The Rising Beyond Podcast
Are you ready to thrive as you are coming out of a toxic or abusive relationship? Join Sybil Cummin, a licensed professional counselor who has specialized in working with victims and survivors of domestic violence and narcissistic abuse for over a decade and runs a membership community for women on their healing journey. On this podcast you will finally feel understood and your experience will be validated as you learn tangible strategies to handle family court, coparent with your abuser, improve your connection with your children, and heal from the trauma of narcissistic abuse and domestic violence.
The Rising Beyond Podcast
Ep 80: Reclaiming Parenthood: Redefining Your Identity After Narcissistic Abuse
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
One of the best weapons of a narcissistic partner is to shame you into believing you are a horrible parent.
Abusers use many tactics while in a relationship with their victim in order to illicit shame including gaslighting, constant criticism, counter parenting, questioning every decision made, and getting you to doubt your abilities to take care of your children.
These tactics cause significant harm in how you identify yourself as a parent and then how you parent your children.
The constant hypervigilance and anxiety you experience while living with your abusive partner causes you to parent in ways that are not authentic to you as well.
And then even once you have left, the constant criticism continues post separation and you are also feeling judged by the larger system of how you parent.
So, how can you start to redefine your sense of self as a safe, confident, and protective parent?
First, it is important to look at the dynamics you experienced in your family of origin. Explore any patterns of shame, criticism, or unhealthy dynamics in your upbringing.
Second, define who you want to be and what you want your relationship with your children to look like as a parent. This clarity can create a plan for action.
Next, it is important to become aware of your current strengths as a parent. If this is difficult for you to identify your strengths, find small positive parenting moments to acknowledge. And as you accrue more of these smaller moments, they will lead to more confidence that you are a good parent.
Then separate your abusers narrative from who you know you are as a parent.
If this feels impossible or you need more support, reach out to a therapist, parenting coach, or support group. Your strengths can be mirrored back to you in these settings which will improve your sense of self and help you redefine your identity as a parent.
Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.
If you want to chat more about this topic I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc
If you want to support the show you may do so here at, Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.
If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/
Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
Rising Beyond Facebook
Rising Beyond LinkedIn
Rising Beyond Pinterest
If you're interested in guesting on the show please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7
Enjoy some of our freebies!