Breaking Trauma Bonds with Narcissists and Psychopaths - by Shahida Arabi (Paperback)

About the Book

People in romantic relationships with narcissists or psychopaths often feel manipulated, exploited, and abused. They may even develop trauma bonds with their abuser--simply out of fear and an instinct to survive. Breaking Trauma Bonds with Narcissists and Psychopaths draws on the latest innovative research to help readers to heal from trauma bonds, gain the courage needed to draw boundaries, and break free from manipulation and gaslighting for good.

Book Synopsis

Break free from manipulation and gaslighting--once and for all.

Are you thriving in your relationship, or merely surviving? Are you the victim of constant manipulation, gaslighting, and deception at the hands of your partner? Do you find yourself constantly making excuses for your partner's abusive behavior? If you feel trapped in a relationship with someone who displays narcissistic or psychopathic behavior, you may be experiencing a trauma bond--a powerful connection you've developed with your abuser as a result of the danger, betrayal, or a power imbalance inherent in your relationship. It's important to remember that you're not alone and it's not your fault.

The Audie Award nominated book Breaking Trauma Bonds with Narcissists and Psychopaths offers in-depth exercises and trauma-informed tips to help you break free from toxic and addictive relationship cycles. Written by an expert in narcissism and toxic relationships, this powerful guide is packed with research on pathological personality types and grounded in neuroscience, providing the vital tools and insight you need to finally break free from the destructive grip of narcissistic or psychopathic abuse.

Trauma bonding can have devastating effects. It can cause you to not only tolerate mistreatment, but even protect and defend your abuser simply out of a need to survive. This book clears a path to connect with and validate your authentic outrage at how you've been treated, so you can finally process your pain and move forward on your path to freedom. Go ahead, take the first step today.

Review Quotes

"Breaking Trauma Bonds with Narcissists and Psychopaths is a vital resource for survivors seeking to reclaim their mental and emotional well-being. Shahida's insightful guidance empowers individuals to break free from the destructive cycles of manipulative relationships. With clarity and compassion, this book provides a road map for detaching from toxic bonds and rediscovering inner strength. A must-read for those ready to break free from the grips of trauma and reclaim their sense of self."
--Lisa A. Romano, life coach and award-winning author specializing in codependency and narcissistic abuse recovery--Lisa A. Romano

"A transformational book for survivors of narcissistic abuse, it provides a killer combination of impeccable research, science, and case studies to reassure readers that what happened to them was no one-off or in any way their fault, and, additionally, that the distress they feel is not an 'overreaction, ' but the measurable effect of trauma on their brains--which can, happily, be gradually reverted by doing the healing work Arabi outlines."
--Annie Kaszina, PhD, coach, founder of www.recoverfromemotionalabuse.com, and author of Married to Mr. Nasty and The Woman You Want to Be--Annie Kaszina, PhD

"Readers will find validation and clarity in Shahida Arabi's science-based, research-backed analysis. They will also encounter a knowledgeable and compassionate guide who provides hope and the important steps to begin to support the self-awareness necessary to break through the disorientation and fragmentation that accompanies this kind of destructive relational dynamic, and ultimately return to wholeness."
--Gretchen Seitz, DAOM, LAc, owner of Seitz Acupuncture and Integrative Health--Gretchen Seitz, DAOM, LAc

"Shahida Arabi masterfully educates readers about the complex intersection of neuroscience and the intricacies of healing in the aftermath of psychological abuse. Written in a style that is digestible, informative, and packed with research, Shahida's book will no doubt serve as an essential guide for survivors and helping professionals alike. Bravo, Shahida!"
--Andrea Schneider, MSW, LCSW, licensed clinical social worker/psychotherapist in the San Francisco Bay Area, and author of Soul Vampires--Andrea Schneider, MSW, LCSW

"Shahida Arabi's work has contributed mightily to our understanding of how to help victims identify, avoid, and escape from toxic narcissists and psychopaths. Her latest book, Breaking Trauma Bonds with Narcissists and Psychopaths, brilliantly outs the dynamics of such exploitive, destructive people. Her guidance on escaping from ensnaring narcissists is the most comprehensive I have ever read. Anyone who reads it will be aided greatly in avoiding or breaking trauma bonds."
--Pete Walker, LMFT, traumatologist, and best-selling author of Complex PTSD and Holistically Treating Complex PTSD--Pete Walker, LMFT

"This book is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand why they became so unhealthily attached to a toxic person, and how to reclaim personal power and integrity."
--George Simon, PhD, author of the international best-seller, In Sheep's Clothing, and Character Disturbance--George Simon, PhD

About the Author

Shahida Arabi, MA, is a published researcher and expert specializing in narcissism. She is a graduate of Harvard University and Columbia University, and holds graduate degrees in psychology and sociology. She is also author of several best-selling books, including Becoming the Narcissist's Nightmare, The Highly Sensitive Person's Guide to Dealing with Toxic People, and Power. Her books have been translated into more than eighteen languages all over the world. Her writing has been featured on Salon, Bustle, Psychology Today, Huffington Post, VICE, and New York Daily News. She lives in Manhattan, NY. Find out more about her at www.shahidaarabi.com.