Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
Music commentary
Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
Breaking Chains: Rising Above Narcissistic Abuse
What happens when brave women decide to break their silence? Rising Above Narcissistic Abuse Volume 3 brings together survivors who've transformed their pain into purpose, offering hope to anyone trapped in the isolating cycle of narcissistic relationships.
These powerful stories reveal the many faces of narcissistic abuse - emotional manipulation, gaslighting, financial control, and psychological warfare - tactics designed to keep victims disoriented and dependent. As anthology creator Ina Johnson Myers explains, many victims don't recognize what's happening to them, thinking they're "just being too sensitive" while their sense of reality is systematically dismantled.
The authors share intimate details of their journeys: how Eula recognized God's voice telling her "you need to get out," how Regina's unexplained physical ailments mysteriously vanished after leaving her abuser, and how Vicki found herself financially trapped despite previously being independent. Each story illuminates the gradual, insidious nature of narcissistic control, where what begins as love transforms into a cage.
What sets this anthology apart is its unflinching honesty about the recovery process. These women don't just tell you about the abuse - they reveal the exact strategies that helped them heal. From practicing gratitude and "scrubbing your mind daily with the word" to using poetry as a way to reclaim their voice, their practical wisdom serves as both validation and roadmap.
Most powerfully, these stories demonstrate how sharing your truth creates ripples of healing that extend far beyond yourself. As these brave authors step into their authentic power, they create permission for others to do the same.
Are you ready to break the silence around narcissistic abuse? Whether you're personally affected or supporting someone who is, this anthology offers the validation, strategies, and hope needed to move from surviving to thriving. Available May 15th on Amazon - let these voices guide you toward reclaiming your own.
Hey there, I'm Jacqueline Cox, but you might know me as ListenLinda. Um, where do I even begin? I guess you could say I wear many hats Podcast host, entrepreneur, Mrs Illinois, usa, and so much more but it all started with a simple passion to tell stories and empower others. Building a platform wasn't easy. There were days when I wondered if anyone was even listening. But then something amazing happened. I realized the power of my voice. Suddenly, my words were reaching people, touching lives, making a difference. Now I see my mission clearly to create spaces where every voice can be heard, because when we listen to each other's stories, we grow, we connect, we become stronger. Every voice matters, every story has power. So what's your story? I'm here to listen and together we can make our voices echo far and wide. To be a guest on Listen Linda. Contact Jacqueline Cox on Facebook Messenger.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I am back, season eight. I'm super excited and we are kicking down the door with the women from Rising Above Narcissistic Abuse, volume 3. Let's give each other a round of applause. We got the ladies in the building tonight. Yes, I am here. I'm with my girl, ina. We got Eula, we got Vicky, we got Regina and we are in the building to talk to you guys tonight about rising above narcissistic abuse. This is the third volume of the trilogy, ok, and we could not be more excited to give you guys more information about this. Let's start with Miss Ina. Ina, tell me what made you start this anthology and how important is it to you that people who are rising above narcissistic abuse voices be heard?
Speaker 4:Actually, this was an assignment from God. This anthology was an assignment from God because I had no desire to do this when I went over to I think it was Rome, when I was talking about narcissistic abuse and the difference between healthy and narcissistic loving relationships. God gave me that vision at that time that, although I'm sharing my voice right now, that he even gave me the name, that this platform is going to host many women sharing their voice, not just in Rome but across the world sharing their voice, not just in Rome but across the world, and for those people who don't know who you are and your background and your brand, can you give us a little more insight about who you are and what it is that?
Speaker 4:you do and a little bit about your background. Thank you, I am Ina Johnson Myers. I'm a seven-time best-selling author, an international speaker and a resiliency coach. After 24 years of the military, this is just something that, even though while I was in the military I was dealing with this, I didn't know what it was. Many of us that have been in narcissistic relationships we don't know what it is. We think that we're being, you know, drama and dramatical, you know being too sensitive, but it was something that I was dealing with, like I said, back in, you know, while I was in the military and then, after I got out retired, it was still something that I dealt with. I actually had a relationship before the military that but I thought that was a was a one and done situation. I did not understand the mindset of that. So this is something I said, using those experiences, and God just gave. Like I said when I had my final one, my ex it was just something that God's like yes, this is what you're going to do.
Speaker 4:I lost my voice and through, you know, him building me up, through him empowering me, he gave me my voice back. When I started this, this journey, I was in my prayer closet, having a panic attack on the ground, and he's the one that told me to get up. I audibly heard this voice to get up and get in front of my computer, and he started this whole process for me using my voice and helping other people use their voice to help people, like I said, around the world to share our journeys. Narcissistic abuse was actually a thing before COVID. Covid was the catalyst that started tearing the walls off of this thing, and so, because of COVID, so many people have been able to speak out, but they're using their voice to speak out on a global platform, because this is something that we probably won't get it resolved, but we want to give women and men have that situation too, but we deal with women to give women the option and the understanding of what it is and give them the tools to help them get the healing they need.
Speaker 2:A lot of times, you know people, when they hear the word abuse, they always think that it's just physical. And when dealing with narcissists is way deeper than that. It could be physical, mentally, emotionally abuse, and I'm so, so, very grateful that you have this platform and you're giving people the opportunity to have, like you say, like to have their voice and speak out for themselves, because a lot of times, well, people who don't understand the importance of speaking out against narcissistic abuse. Can you give some examples of what that looks like?
Speaker 4:For many people it depends on that person, but what it looks like is inconsistent behaviors. What you say and what they do are two totally different things, and you know what they do are two totally different things. It's about manipulation. A lot of times in narcissistic relationships, we often or people often, you know do things because narcissists first of all love empaths out of your way to please. You know to please, or?
Speaker 4:to go out of your way to be that you know, that ride or die person, that empathetic person that's always there, you know so, and because of that it gets, it gets used against us, gets manipulated and it ends up becoming a very what you thought was a relationship or a marriage ends up becoming a cage, because it's like you don't.
Speaker 4:You see the behaviors but you can't believe that someone that loved you or you thought loved you so much at the beginning can actually be this abusive or this manipulative in the relationship, in the relationship, and oftentimes, like I said, when we're talking about narcissistic abuse, it's also financial, because they strip you financially so that you can't leave the relationship. If you have nowhere to go, if you have no money, then you have to accept this abuse. And that's one of the main things that you know. We see with women that they stay in those relationships because they don't have the financial means, even though they were six figure earners before the relationship. They kind of manipulate you to, to move you out of that six figure income or you know whatever, so that you're constantly depending on them and once, once you've, you know, done, done that and you're depending on them, then, like I said, the manipulation and abuse and the gaslighting overdrive absolutely absolutely so in your journey I know you've done three, three.
Speaker 2:This is your third um anthology for rising above narcissistic abuse. But tell me, how did you get in contact with these ladies? How? How did you guys connect? How did you reach out and get these wonderful women? Because just from the look of the names of the chapters I know this book gonna be bomb. So I cannot wait and I'm telling all my followers y'all need to go get this book, because when y'all just hear the names of the chapters you know it's going to be good Okay. So how did you get in touch with Miss Eula, with Vicky, with JJ, with Regina? How did you get in contact with these ladies? How did that come about?
Speaker 4:I put out a call for it and I'm so grateful. Not everybody wants to use their voice to share because there's so much shame that's involved in narcissistic abuse, especially when you're a high income earner. You you feel so much shame because you can't figure out how did you get do it? And because of that, a lot of women that are in the C-suite that are going through this won't talk about it, but they'll read the. You know, read the stories and they'll get strategies and, you know, help from the stories. So this is just about women that are bold enough, are fearless enough to tell their story to help those that can't right now.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And before we get to talking to the co-authors, I do have a cute little video that I made for Ms Ina and for the women of Rising Above Narcissistic Abuse Values 1 through 3. So I'm going to go ahead. Is it okay if I play it? And then we get to talking to the lady, to Ms Ina.
Speaker 4:Okay, go ahead.
Speaker 5:Okay. In the depths of silence, our stories find their voice. I thought I was alone, broken, unworthy, but you're not, we're not. Rising Above Narcissistic Abuse is more than a book book, it's a lifeline. It helped me understand what I was going through. Volumes 1 through 3 offer a beacon of hope. Real stories, real women, real triumph. I found the strength to break my silence. These anthologies provide strategies, encouragement and a path to healing for every woman trapped in the cycle of abuse. I learned to recognize the signs of narcissistic abuse gaslighting, manipulation, emotional blackmail. We expose these tactics and empower you to fight back. I am not a victim. I am a survivor. Through these pages, you'll find a community of women, women who've walked through fire and emerged stronger. I found my voice, my strength, my purpose. Your story matters. Your healing begins. Break the silence, reclaim your power. Contact the visionary Ina Johnson Myers to get your copy of Rising Above Narcissistic Abuse, volumes 1 through 3, today. Empower your journey towards healing.
Speaker 2:Yes, so I love the video. Okay, I think that I think that is amazing what you're doing, and I'm just glad to have each one of you. You ladies, you guys, are so super brave and stronger than what you even know. A lot of times, like Miss Ina said, you're so afraid to tell your story because you're afraid of what other people may think. So, just to be brave enough to put pen to paper and to use your voice to help someone else to get through their trauma or what they're going through, and to help them to break free and know that if you can do it, they can do it, I just I commend all of you ladies. Okay, and I'm going to start with Ms Eula. Ms Eula, and your chapter is called Out of Messy Comes Healing. From mess to blessed, that's what I want to say. From mess to bless. How are you doing, miss Eula? Can you give the audience a little bit about background, about yourself, and just what made you come up with that title? How did that come to you?
Speaker 3:Yes, I'm a second time entrepreneur and also a Girl Scout, former Girl Scout leader, former Scout dead mother Parents Association president. I've done it all and I've always been a champion for women to find their voice. And before this project came about, I would speak on panels and in a newspaper in regards to postpartum depression, because that's another issue that women are going through that's not talked about enough. And through my going through what I'm going through and I saw the call to tell stories, I decided to tell my story and in the beginning I went back and forth. I didn't reach out right away. I was like do I want my family to know how embarrassing, how hard this is? Because they didn't know what was going on. They didn't know the story, they just knew what they saw. What they saw was two people who loved each other and that's the image that we portrayed to the outside world. You know, but they didn't know what was going on in our inner world. Even my inner circle friends didn't know my best girlfriend. She didn't know. This is something that you don't share and I wanted to speak out and I wanted to. I found my voice and telling a story, I really found my voice. I found who eula is again, because eula was always a champion for women, but then, when it came for me, I wasn't champion for myself. I said how could I be an inspiration to my own three daughters now all, all adult women the youngest is 24, the oldest is 40, should be 43. And how could I be an example of strong women if I don't show them what a strong woman looks like and be an example for them? So I'm not only doing it for me, but I'm doing it for my daughters and for my granddaughters, because they have to know the signs to look out for. They have to know how manipulative these people are, how they gaslight you, how they make you feel like they really love you and then they turn around and they do stuff and you're sitting there wondering and blame you. Never take responsibility for it. They blame you everything that happened is your fault and never, ever take responsibility. Never, um say I'm sorry. And if they say I'm sorry, they turn around and do something else. Yeah, so you know it was very slow for me to finally realize that something wasn't right, but then that nagging voice was telling me you need to get out. I kept hearing this nagging voice, god talking to me as clear as I'm talking to you now. You need to get out. And when we bought a house together and I wasn't even in the house a year, that voice was telling me you need to get out. So when that God is telling you to get out, get out.
Speaker 3:Don't question it. Don't do what I did. Argue with it, question it. Get up and do it. If you don't have money, have an exit plan. Figure out how you're going to exit or get out. Don't do what I did. Waste so many years trying to figure it out and trying to change something that wasn't for me to change from the beginning. So I tell women all the time now if it don't feel right, if it's too good to be true, it's too good to be true, get out. Don't question it, don't try to figure it out. Don't do what I did. Make excuses for it. Get out. Don't question it, don't try to figure it out. Don't do what I did. Make excuses for it. Get out, because it could be life or death, literally.
Speaker 2:So in your chapter do you discuss like the things that happened in your marriage, or was it just him, or were there other people as well, that you had to deal with? Narcissistic abuse?
Speaker 3:Well, I was physically abused before in another relationship and, um, when I think of abuse, most times I thought physical. I never thought about psychological abuse, which is to me way worse because bruises heal. But psychological messes with your psyche, it messes with your mind, it messes with your psyche, it messes with your mind, it messes with your spirit. You don't know if you're coming or going. It's very demonic what goes on.
Speaker 2:Also have a domino effect on your health, because you start getting depressed and you start getting drained Mentally and physically and then, before you know it, you got all types of health problems and you're not understanding what it's coming from. But it's coming from, like you say, that demonic spirit. It takes a hold of you and it really takes a lot of prayer and a lot of manifestation, but also a lot of courage to get up and just say you know what? Get me behind me, satan. I'm getting up out of here.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I I applaud you, ms Guest, for for coming on and just sharing your story and and and really I just know your chapter out of messy comes here. That's a word. That is a word because God will take a mess and turn it into blessed, and what the enemy have for your, for your, for you, for bad, he will always turn it into good and for the blessings that he have upon your life. Sister, you have no idea, just for getting out and sharing your testimony, the blessings and see, god will take you through things and people. I get this all the time and I actually used it for a title for one of my books called Mountains Can't Rise Without Earthquakes, your earth has to shatter under you in order for that mountain to rise, so that same mountaintop that God is taking you to what the devil think he's going to take you to and say, hey, you can have all of this if you could just follow me.
Speaker 2:What Jesus told him, get thee behind me, say you can give me what's already mine. See, when, when, when God took that earth and he shattered that, he did that to build you up for a time such as now, to help other people who are going through what they're going through. So God bless you, sister, and all of your endeavors, and I am so, so proud of you for telling your story. Now let's get to Miss Regina. Miss Regina, hey Regina, how are you love?
Speaker 6:I am taking it one day at a time and I'm good.
Speaker 2:You know what, Regina? When I saw your name, I was like she got a story to tell. Your last name is Rivers.
Speaker 6:Yes.
Speaker 2:Rivers, honey. Yes, ma'am, like a tree standing by the water, that's all I kept hearing. Like a tree standing by the water. You shut up. Why be moved? You like the rivers. I said, yes, girl, yes. So your story chronic emotional recovery. So your story chronic emotional recovery. Before we get into that chapter, and what made you decide to write and title your chapter Chronic Emotional Recovery, can you give the audience a little bit of background about yourself, what you do and why you decided to participate in Rising Above Narcissistic Abuse?
Speaker 6:Sure, my name is Virginia Rivers. I'm a lifelong New York state resident. I grew up originally in Skaticoke, which is just outside of Albany. I moved down to the Poughkeepsie area of the Hudson Valley after graduating, new Paltz College. I'm a writer, I'm a poet. I performed in Albany, new york city, uh newberg during the pandemic. I took part in some virtual open mics in philly and texas and everything. So that was pretty cool to do.
Speaker 6:Um, and my chapter, my experience with narcissistic abuse, and I'm glad that you mentioned that. You know when people think abuse it's more than physical, because I've been researching domestic violence since I was 10 years old. I'm serious about, you know, helping survivors and children of domestic abuse survivors. So in my, in my career as a youth development practitioner, the emotional, the verbal, the psychological, the spiritual, the legal, the medical all of that encompasses abuse which leads to the physical. So I share in my story that while my narcissist was not physically abusive, his verbal abuse, his emotional abuse manifested with me physically. I'm trying to think of an example.
Speaker 6:I suffered a lot of light sensitivity, like right now I have lights on and it's fine, the sunlight, I'm okay Now. Before I had to get prescription sunglasses. Um, I suffered from this condition called arthralgia, where, um, it wasn't arthritis but it wasn't fibromyalgia, but it hurt to just do basic movements. Since he's been gone, my fibromyalgia is gone, rest activity is gone. So it's about like dealing with that type of um constant challenge and having it manifest in you.
Speaker 6:That's something that people don't talk about, along with the financial and the other tactics that they use, and, um, I reached out to miss ida again on social media. I just kept doing some research for my job. I thought about who I had in my life as of late and I said I don't even need to cut these people out, or, thank god, they're already out of my life. So I reached out to miss aina and I explained my story and she offered me the opportunity to share my story and I said, yeah, and I went off of. You know what I went through, how I conquered and how I'm pressing on and see you know what, um, I?
Speaker 2:I appreciate that because a lot of people don't understand that sometimes, when we grow up in those environments, right, we get accustomed to that and we think that that's normal because we see it so much growing up, happening around us in our families, with our moms, with our dads, with our aunts, with our uncles, and we see all this different emotional and mental abuse, right, and we think that that's just the norm and that's just people arguing or how they show they love each other, ie their love language, but it's not healthy. And then, like a lot of times I know, with my grandmother, she was a victim and she was also a villain, you know, because they project the same thing that's happening to them. They project on their kids, their grandkids, and so he dealt with it with my granddaddy and then she projected it on my dad and she projected it on us and he projected it on us, and it's just an ongoing cycle until people like you guys say you know what I'm done with this, I'm not going to take it anymore and I'm not going to be a victim, I'm going to be victorious in what I'm conquering. And for you to, you know, like you say, as of late, get rid of those people. I commend you for that, because a lot of times we get so accustomed to that, we and we, we feel like, if we let go of these people who've been in our life for so long, because we have that history with them, that we feel like we want to stay attached to them for some reason, we, we just need to be attached so for you to be like you know what. Forget this. I'm breaking away from this crap. This is not me, this is not what I want for my life, and I'm going to change it today.
Speaker 2:Because when we're in that waiting season, we're not understanding. All we have to do is leave it at the altar and God will handle it. And God don't bring people say, oh, god, don't, he don't put you through nothing that you can't handle, exactly Because the things that you can't handle you're supposed to leave at the altar for him. You're supposed to let him handle those things. God don't want us to be sad, he don't want us to be emotionally abused. That's not what he wants for our life. But see, sometimes the trickery of the devil will come in and he will see his little nasty tail in and he'll make it. Oh, this person, they just love you. You know, just like if a little girl hit a boy and we tell our boys, oh, she only doing that because she like you. Or we tell a little girl, oh, he only hit you because he like you. I don't tell my kids that, I don't teach them that, no, if they hit you they don't like you. If they hit you, that's something internal that they got inside of them, that they've been taught at home. That's learned behavior.
Speaker 2:And once we realize that we can do what Rise above narcissistic abuse, I think your story you got another good title. That's why I tell y'all, these titles will really just make you want to just dab in just off the titles. These ladies are talented. Okay, because I be having to come up with a lot of titles for some of my people. Okay, these women came up with their own titles. The title her title was Chr. Title is chronic emotional recovery. So a lot of times you know, I think from her title I get I've been going through this emotional, emotional turmoil and it's been a chronic um appearance in my life for so long. Chronic means to keep happening and keep happening and keep happening and keep happening and she's able to break away from that and to recover through telling her story. Did I get it right?
Speaker 2:basically yeah, basically, yes, basically in a nutshell. But I know that your story is more in depth than that and I know it's a lot of pieces to it and I appreciate you because when I was telling my story, I know I had you know about mountains. I had to step away from mountains for months, go back to therapy After I did 13 years of therapy to get over the things I went through. When I started to actually unpack everything and tell my story, I had to step away, go back to therapy, go back to church, talk to my pastor, then get back in it. But you know what became of that story? Three years on bestsellers list, 91 days straight, number one on Amazon.
Speaker 2:I'm able to go out and speak to people, speak to young girls who are going through, who have been through those things, and really show them like you know what, if you just be transparent enough and be open enough, god will turn your what, your mess into a what you look healing, into a healing Amen. So God going to turn your mess into a healing girl. You have just started. You have just started and I'm so, so proud of you as well. Ms Ina, do you have anything you want to add?
Speaker 4:I just want to say you hit it right on the head about how God is going to take their yes and he's going to multiply that a thousandfold. I explain to them that when they share their story, there are so many people in their circle already that are dealing with this but have not said anything to anybody. This chapter, their chapters, are going to be able to put them in rooms and places to talk to people. You know that I don't know of any other. You know type of conversation that is so hot right now that people need the healing. So these ladies, like I said, I thank them so much, I am so proud of them for sharing their story, putting their heart and their soul on those papers so that the readers can read their story to get the healing in their own lives.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and when you do that and you transparent and you open, like you say you do poetry, I do poetry as well. My first book was actually a poetry book, and every piece of literature that I've ever written since then I always incorporate poetry before each chapter. I'm a 15-time bestseller in two years, and that's because everything that I do I put God first. He's my foundation. He takes me through it. The way I'm able to open up and be so transparent in all of my literature is because I use poetry. That was my way to get through. That's how I'm able to open up and be transparent. But also, when you tell your truth, you're opening up doorways for people to tell theirs. I would never thought that mountains would be a bestseller even today, right now, in the top 100 for three years in a row. I would never guess that. I would never guess that the things that I have went through in my life guess that. I would never guess that. The things that I have went through in my life narcissistic abuse, physical abuse, parental neglect, child abuse, miscarriages, all types of stuff. I had somebody, my first person I was with. I thought I loved him. He stomped it. I was four months pregnant and my baby got stomped out of my stomach and my tooth got kicked out my mouth, pregnant, and my baby got stomped out of my stomach and my tooth got kicked out my mouth. And I was 18 years old and I have went through so many things uh, molestation, but family, uh, incest, molestation, rape, raping in the foster care system. I went through all of that, you know, and to be able to say you know what God have brought me through those things. Now I have a wonderful husband, two biological kids, three bonus kids. I'm on a global mountains. Took me global we. Right now, this platform is 27 countries, 159 cities worldwide. I would never guess that would be me because the odds were not in my favor as a foster child. You get what I'm saying. I was like my mom on the streets on drugs, or I'm a light skin, cute girl, so immediately video, vixen, you know, whatever, whatever, and to say, no, that's not what I want for my life. I graduated Okay, I'm getting my honorary doctorate at the end of this month and I did it not because of anybody else, not because of me, but because of God. He's the one who taught me and brought me through. So, yes, everything that you do faith based. I love it because when you know that God is on your side, you don't got nothing to worry about or nothing to have, because he's going to have your back and, like I said, god will make your enemy your footstool. So you keep on going.
Speaker 2:And the people that thought they counted you out and did all of those things to you, they was your footstool. Do you understand me? They was your footstool because now you can write it, you could talk about it. I turned my pain into paper. I turned my pain into paper. You think you're doing me wrong. I'm gonna write a book about you and get paid off of it and you're gonna wish you never did me wrong. That's how I, that's how I, get my healing. So I see that for you guys. And that brings me as, as we're talking about praise and we're talking about god and healing, I I want to get to, ms Vicki, your chapter From the Pits to Praise From the Pits to Praise. How are you, ms Vicki?
Speaker 7:I am doing well, thank you. I never dreamed I would be an author or speaking in public. When I was in high school they wanted me to play piano in church and I just wanted to go crawl under that baby grand thing and hold the cover down. But I have such a clear calling from God to let my voice be heard.
Speaker 2:Look, let me tell you, when I first started out, I did a poetry book and I was invited on Clubhouse because that was popping back. When I first started out, I did a poetry book and I was invited on clubhouse because that was popular. That was popping back when COVID first started clubhouse, that was the place to be and I was on this platform. I got invited to this platform by Laquita Parks. Um, you guys know who she is. That's, that's my mentor, that's my girl, that's my ride or die, okay. So she um invited me to this um platform on clubhouse called the Booksland.
Speaker 2:And I was so nervous Ms Vicki, do you understand me? I was shaking as I was reading my poetry. I started crying. My husband had to come in, dr Velma had to pray for me. It was a mess, okay.
Speaker 2:But once you start releasing and just look at the screen as if you're talking to yourself, don't worry about the millions of people. They're going to hear you, they're going to see this. It's going to be on iHeartRadio, it's going to be on Pandora, it's going to be everywhere. So they're going to hear your message. But as long as you look at the screen and you look directly at yourself, that's what I do. I look directly at myself, as if I'm talking to myself, and it helps you and it calms you, okay, so, so those jitterballs could just be gone, okay.
Speaker 2:And if you don't want to look at yourself, you can look at me. And you can look at Regina right here. She right here too. You can look at how you see her. She said right on the side of them. You can look at me, you can look at her, you can look at her. But just know that your story, especially your title, from the Pits to Praise, from the Pits to Praise. So, ms Vicki, can you give us a little bit of a background about yourself, what it is that you do and why did you decide to join as a co-author for Rising Above Narcissistic Abuse?
Speaker 7:Well, my title From the Pit. I did not realize how bad the situation was that I was in because, like you shared and a couple of the others, I thought it was normal. I grew up in a very alcoholic, abusive home and then I got into an arranged marriage. I was pregnant and got married at 18 and that lasted 29 years and things got really, really bad abusive physical, sexual, spiritual, financial, all the things that we've been talking about and I did get squeezed, literally starved, into submission financially. But I had to get out and by God's grace I did.
Speaker 7:And I had some great people that came alongside of me and a pastor that said what I was in was in the pit of hell and I needed to get out and start getting praise on. And I really learned that gratitude is huge, that you can't have anxiety and stress. It's like impossible for both of those to exist in your mind at the same time. So that helped me a ton. And he also said you got to be scrubbing your mind daily with the word to just keep those lies from the enemy out and keep on, keeping on. And that's been how I've been able to just keep going, because I I'm I'm a major empath too.
Speaker 7:And I had more than one narcissist that has robbed me of everything but my Jesus and my joy.
Speaker 2:So I'm going to keep on, keeping on and I'm going to tell you something he thought he robbed you or something he thought he thought. But the devil is a lie, because God gave each one of us gifts, and our gifts back to him is what we do with it. A lot of times, just like the woman with the oil, right? Yep, she was dirt poor. She didn't know what she was going to do. Her husband had died, he had gone. All he left her was oil. That's all she had. But she didn't know what she had was a goldmine inside her house. But when that property came, he said I want you to take that oil that you got in your house and I want you to put it in vessels, get vessels and sell it. She became a millionaire in biblical sense. Right, she became a millionaire.
Speaker 2:So a lot of times, god gives us gifts. Right, everybody has gifts. We were not meant to work hard. You know, the gifts is supposed to bring forth our inheritance, right?
Speaker 2:I didn't know that, starting off, I was always doing networking and brand marketing and doing things and helping people and creating graphics and videos and this and that. But I didn't know. I just thought it was just a hobby. I didn't know I could really get paid off of doing what I do and God said you know what I gave you gifts. Take that oil, put it in vessels and don't confuse your ministry with your business, because when you do that, people will try to gaslight you or pull at your heartstrings and say, oh well, you're a Christian, you shouldn't be charging. So Christians supposed to be poor? No, that's not how that works. You can't expect, like you say, he drains you because you're an empath and you're a giver right, and you're sympathetic to people and a lot of times when people see that, when the enemy sees that he plays on the fact that you're just loving and you're giving and you're emotionally there and you're always trying to be the person to save people. But I had to realize, as an empath, that God has a plan for everybody's life and a lot of times we go and we want to be that safety net that catches people when they fall, but we don't know that their breakthrough is going to come when they fall. We have to let the prodigal son fall and let them find their way back to Christ the same way that we did.
Speaker 2:So I appreciate your story from the pits to praise um. Now, when you say, um, that you're a narcissist. It seemed like everybody's narcissist here today was a, a spouse or a partner. Was it other people in your life other than your spouse that was a narcissist? Um, and how did you deal with that? Because I know my ass was my parents. They were the worst. I love them. Rest their soul, but they pulled on hard strings by me being a child. So, um, that's where mine started out. Yeah, so yours started out as your parents, and how were you able to maneuvering and get through that, or is it something that you still working on?
Speaker 7:um, I have just had to basically shut them out of my life, and a lot of times it's hard because they're your parents. Yep, it is, it's very hard.
Speaker 2:I shut my mom out of my life Not necessarily, but I talk about it in one of my books. She was on drugs for a long time, right, and she couldn't give what she didn't have, right? Yes, so I couldn't expect, you know, claire Huxtable out of her, because that was not her upbringing, that's not what she could, was able to give, and I had to know that. She was a narcissist. Look at it, receive it and love her from a distance, and God rest her soul. God rest my dad's soul.
Speaker 2:But I think that they knew the type of people that they were, so they did not interfere into my life because they didn't want to take me. You know a lot of the other kids they ran behind them and a lot of my brothers and sisters. They are just on way different paths than I am because they chose to kind of follow that repetitive cycle. Me, I wanted nothing to do with it. I would be there for them. You know, god, tell me to see me fit to do it.
Speaker 2:But a lot of times I just let people have what they want to have and be happy in what they're, in what they're doing, and I applaud you for kind of not. I don't applaud you, but I'm not saying like, oh, just get rid of your parents. No, no, no, choose you first, and if the people in your circle, in your life, are not giving you positive energy, then, yeah, you have to, you have to step away. So that was brave on your part as well. Um, you ladies, you are, you are stronger than what you realize A lot of people. You see them, they laugh and they joking all the time and they're going through a lot of things, um, privately. And for you guys to be able to stand up and be brave enough and not care what other people think about your story and just get it out here and be able to help people, I applaud you, miss. Miss Irina, is there anything else you want to say in regards to Vicki?
Speaker 4:Just, I'm, I'm. Vicki knows I had to pull the story out of Vicky powerful story but because, like I said, all of us we have so much of the fear of people knowing our story. But once she put that story on paper, vicky when we started, this is not the same Vicky. Oh praise God. Vicky when we started was a very timid and didn't. This is not the same Vicky.
Speaker 2:She left holes in the story. She left holes in the story. That's how it was. I left holes in the story. I had to back away and come back. I couldn't do it. It was a lot.
Speaker 4:And I am so happy that she did this. It's like God is going to use this. Vicky has people that is behind her, that is looking at this, because this story is just not about Vicky. This story is about other people that she will see and that she's being that catalyst that's going to help so many other people in her sphere do what they need to do. Vicky's going to have a whole line of people behind her. I can see that.
Speaker 2:I can see for all of them Getting led out of creativity. Yeah, because from each one of their stories I see a little bit of me and what I went through, you know, and I'm glad God delivered me from it, I'm glad he delivered you guys from it too. But from each one of you guys' story I can relate in some way, shape and, you know, in fashion, and I just I applaud you guys because even in mountains it was stuff I didn't talk about. Ok, even in a lot of my it's still things that I'm afraid to talk about. And just hearing you guys and how you're able to say, you know what I'm going to talk about, let the world know what you did to me, let the world know what you did to me it makes me, you know, it really inspires me to really speak out a little bit more about some things that I went through that I still have yet to talk about. So I want to thank you guys for inspiring me, you know, to to rise above narcissistic abuse.
Speaker 2:Even though it was in the past, it's still. You know you hold on to that until you can't. No more is still. You know. You hold on to that until you can't, no more. You know what I'm saying so. I appreciate that. Miss Ina, can you tell people when the book will be out? What's?
Speaker 4:the release date. When can we expect to get this?
Speaker 2:book.
Speaker 2:The release date is May 15th, everybody, everybody, may 15th so May 15th is going to be the e-book, correct, correct? Okay? So May 15th, if you guys do, you know how much you're pricing it, for the e-book will be $1.99. So look, that ain't even that. Ain't what you spend on a Pepsi at the store. Child, just spend a dollar and 99 cent.
Speaker 2:Go on Amazon and pick up Rising Above Narcissistic Abuse, volume 3, the ebook. We're going to get this to a best sell. We got to. We got to in Jesus name. I believe that this is going to touch a multitude of people. Okay, I appreciate everybody for coming on and telling your stories. I'm going to go back, I'm going to do a roundabout again so you guys can do a call to action and tell people how they can reach you and where they can find you and how they can pre-order from you. Let's start with Vicky and then we'll go all around. We'll go to Regina next and then Ms Eula, and then we'll go all around. We'll go to Regina next and then Ms Eula and then Ina.
Speaker 7:For me. You can reach out to me just by my email, which is vickivickhilperkstra at gmailcom. I don't have a website up yet, so it's coming, it's coming.
Speaker 2:It is Okay, and if they can't find you there, can they find you on Facebook? Yeah, I'm on Facebook too, okay. So Vicki Lynn V-I-C-K-I-L-Y-N-N, you can find her on Facebook as well. Yes, it's Regina Rivers girl.
Speaker 6:Yes, so yeah, Actually I have a company called Rivers of Words Productions, my writing company. So I am at Rivers of Words Productions at GMAcom. I can also be reached on Instagram, Rivers of Words Productions, so that's how you can reach me, ok.
Speaker 2:And Miss Eula, how can people find you?
Speaker 3:It's dependent on TikTok. I'm on Facebook so you can reach out to me. Em Guest is on Facebook, Guest Management on Instagram, which is my company, and on TikTok is Ms May. Ms Eula E-U-L-A and Miss.
Speaker 4:For me, find me on all social media when she rise number one, but also all of these ladies which is rising above narcissisticabusecom their contact information will be on the website. So, which is risingabobnarcissisticabusecom? Their contact information will be on the website, so you'll be able to buy the book and contact them on the website as well.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Well it's been. I'm not going to steal Laquita. Yes, I am. I'm going to steal her stuff. I just love when Laquita say this y'all, it just really gets my, it really gets me going. She gonna get me when she hear it. It's been a plop, please and pleasure Better than a triple decker peanut butter jelly sandwich. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Ms Eula, can you pray us out please? Yes.
Speaker 3:Thank you, father, for all these blessings that you brought these powerful, beautiful women together. Thank you for giving us the strength to tell our stories, thank you for directing our steps, thank you for this platform that Miss Jackie has given us, and just thank you for Miss Ina for bringing us together, for pulling this book out of us, because some of us had a little issue with getting our stories out, and I'm just so grateful to you for bringing us together, for giving us our voice, for helping us to help other people in their journey. Thank you so much, dear Lord, for all that you're doing for us in Christ Jesus name. Amen. Amen, again, you can find journey. Thank you so much, dear lord, for all that you're doing for us in christ jesus name, amen amen again you can find rising above narcissistic abuse.
Speaker 2:Volume 3, may 15th go get it on amazon, it's 199. Let's push this thing to number one and once you buy it, buy a couple of more and email them to your friends. Okay, let's, let's get this book in everybody's hands. I appreciate you guys for coming on and I cannot wait to interview you again after it hit number one.
Speaker 5:I want y'all to come back, okay.
Speaker 2:I appreciate you guys. Thank you all for for watching. Listen, linda, live with the rising above narcissistic abuseistic Abuse, volume 3 co-authors and the visionary Ms Ina Johnson, myers, peace, peace out.
Speaker 5:In the depths of silence. Our stories find their voice. Silence, our stories find their voice. I thought I was alone, broken, unworthy, but you're not. We're not Rising Above. Narcissistic Abuse is more than a book. It's a lifeline. It helped me understand what I was going through. Volumes one through three offer a beacon of hope. Real stories, real women, real, real triumph. I found the strength to break my silence. These anthologies provide strategies, encouragement and a path to healing for every woman trapped in the cycle of abuse. I learned to recognize the signs of narcissistic abuse gaslighting, manipulation, emotional blackmail. We expose these tactics and empower you to fight back. I am not a victim. I am a survivor. Through these pages, you'll find a community of women, women who've walked through fire and emerged stronger. I found my voice, my strength, my purpose. Your story matters. Your healing begins. Break the silence, reclaim your power. Contact the visionary aina johnson myers to get your copy of rising above narcissistic abuse volumes one through. Thank you.
