Narcissistic abuse and partial reward schedules go hand in hand. The mix of unpredictable affection, dopamine spikes, and stress-relief cycles makes toxic love feel like destiny—but neuroscience shows it’s a pattern you can break.

Healing from narcissistic abuse isn’t always super straightforward. If you’ve felt stuck in therapy, it doesn’t mean you or your therapist are failing, but it may be time to integrate bottom-up trauma therapies like EMDR. With the right support and active engagement outside of sessions, recovery is possible.

Narcissistic abuse recovery isn’t something you can fast-track, even when we wish we could. In this blog, I examine why recovery often takes at least six months of therapy, how to stay grounded when the process feels slow, and why our healing—unfair as it may seem—is still our responsibility.

If you’re in narcissistic abuse recovery and constantly asking yourself, “Am I too much?”—you’re not alone. The truth is, you were never too much. You just learned to shrink in a relationship that couldn’t hold your fullness. Healing means learning to take up space again.

Anxious-preoccupied attachment is often misunderstood and, too often, mocked. Behind the fear of being “too much” is deep self-abandonment and vulnerability to narcissistic abuse. If you find yourself overgiving, second-guessing your worth, or chasing love that hurts, it’s time to come home to yourself. Two Lights Therapy Center offers support for individuals with anxious-preoccupied attachment styles and narcissistic abuse recovery in Chicago.

Wondering if it's narcissistic abuse? Learn how to spot the signs, from chronic gaslighting to identity erosion, and why these patterns go far beyond ordinary relationship toxicity.

Searching for a narcissistic abuse support group in Chicago? Whether you’re craving community or trying to break free from a trauma bond, this guide explores the benefits of group support & how individual trauma therapy for narcissistic abuse might offer additional benefits.

Survivors of narcissistic relationships often face invisible wounds that go far beyond the relationship itself. From isolation and gaslighting to being met with judgment instead of support, the struggle doesn’t always end when the relationship does. This blog explores the silent weight survivors carry—and why healing requires more than just “leaving.”