I Am Broken to I Can Heal: Transforming the Narrative Within

Image by Jacob Loafman

Dear friends,

Core beliefs are deeply held negative assumptions we have about ourselves. These beliefs can develop as the result of trauma and become the story of our lives. Often, we know that this belief isn’t factually true, but it still feels true.

Narcissistic abuse survivors have lived through violent, abusive, neglectful, and/or oppressive relationships. In turn, unhelpful beliefs can form as a way to make sense of what occurred and to prevent such experiences from occurring again. However, these thoughts can keep us “stuck” in a loop of avoidance, fear, worry, anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and victimhood.

The top three core negative beliefs I see among the hundreds of narcissistic abuse survivors I have worked with:

1. I am broken.

2. I am stupid.

3. I can’t trust myself.

EMDR can help the brain to begin to naturally process these beliefs, reducing their strength and allowing them to be accessed in a manner where they can be adjusted.

For example, someone who feels that they do not deserve love will ideally have that belief addressed and shifted to a belief that they do deserve love and can be loved by others. EMDR has been shown to be very effective in helping facilitate this process, particularly when engaging with an experienced therapist.  

 With love and respect,

Michelle