Why Talking to a Covert Narcissistic Parent Leaves You Feeling Unsettled | Epi 132

In this episode, Part 1 of a 2 part series, we slow things down and look closely at the subtle moments that leave you feeling unsettled after talking to a covert narcissistic parent—even when nothing “bad” was said. Through a single, ordinary interaction, we explore how confusion, self-doubt, and guilt quietly take shape, how emotional withdrawal and plausible deniability create a double bind, and why you may end up questioning your own feelings rather than the relationship itself.
 From a psychodynamic perspective, we trace how these dynamics get internalized—and how, in therapy, that confusion can begin to loosen so your emotional reality no longer has to be erased to stay connected.

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Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.