We’ve interviewed clinicians, best-selling authors, and global experts on the top of narcissism, psychopathy, and sociopathology. It’s past time to share the history of survivors. Our next guest, for her own safety, agreed to be interviewed under her pseudonym to discuss her book, her advocacy, and her experiences. She is an author and survivor of abuse at the hands of her former husband. Her book has been praised by survivors and clinicians as an extremely open, honest, and detailed account of what life is like when married to a psychopath. Please welcome MrsXNomore to Mental Health News Radio.
We recently interviewed author and speaker Bethany Yeiser on Mental Health News Radio. She shared her journey with schizophrenia, homelessness, and recovery. Today we enjoy speaking with her mother, Karen Yeiser. Karen has written what is a companion book to Bethany’s story.
One of the questions we asked Karen was how life may have been different for their family if her own book had been available during their years of struggle but also recovery. It was an honor to interview both mother and daughter on separate shows in order to understand what happens on both sides.
Karen was also generous with information listed in her article below to help other families going through this kind of a struggle. Please join us in welcoming Karen S. Yeiser on the show.
Kim Saeed is someone I’ve followed online for over a year. Her blog articles are amongst the top searches for all things related to healing from narcissistic abuse. She is unique in her approach because she focuses so much on the healing process which is considerable. Experts say it takes more time to recover from a breakup with a narcissist (be that a friendship, colleague, family member, partner, or spouse) because you have to grieve twice. You grieve first for the person the narcissist pretended to be (your most loyal friend, soulmate, perfect boss) and then you grieve yet again about the horror of who they actually are: your worst nightmare.
Exactlylike drug addiction you are high from the intensity during the initial stages of the relationship. You spend the rest of the entire relationship wanting to get back to that initial high that never comes. Being in a relationship with a narcissist is akin to being addicted to heroin. It will slowly kill you. Every time you leave and are wooed back it is worse which is why the term “No Contact” is the crucial point of Kim’s practice.
I am honored to have her as a guest on Mental Health News Radio. We go in depth about what these relationships are like, why it is imperative to cut off all contact for good, and how important your healing process is so you can recover.
I was lucky enough to spend the month of July this year in Italy with our CEO and host of Mental Health News Radio, Kristin Walker. Armed with high speed internet in our villa and the fact that Kristin does 75% of her work via phone and email, she was able to vacation some, work a lot, and spend some time volunteering. We were also there to grieve the passing of her father, my husband. Amidst all of this activity I wondered how she could possibly fit in volunteer work. But, not to worry, in one day she located ten volunteer organizations in Florence and fired off a simple email request asking if they would were available to discuss the work they do within the mental health community of Florence. This led to an invitation to meet with Dr. Paolo Molino, a local psychotherapist.
I went with Kristin to meet Dr. Molino (he prefers Paolo) at his office for 30 minutes, but he was so obviously enjoying their discussion that after 90 minutes he invited us to come with him to pick up his preschool daughter so they could continue talking. Their discussion ranged from why he chose this field and how he built his practice (he speaks excellent English as well as French, so can also work with foreign clients), the education and credentialing process in Italy, and his preference for therapy treatments (Gestalt). Just incidentally we also got a chance to be in the neighborhoods, not just the tourist areas, see a private Italian apartment-home, and drive (wildly!) through the streets to the local school.
It was important for Kristin to find out what his views were on mental health, what stigmas there are in Italy as opposed to the United States, and what his experience as a practitioner were like day-to-day. She told him about Mental Health News Radio and her audience of mostly behavioral health providers in the United States (we have a small but growing number in Ireland and the U.K.).
One of the most damaging psychological mechanisms an extreme narcissist will use in their tormented tool chest is SEX.
THE PROMISE OF IT THE MECHANICAL ACTION OF IT THE WITHHOLDING OF IT
We carefully use the word sex in relation to what happens because, to the narcissist, the beautiful act of making love is an impossibility. Sex is one of their most powerful weapons of your mass destruction. If you are a highly empathic person with an abundance of compassion, an intoxicating imagination, and issues around appropriate boundaries, you are the perfect meal for the emotional impotence of a narcissist.
On this episode of Mental Health News Radio author and counselor, Andrea Schneider, joins host Kristin Walker to discuss the relationship between narcissism and sex. In her book, Soul Vampires: Reclaiming Your Lifeblood After Narcissistic Abuse, Andrea takes readers on a journey through the phases of the romantic journey with a narcissist. She shares her expertise with us on the show and in co-writing the blog article to accompany this highly charged subject.
Two-time world champion boxer, Jesse James Leija, joins host Kristin Sunanta Walker on Mental Health News Radio to talk about the mind-body connection. Mental acuity, continued acts of service through advocacy, love of family, humility, and entrepreneurship are all at the heart of Jesse James Leija. He discusses the many phases of his career and how his training as a boxer kept him mentally and physically able to take on world champion competitors and stay in the ring. Please visit his website at www.jessejamesleija.com for more information about his organizations and the charities he not only supports financially but rolls up his sleeves and puts the hard work in day after day.
We had the pleasure of meeting Randy and Lydia Grimes at the Navigating the World of Addiction conference in Littleton Colorado. Randy and Lydia were there with the treatment center they passionately serve Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches. Sharing the stage to discuss their story as a family was inspiring for all of us. Randy made sure to invite Lydia to join him to share her part of the journey as well. Addiction is a family disease and hearing from both husband and wife was powerful. Randy was an American football player who played center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1983 to 1992. He also played for Baylor University during the early 1980’s and was part of the 1980 Southwest Conference Champion Bears. He is now an interventionist, speaker, and part of the team at Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches.
Our podcast is known for Keeping it Real and that is exactly what you get with Randy. This was very personal for the entire team at Mental Health News Radio and many of our listeners. A healing took place for all of us since meeting Randy and especially for our host Kristin Walker during this intimate and poignant interview. Our heartfelt thanks go out to him, his wife Lydia, his family and the staff of Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches.
Randy and Lydia continue to share their experience with addiction and recovery using their knowledge to help not only athletes but any family struggling with their road to recovery. We are honored to take part in working with Randy sharing the stories of the many lives saved because of USING YOUR VOICE.
Jean-Francois Benoist is the creator of Core Belief Restructuring™ (CBR) and the founder of The Exclusive Addiction Treatment Center in Hawaii. He is a certified professional counselor trained at The Option Institute International Learning and Training Center. He began his studies in human development and empowerment in 1983 with Robert Hargrove and Relationships, Inc., and has been deeply involved in mentoring others and training leaders for over twenty years. Jean-Francois is a worldwide leader in the men’s empowerment non-profit ManKind Project, which focuses on shame-release and support systems for healing.
Author of The Exclusive Guide to Becoming Deeply Happy, Jean-Francois has a depth of experience in helping individuals, couples and families address and heal issues involving addictions, physical violence, sexual abuse, relationship concerns, bereavement, critical health challenges, eating disorders, conflict resolution, and depression. He is versed in individual therapy as well as group counseling. The direct correlation between deeply-held beliefs and painful addictions is Jean-Francois’ highly-refined specialty. He is experienced and rigorously trained in a Socratic methodology and deep listening, enabling him to impart powerful life-changing skills that create immediate results.
Carmen Donato, BA, CATC III has worked with CAADE since 2014. She is currently the Outreach Coordinator for CAADE and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts in Human Services, with a concentration in Mental Health Recovery. She also has a Certificate of Completion in Alcohol & Drug Studies from Long Beach City College, one of CAADE’s accredited programs. She is credentialed as a Certified Addictions Treatment Counselor and Certified Prevention Specialist under CAADE’s organization. She is currently at Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, earning her Master’s Degree in Social Work and plans on also earning a Doctorate Degree in Forensics Psychology once completing her MA and after becoming an LCSW. Carmen loves her ministry, hanging with friends, spending time with family, different types of music, and learning new cultures. She wishes to also teach in the field of mental health, substance abuse, and addiction studies. Carmen is currently an Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician at St. John’s. Well Child and Family Center providing direct services to Spanish speaking, under-deserved low SES, Co-Occurring Dx, LGBTQIA+, and/or Dual Dx individuals, while using a holistic approach and working with a Muti-Disciplinary team.
www.caade.org
CAADE was a part of The Evolution of Addiction Treatment conference held in Los Angeles California in 2017.
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