logo
episode-header-image
May 5
12m 12s

Signs of Coercive Control by Narcissists...

Lisa A. Romano
About this episode

In this episode, we’re breaking down the subtle but dangerous ways narcissists use coercive control in conversations to manipulate, destabilize, and maintain dominance over others. If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation feeling mentally foggy, emotionally drained, or questioning your own thoughts, you may have been subjected to narcissistic coercion without even realizing it.

Coercive control is a form of psychological abuse that narcissists use to undermine your confidence, distort your reality, and keep you second-guessing yourself. Unlike overt aggression, these tactics often fly under the radar, making them difficult to recognize until the damage is already done.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

  • How narcissists use rapid-fire questioning to overwhelm you, keep you off balance, and push you into emotional dysregulation.
  • Why gaslighting is a core tool in coercive conversations and how it causes you to doubt your memory, perception, and even your sanity.
  • The subtle way narcissists withhold information, distort facts, or contradict themselves to create confusion and maintain power over the narrative.
  • How guilt, shame, and fear are weaponized in conversation to manipulate you into compliance and emotional submission.
  • Why they interrupt, talk over you, or shift blame to prevent you from asserting yourself and setting boundaries.

The Psychological Impact of Coercive Control

Research shows that victims of coercive control often experience chronic stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and cognitive dissonance—the mental discomfort caused by holding contradictory beliefs. Over time, these conversations can leave you feeling powerless, disconnected from your own thoughts, and emotionally dependent on the narcissist for validation and approval.

But knowledge is power. Once you learn to recognize these tactics, you can stop engaging in their games and take back control of your own mind.

Breaking Free from the Cycle

Healing from narcissistic coercion requires self-awareness, emotional detachment, and boundary-setting. In this episode, we’ll discuss practical strategies to help you:

  • Stay grounded and recognize when a conversation is designed to manipulate you.
  • Trust your own perception rather than seeking validation from the narcissist.
  • Respond with clarity and confidence instead of falling into the trap of emotional reactivity.
  • Use gray rock and other disengagement techniques to limit their control over your thoughts and emotions.

If you’ve ever struggled to hold your own in conversations with a narcissist, this episode is for you. Understanding their tactics is the first step to reclaiming your voice, your confidence, and your emotional independence.

Tune in now, and let’s expose the mind games so you can break free from the cycle of coercive control once and for all!

Become immune to narcissists by healing the unhealed wounds that make so many of us more vulnerable to their abuse. The 12 Week Breakthrough Coaching Program is the healing method and modality that has helped thousands stop falling for narcissists.

https://www.lisaaromano.com/12-wbcp

To learn more, contact Lisa and her team members here;

Contact

Website

Spotify

Award Winning Books 

Facebook Support Group

 

 

 

 

Up next
Aug 4
Codependency: The Invisible Child's Addiction
If you grew up feeling emotionally unsafe, unseen, or like your feelings didn’t matter, you may have unknowingly developed codependent behaviors rooted in childhood emotional neglect. In this powerful episode, Lisa A. Romano, codependency recovery expert, breaks down how early li ... Show More
26m 15s
Jul 28
Why They Can’t Love You Fully: The Truth About Spouses With Childhood Trauma
Are you constantly hurt by a spouse who struggles to prioritize you? Do they avoid setting boundaries with their parents—even when it damages your marriage? If your partner was raised in a toxic or emotionally immature home, their nervous system may have been wired for survival—n ... Show More
16m 19s
Jul 21
Raised by a Vulnerable Narcissistic Parent: When Forgiveness Becomes a Weapon
In this powerful episode, Lisa A. Romano explores the emotional aftermath of being raised by a vulnerable narcissistic parent—the type who manipulates your compassion, guilt-trips you into forgiveness, and demands loyalty over authenticity. If you were raised in a home where emot ... Show More
26m 56s
Recommended Episodes
May 7
The Narcissist Decoder: How Midlife Women Get Trapped in Emotional Abuse
If you've ever questioned your reality, blamed your hormones, or been told you’re “too sensitive,” this conversation will change how you see everything. Tamsen sits down with world-renowned psychologist and narcissism expert Dr. Ramani Durvasula, author of the New York Times best ... Show More
1h 6m
Jun 2023
The Narcissist Is Not To Blame For How You Feel
The Narcissist Is Not To Blame For How You Feel. Many people believe that the narcissist is responsible for our feelings and how we react to them. But this is not accurate. What you will discover is that your feelings are a result of the parenting you experienced, the culture you ... Show More
17m 10s
Jun 2024
Ep 83 Caroline Strawson | Narcissism, Trauma-Bonding & Neuro-Divergence | The Self Development Podcast
SummaryIn this episode, self-development coach Johnny Lawrence interviews narcissism expert Caroline Strawson. They discuss the overuse and misinterpretation of the term 'narcissist' in society, the impact of narcissistic abuse as a form of domestic abuse, and the importance of u ... Show More
1h 13m
Dec 2024
Toxic Relationships : 7 Shocking Truths About Why Narcissists Can't Love Their Kids💔
Send us a text"Can Narcissistic Parents Truly Love Their Kids? The Truth Behind the Mask"Are narcissistic parents capable of genuine love, or is their affection just a carefully crafted façade? Join me, Dr. Amen Kaur, as I expose the emotional disconnection hidden beneath the sur ... Show More
16m 58s
Jul 2024
Unhealed Disorganized Attachment Triggers Emotional Abuse
A Disorganized Attachment style is a trauma wound that can drive you to LONG for love and then push it away again and again, every time you feel irritated, or vulnerable, or disappointed. Childhood trauma is almost always the cause of this, and THAT wasn’t your fault. But when yo ... Show More
16m 15s
Jun 17
Break Free from Trauma Bonding | Take Back Your Power
Break Free from Trauma Bonding | Take Back Your Power Trauma bonding can keep us stuck in relationships that drain our self-worth, confidence, and happiness. The cycle of hope, hurt, and confusion makes it incredibly difficult to walk away—even when we know it’s not healthy. If y ... Show More
33m 35s
Feb 2025
Protecting Yourself from Narcissistic People with Dr. Ramani Durvasula
Dr. Ramani Durvasula, one of the world’s leading experts on narcissism and narcissistic abuse, joins Forrest to help us learn how to understand, identify, and recover from relationships with narcissistic people. They start by discussing the traits associated with narcissism, the ... Show More
1h 22m
May 27
299. The psychology of emotionally immature parents
What happens when the people who were supposed to guide and nurture us were never taught to emotionally grow up themselves? In today’s episode, we dive into the psychology of emotionally immature parents - their behaviours, their blind spots, and the lasting impact they can have ... Show More
1 h
Mar 2025
The Hidden Root Cause of Anxiety and Depression- Codependency With Dr. Sarah Michaud
Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Sometimes anxiety attacks and panic attacks are actually suppressed anger and caretaking that are showing up as Anxiety. In this conversation with Dr. Sarah Michaud, ... Show More
47m 36s
Aug 5
The Cycle Ends With You: Dr. Ramani’s Proven Steps to Break the Cycle & Heal for Real (Fan Fav)
By now, you are most likely aware of narcissistic behavior being grandiose, egotistical and charming. If many of us can describe a narcissistic person, then how do we fall into unhealthy relationships with people that have zero concern for our happiness or well being? If you’ve e ... Show More
1h 12m