82-Breaking the Narcissistic Cycle: A Therapist's Perspective with Darren Elliott

What happens when the person who says they love you suddenly turns cold, making you question your own reality? Therapist Darren Elliott pulls back the curtain on narcissism, revealing it's not just a label we throw at difficult people, but a profound emotional disconnection that affects everyone to some degree.

After experiencing the bewildering pain of narcissistic relationships firsthand, Elliott found himself on an unexpected journey – from victim to therapist specializing in treating the very people many clinicians avoid. His compassionate approach challenges our understanding of narcissism as he explains "the split" that causes narcissists to operate in two disconnected emotional states. "When they're in that negative energy, they've literally forgotten all the stuff that happened in their positive energy," Elliott reveals, describing how someone can adore you one moment and seem to hate you the next.

Through his innovative "Love Loops" concept and the Narcissism Recovery Project, Elliott offers hope for both those affected by narcissistic relationships and those struggling with narcissistic traits themselves. The conversation takes surprising turns, exploring how traditional masculinity even the pressure to maintain a "perfect family" narrative can contribute to narcissistic patterns. Elliott also shares how his drag persona, Doreen Devine, uses comedy to make these difficult topics accessible, helping people recognize narcissistic behaviors without shame.

Whether you've been called a narcissist, loved someone who displays these traits, or simply want to understand the emotional dynamics at play in difficult relationships, this episode provides eye-opening insights about our human need for connection. As Elliott reminds us, "We are just a bunch of human pack animals, and our natural state is loving each other." Join us for this transformative conversation about healing the disconnection at the heart of narcissism.

Darren's Links: 

https://www.1in3podcast.com/guests/darren-elliott/

https://www.thenarcissismrecoveryproject.com/

1 in 3 is intended for mature audiences. Episodes contain explicit content and may be triggering to some.

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Cover art by Laura Swift Dahlke
Music by Tim Crowe