Dr. Mark Ettensohn's podcast episode on "Heal NPD" challenges the commonly used term "narcissistic abuse," arguing that it lacks a precise clinical definition and is often misapplied. He explains that many behaviors associated with "narcissistic abuse," such as love-bombing, gaslighting, and boundary violations, are common across various personality disorders. Dr. Ettensohn proposes a more specific definition of narcissistic abuse as the exploitation of others to fulfill the narcissist's own self-esteem needs, stemming from childhood emotional neglect and the development of a "false self." He emphasizes that this form of abuse is often unconscious and highlights the importance of therapy for narcissists to break this cycle by embracing vulnerability and authenticity.
