  I came to the heartbreaking conclusion I was not happy in my marriage and realized that I was constantly walking on eggshells.  Nothing I said or did was ever good enough.  I was always to blame for the slightest infraction and, quite simply, I wasn’t treated well.  In those days, they referred to this as verbal abuse.  Now they coin this gaslighting.

The holiday season is difficult for many people, especially for victims of domestic violence. Here are some reasons the holidays are especially hard for victims of domestic abuse:

As you may already know, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In my effort to continually educate on the red flags and subtleties of abuse, especially gaslighting, I wanted to point out five common misconceptions.

The other day, I was being interviewed about my novel on gaslighting and I was asked an interesting question.  The interviewer commented that he doesn’t recall anyone ever telling him that they were in an abusive relationship.  He was questioning whether my book could benefit him. 

What are the 7 stages of trauma bonding?

Hard to believe that 2022 is almost over. The book sales are going well and the novel, “Torched - Burnt By a Gaslighter”, can be found on my website at www.brokentoboldness.com or on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. It is also available in electronic format (i.e., Kindle).

Thank you all for the pre-orders! Due to Hurricane Ian, there was a shipping delay. I am expecting the novels on 10/19/22. As soon as I get them, I will be personally signing a message to each of you and then ship them. All novels will be shipped out by 10/21/22. Thank you all for your patience.