The Psychology of Before the Hundred Acre Wood: Kanga
Looking at narcissistic relationships through the lens of Kanga. Grab your copy! Where It Begins: The First Relationship Narcissistic abuse rarely begins with obvious cruelty. It begins with charm, with being seen, chosen, and made to feel extraordinary. Clinicians refer to this phenomenon as ‘love-bombing’: an overwhelming flood of attention, affection, and flattery that creates intense emotional bonding before any real trust has been established. It is not love. It is recruitment. But for someone who grew up with a narcissistic parent, love-bombing is not entirely unfamiliar territory. It echoes the intermittent warmth of a parent who, on certain days, makes you feel like the most important person in the world, and on other days, makes you feel invisible, burdensome, or at fault for their unhappiness. The child of a narcissistic parent learns early that love is a performance, approval is a currency, and affection can be withdrawn without warning. When an adult relationship...
