Uncovering the Link Between Narcissistic Abuse and Illness: Exploring the Mind-Body Connection.

This is the second of three articles about exploring the mind-body connection in relation to distressing physical symptoms and chronic illness. I previously wrote about the link between adverse childhood experiences and chronic illness in adulthood. You can find it here. The present article is a continuation of the first but with a more specific focus on narcissistic abuse in relation to health outcomes.

The connection between narcissistic abuse, trauma, and distressing physical symptoms underscores the profound impact of emotional suffering on physical health. Conversations often focus on the psychological impacts of narcissistic abuse, highlighting the consequences of extended emotional and mental mistreatment. Indeed, narcissistic abuse can cause a range of psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals might also struggle with emotional regulation resulting in mood swings, angry outbursts, or emotional numbness. Cognitive challenges may arise, such as problems with memory, concentration, and decision-making. Additionally, there may be interpersonal issues, such as difficulty trusting others or forming healthy relationships. However, we rarely see conversations about the physical manifestations of this type of abuse, nor do we talk about their consequences. There is certainly evidence of stress-related symptoms from narcissistic abuse in adulthood and I will discuss that briefly, but the connection between parental narcissistic abuse in childhood, and the development of chronic illnesses later in life, remains unclear. Nevertheless, I believe we can learn a lot from the literature on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and apply much of that to narcissistic abuse in childhood.

What is a narcissist?

In the popular literature, narcissism typically refers to a set of attitudes and behaviours exhibited by individuals who are abusive in their interactions with others. These individuals may display behaviors such as irresponsibility, recklessness, a grandiose sense of self-importance, a need for admiration, a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, envy, exploitation of others, insecurity or low self-esteem, sensitivity to criticism, chronic self-pity, passive-aggressive behaviors, emotional manipulation, difficulty with rejection, and superficial, transactional relationships. Narcissism can manifest in various forms among different individuals. In this article, I will focus on the grandiose and the vulnerable types.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) in the DSM-5 describes a person who exhibits an inflated sense of self-importance. Key characteristics are a grandiose sense of self-worth (e.g. exaggerating accomplishments and abilities, believing oneself to be superior, fantasizing about power and success, and expecting special treatment and admiration); exploitative behaviour (e.g. taking advantage of others for personal gain, manipulating and controlling others, and feeling envious of those who succeed); entitlement (e.g. believing they deserve the best, feeling justified in taking what they want, and having difficulty apologizing or taking responsibility); a lack of empathy (e.g. an inability to understand or care about others' feelings, viewing others as inferior or disposable, exploiting others' vulnerabilities, and lacking remorse for hurtful actions). There may also be signs of superficial charm and attractiveness, fragile self-esteem, a need for constant validation, difficulty maintaining healthy relationships, and being prone to rage and aggression when criticized. These patterns of behaviour can be considered NPD when severe and persistent, but it's important to note that not all individuals with NPD exhibit all of these traits, and the severity across symptoms can vary.

A strong link also exists between narcissism and violence. For instance, people with NPD are more prone to violent behaviour than those without NPD. In fact, a review of 65 studies indicated that narcissism increased the likelihood of violence by 18%. There are some characteristics of individuals with NPD that might lead to violent behaviour. For example, they may have a hard time regulating their emotions and therefore may find it more difficult to manage their anger compared to others. 'Narcissistic rage' may indeed be a problem where individuals with NPD might respond to perceived criticism or comments from others with violent outbursts. There may also be an absence of empathy and a disregard for others; a feeling that others are beneath them, which may contribute to aggressive tendencies.

When diagnosing NPD, the main emphasis is on assessing 'grandiose (or overt) narcissism'. However, other forms exist, such as vulnerable (or covert) narcissism. In my experience, this type is much more prevalent, yet harder to identify due to its subtle and often concealed narcissistic traits (but there are overlaps of some traits across all narcissistic types). Common symptoms include emotional manipulation (e.g. playing the victim to gain sympathy, using guilt trips to control people, and withholding affection or attention as a form of punishment); passive-aggressive behavior (e.g. making snide comments or subtle insults, procrastinating or ignoring requests, undermining others' achievements or sabotaging their efforts, and employing the silent treatment); self-centeredness (e.g. exaggerating their own achievements or importance, lacking empathy or concern for others, having a constant need for validation and praise, and envy of others success or happiness); sensitivity to criticism (e.g. being extremely defensive and reactive to any criticism, projecting blame onto others when criticized, and using criticism as an opportunity to manipulate or attract attention). There is often a fragile sense of self-esteem masked by arrogance, secret grandiose fantasies, challenges in maintaining healthy relationships, social anxiety, a desire for control over others, and self-imposed isolation. It's important to recognize that not everyone displaying some of these traits has vulnerable narcissism.

What do we mean by narcissistic abuse?

Narcissistic abuse may involve emotional, financial, sexual or physical mistreatment and neglect. It is marked by a pattern of manipulation and control from individuals with strong narcissistic traits. This form of abuse can be aggressive or subtle, yet vengeful, and calculated. Victims often feel isolated, confused, and uncertain about the issues in the relationship. Emotional narcissistic abuse can manifest as gaslighting (causing you to question your own experiences); manipulations like starting a smear campaign, triangulations (e.g. using a third party to manipulate and control relationships), giving the silent treatment, hoovering (designed to pull you back into the cycle of abuse), playing the victim, guilt-tripping, future faking, baiting (a manipulative tactic used to provoke emotional reactions); projection (attributes their thoughts, feelings, or behaviours onto you - this is usually unconscious); blame shifting (accusing you of their own actions); deflection (avoiding criticism or blame by shifting the focus or responsibility onto something else), creating an environment where you feel you must walk on eggshells; isolating you from friends and family; withholding resources like money, time, or affection; and, engaging in controlling and passive-aggressive behaviours (e.g. giving back-handed compliments). Living with narcissistic abuse, especially for long periods of time, can be extremely stressful, confusing, and traumatic, and the constant barrage of narcissistic manipulation, criticism, and belittlement from a narcissistic person can gradually wear down someone's sense of self-worth.

The victim often experiences 'cognitive dissonance' due to the deliberate and systematic manipulation by the narcissist. Cognitive dissonance in this context refers to the psychological discomfort someone feels when attempting to reconcile the narcissist's positive, charming exterior with their abusive actions, resulting in confusion, self-doubt, and difficulty in accurately perceiving the reality of the relationship; essentially, there is a mental struggle with the conflicting notion that someone who seems so good could also be so cruel. Key aspects of cognitive dissonance in narcissistic abuse include gaslighting, where the narcissist frequently uses this tactic to alter someone's perception of reality, leading them to doubt their own memories, thereby intensifying cognitive dissonance. The idealization/devaluation cycles involve the narcissist alternating between periods of intense affection and admiration (idealization) and phases of severe criticism and devaluation, causing the victim to perpetually question their self-worth and the stability in the relationship. Love bombing occurs when the narcissist initially overwhelms someone with attention and affection, forming a strong emotional bond that complicates leaving once the abuse begins. Isolation is another tactic in the formation of cognitive dissonance, where narcissists often separate their victims from friends and family, increasing their reliance on the narcissist, and making it challenging to seek outside validation. They may rationalize the narcissist's actions, minimize the abuse and blame themselves for the situation. The confusion and emotional turmoil caused by cognitive dissonance can make it incredibly difficult for people to break free from the abusive relationship. 

Many have also been raised by parents who exhibited narcissistic abusive behaviour patterns. This abuse is often present throughout childhood and may also persist well into adulthood. Grandiose narcissistic parents often display more obvious abusive behaviour. They treat their children as a source of narcissistic supply, viewing them as extensions of themselves. These parents pressure their children to succeed, live through their children's experiences, and claim their children's accomplishments as their own. This can be damaging, as it prevents the child from developing their own identity. Also, having a narcissistic parent might mean they only express affection when you meet their expectations. If you experience a setback, lose a competition, or fail to meet their standards, they might withhold love and approval. This can lead to feelings of confusion and isolation. In this type of narcissistic abuse, you are regarded not as an individual but as a trophy.

A key characteristic of a narcissistic parent is the absence of boundaries. They may intrude into your personal space by going through your belongings without consent, checking your phone, or entering your room without knocking. Additionally, they may be excessively involved in your life, expecting you to disclose everything to them, or constantly wanting to know your whereabouts. In this form of narcissistic abuse, parents often designate one child as the golden child and another as the family scapegoat. The golden child receives abundant attention and favoritism, whereas the scapegoat faces neglect and criticism. This dynamic can have severe impacts on both children. The golden child might experience guilt over the sibling's exclusion but is powerless to alter the established sibling relationship. However, even the golden child may not be exempt from the narcissist's cycle of idealization and devaluation. At one moment, they may receive love and praise; the next, they may face abandonment, criticism, and humiliation.

The golden child is trained to conform to a narrative of superiority and success that has been crafted by the narcissistic parent. They are placed in the role of the perfect child who always excels and never falters. However, when they inevitably make mistakes, the parents may become angry and resort to verbal and physical abuse. Ultimately, they may feel perpetually haunted by a sense of emptiness, a profound fear of failure, and the void of not knowing their true self. They may also feel that their value is solely based on their achievements. Often, people who grew up as the golden child may deny they were abused; such is the extent of their conditioning. In contrast, the narcissistic parent may unjustly direct blame, anger, and shame towards a child that has been designated as the scapegoat. This child is often given adult responsibilities within the family, is frequently made to feel flawed, and is held accountable for all the family's issues. This can result in the child forming self-defeating beliefs about themselves, not believing they are worthy or lovable.

While most parents take joy in watching their children mature and achieve success, some narcissistic parents struggle with the idea of anyone outshining them, including their own child. Even if it's not openly acknowledged, there's always a feeling of competition with their (adult) children. These parents constantly crave being the focus of attention and cannot tolerate someone surpassing their success, prompting them to do everything possible to retain control. They might feel envious of the attention their child receives, how they look, or any other part of their child's life that they perceive as a threat to their self-esteem. Their response is often anger and jealousy, which may result in verbal assaults, sulking, or giving the silent treatment. When accomplishments occur, individuals might observe their parents trying to outdo them by imitating their style and actions. Over time, individuals might choose to hide any positive news from their narcissistic parent, as any success could trigger retaliation or unhealthy rivalry.

Guilt trips and control are often associated with the vulnerable narcissist, who is typically very insecure and emotionally unstable. This type of abuse is difficult to recognize because the abuser often appears weak and exhibits anger in a passive-aggressive manner. Their concealed aggression is intended to cause psychological harm while avoiding direct conflict or confrontation. These parents frequently lack self-confidence and feel a sense of emptiness in their lives. To compensate for these feelings of inferiority, they exert narcissistic control and create emotional dependency with their children. Children may be forced into roles such as caregiver, counselor, or even parent, feeling responsible for their parent's emotional state and neglecting their own needs. 'Emotional incest' may happen when a parent, dissatisfied with their marriage, or even in their singlehood, turns to their child to meet their emotional needs as a substitute for a spouse or intimate partner.

Vulnerable narcissists often harbor deep insecurities, leading them to rely on others for narcissistic supply to enhance their self-esteem. Emotionally needy, they may strongly crave validation and attention from their child. When their children try to distance themselves by moving out or starting a new relationship, the parent may become depressed and withdrawn, neglect their own well-being, and in severe cases, threaten suicide. For insecure and anxious parents, the underlying intention is to interfere in their children's lives and promote their dependence, preventing them from leaving. This manipulative behaviour can indeed intensify a child's feelings of helplessness and dependency. These parents lack a strong identity beyond their parenting role, and may find the prospect of losing their children, and facing their inner void, terrifying.

Vulnerable narcissists are also prone to using FOG as a manipulation tactic. Fog stands for Fear, Obligation and Guilt. They may go out of their way to be helpful to their (adult) children, family members, friends or neighbours, while later, and in a subtle way, make people feel obligated to comply with their wishes, and if not, fear tactics and guilt trips are employed (I mean, look how much they've done for you!). To those on the outside, this helpfulness often makes them seem like remarkable individuals, unaware that it functions as a manipulation tactic. 

Vulnerable narcissists may also manipulate their children with guilt to obtain the validation they need. For example, they could use expressions such as "I am a bad parent," or "I do not deserve your love" to elicit praise and reassurance. Having a passively controlling narcissistic parent can make it difficult to establish healthy boundaries. Even as an adult, people may struggle to say no or assert themselves in all aspects of their lives. This can also lead to a heightened fear of conflict, frequent apologies, and feelings of guilt. Children of narcissists may also have been conditioned to feel guilty for prioritizing their own health and happiness. Indeed, in childhood, people may develop coping behaviours to adapt to such an environment. Often, such coping strategies may not serve them well in adulthood (e.g. people pleasing, over-eating), and may be considered a trauma response.

Adverse childhood experiences versus narcissistic abuse in childhood

Over the years, I have worked with numerous clients who have suffered from various illnesses or distressing physical symptoms that have significantly impacted their quality of life. I've observed a recurring pattern among many of these clients: a significant number have experienced some form of narcissistic abuse in their past, often from a parent, but sometimes from a spouse, or both. This 'evidence' should be viewed with caution however, as it is anecdotal, and lacks clarity on its significance or causal direction. Indeed, there is minimal research on the impact of narcissistic abuse on physical health, but we can make informed assumptions based on studies examining ongoing ACEs, and the manifestation of chronic stress as physical illness in that group. As mentioned above, I recently wrote an article about this that you can find here (there is some overlap in content between these two articles for the reason that each should stand alone). But can we generalize the findings from the literature on ACEs and adult illness, and assume narcissistic childhood abuse has the same impact on people's physical health later on in life?

Childhood abuse and narcissistic abuse by a parent share many similarities but may also show differences. However, both can lead to enduring negative impacts on a child. Childhood abuse as a general term may involve physical, verbal, or emotional harm, potentially resulting in difficulties with trust, behaviour, communication, and relationships. Similarly, but more specifically, narcissistic abuse by a parent can involve physical, verbal, or emotional harm, but also the golden child syndrome, and a parent's inability to accept any sign of failure or imperfection in their child. There may also be a mix of overindulgence and under-indulgence, leading a child to feel unnoticed and struggle with self-image and boundaries. Additional consequences of both childhood abuse in a general sense, and more specific narcissistic abuse include emotional neglect; a parent's consistent failure to meet a child's emotional or physical needs.

The measurement of ACEs in studies tend to ask general questions about emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, household dysfunction, and neglect, but doesn't specify the exact content of these, nor what we may consider narcissistic abuse. Emotional and physical abuse, household dysfunction and neglect can most certainly apply to narcissistic abuse, but it may not, and that must be kept in mind when making assumptions of its effect on outcomes. However, adverse childhood experiences and its measurement, most certainly include all aspects of narcissistic abuse and both ACEs and narcissistic abuse in childhood is chronically stressful and traumatic. Overall, it's clear that all narcissistic abuse by a parent is childhood abuse, i.e. significant adverse childhood experiences, but not all childhood abuse is narcissistic abuse.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and illness

In 1998, Kaiser Permanente released the ACE study, a comprehensive investigation into Adverse Childhood Experiences and their effect on survivors' health in adulthood, demonstrating the connection between trauma and illness, particularly childhood trauma, and the onset of chronic physical illness in adult life. Individuals with ACEs had a higher likelihood of developing chronic conditions like heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, and cancer compared to the general population. They concluded that extended emotional stress, often encountered by trauma survivors, causes various physical changes in the body that result in illness and disease. Indeed, individuals with PTSD for example, are more prone than those without PTSD to experience serious illnesses, including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as other physical health conditions. Those who have experienced childhood trauma, especially abuse and neglect, may face a 'cumulative disadvantage'.

Overall, studies have found that chronic stress in childhood is associated with illnesses in adulthood such as cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke, high cholesterol), diabetes, cancer, lung disease (asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema), renal disease, chronic pain, increased suicide rates and higher levels of anxiety and depression. As the ACE Score rise, so does the risk for the following health problems: alcoholism and alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, early initiation of sexual activity, sexually transmitted diseases, adolescent pregnancy, unintended pregnancies, fetal death, risk for intimate partner violence, multiple sexual partners, smoking and early initiation of smoking, suicide attempts, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), liver disease, Mind-Body Syndrome, anxiety, depression, and poor health-related quality of life. This shows that people's behaviour may also be a factor in predicting illness later in life in an attempt to self-soothe a dysregulated nervous system. However, there is also an independent effect on having a rough childhood, and the development of various illnesses in adulthood as I will briefly describe below.

How are ACEs related to illness?

As mentioned above, the hallmarks of a rough childhood can take the form of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect (physical and emotional), household dysfunction (parental divorce, substance abuse and mental illness within the family) and exposure to violence within the home. Over time, this can affect the child's brain development, nervous system, immune system, endocrine (hormone) system, and also through epigenetic changes and how their DNA is read and transcribed. When the body is subjected to prolonged stress, it releases stress-related neurochemicals and hormones in excessive quantities. These are naturally occurring and play a crucial role in normal bodily functions. However, their prolonged release due to stress can be harmful to the developing brain and body. Over time, this heightened state can result in inflammation. Inflammation is strongly associated with disease development and can further disrupt the body's ability to regulate inflammation and pain. It can also affect the structure and function of brain regions associated with emotion regulation, memory, and decision-making, potentially leading to difficulties with learning, behaviour, and social interaction.

Emotional abuse such a as lack of empathy, constant criticism, and various manipulation tactics are some common behaviours observed in narcissistic relationships. Research has linked these behaviours to significant emotional distress, anxiety, and even PTSD. For example, people with PTSD experience hypervigilance, keeping their bodies in a constant state of high alert. This means that fight and flight go from being adaptive and lifesaving, to being maladaptive and health damaging. This ongoing alertness is mentally and physically exhausting, and if untreated, can cause the body's stress response system to remain in overdrive indefinitely. This heightened stress response can increase susceptibility to chronic illnesses and pain.

It's important to differentiate between narcissistic abuse by a partner or spouse in adulthood, and that by a parent during childhood. Individuals who faced narcissistic abuse in childhood are probably more likely to develop illnesses in adulthood, as suggested by studies on ACEs. However, those who had loving parents but who encountered narcissistic abuse in adulthood only, may still, at the very least, develop physical symptoms due to the chronic stress and trauma linked to this abuse. Somatic complaints such as gastric issues, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and chronic pain are common. These symptoms often represent a reaction of the body's stress-response system and can be extremely distressing and debilitating if severe. If you're dealing with chronic pain or other distressing physical symptoms, and have endured narcissistic abuse, it's possible that the trauma associated with this abuse is the underlying cause of these physical symptoms (I will write about this in my next article). Research also indicates that experiencing narcissistic abuse in childhood can significantly increase the likelihood of someone choosing partners in adulthood who exhibit narcissistic traits. Indeed, early trauma can create patterns that increase their vulnerability to similar dynamics in adult relationships, perpetuating the stress.

From a behavioural standpoint, people who have experienced physical and psychological trauma may also be more inclined to adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms such as smoking, substance abuse, and overeating, which may contribute to ill health. For example, research indicates a connection between experiencing narcissistic abuse and a higher likelihood of smoking. The chronic stress and emotional distress from such abuse can cause individuals to use smoking as a coping strategy to self-soothe and manage overwhelming emotions like anxiety and depression. However, as illustrated above, there is also a significant independent effect of childhood adversity and illness later in life. 

It's crucial to note that not all individuals with ACEs experience chronic illnesses. Resilience factors can help lessen the effects of ACEs. Offering children supportive environments and access to mental health services can diminish its long-term impact. However, even without these, and with the goal of enhancing health-related quality of life, we can still educate adults on how to better regulate their nervous system, adopt more effective coping strategies, and become more resilient during challenging times.

How do we heal?

Recovering from narcissistic abuse requires effort and can be time-consuming, but it is essential for healing to take place. Gaining knowledge about narcissism and the manipulation tactics used, is vital. For instance, understanding and recognizing cognitive dissonance in relation to narcissistic abuse is essential, and once there is an understanding of how narcissistic abuse manifests, it's crucial to fully accept the situation for what it is to avoid being drawn back into the abusive environment. Additionally, if the narcissist attempts to bait you (i.e. seeking a reaction), employ the 'DEEP' approach: don't Defend, don't Explain, don't Engage, and don't Personalize. Then, adopt the 'Grey Rock' method, which involves acting uninterested, indifferent, and unresponsive to discourage abuse or manipulative behaviour. Walking away is the best approach here but not always possible for everyone. Moreover, connecting with other survivors of narcissistic abuse can offer validation, a sense of community, and help you to better understand your experience. 

To deal with narcissistic abuse from parents as an adult, again, educate yourself about narcissism, set clear boundaries, limit contact if necessary, practice self-care, seek professional help from a psychologist or therapist who specializes in narcissistic abuse, build a support network, and try to maintain your independence. Remember, you cannot change your parent, but you can control how you respond to their behaviour. When setting boundaries, expect your parent to manipulate you with blame shifting, guilt trips, anger, pity play, the silent treatment and so on (they'll try every trick in the book to get their way). Stick to your guns even if they don't respect these boundaries (and they probably won't).

As we have seen, the strong link between childhood adversity and adult illness does not necessarily mean that the physical diseases experienced by adults with traumatic childhoods are linked to various behaviors or are psychosomatic complaints. While behaviors can increase the risk of developing certain conditions, the direct impact of ACEs on chronic illness in adulthood, including the effect of narcissistic abuse, is quite real and can occur independently of these behavioral factors, usually through various mind-body connections caused by prolonged stress. If you've been diagnosed with an illness or experience distressing physical symptoms of unknown origin, your quality of life may be affected in several ways; you may experience chronic pain and fatigue, struggle with sleep, have reduced mobility, be unable to work, experience a loss of independence and be more socially isolated, face challenges with your identity, body image, and self-esteem, and have feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, anger, a lack of meaning and purpose, have suicidal thoughts, and feel spiritual distress. You may even grieve for the life you once had but are no longer able to live, and you may worry about future uncertainties. All these factors require you to learn new coping mechanisms and learn new ways to adjust to your situation. You can read more about what Health Related Quality of Life is and how to improve it in an article I wrote here.

Learning new and better serving coping strategies is indeed important, where, for example, people may allow themselves to be present with their symptoms, rather than using avoidance (e.g. the use of substances) and distraction tactics to cope; these may serve to maintain distress and some physical symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, nausea and pain - I will explain how in my next article. Improving your resilience is also really important. Resilience can be defined as the ability to bounce back in the face of adversity, and the good news is, resilience can be learned! Factors such as having good social support, and a belief in one’s capabilities (self-efficacy) have been found to promote higher levels of resilience. Increased resilience has been associated with lower rates of mental and physical health problems as well as lower rates of inflammatory markers. This means that higher resilience may be protective against the detrimental effects of narcissistic abuse.

If trauma is present, providing psychoeducation around what it is, and how it may show up in daily life, is vital. For example, teaching people that trauma may present as physical symptoms, and not actual memories of events, is important. Trauma informed therapy and all that it involves, can create a sense of safety within the nervous system through various mindfulness strategies. That means that the fight and flight mechanism in the brain becomes less responsive to imaginary threats and triggers. You are essentially learning to communicate safety to the fight and flight mechanism, and thereby calm the nervous system; to recognize and handle triggers in a more efficient way. Various self-compassionate practices may also calm the nervous system. Indeed, survivors of abuse are often really hard on themselves. Self-compassion activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers the stress hormone cortisol, and helps the body relax.

If you present with a Mind-Body Syndrome (a REAL illness with REAL symptoms, but attached to a lot of ignorance), you may be gaslighted by health care professional which can, in and of itself, be (re-)traumatizing, especially if you have previously experienced narcissistic abuse. In terms of chronic, neuroplastic pain, a biopsychosocial pain management approach such as Pain-Reprocessing Therapy can actually remove pain completely, and, if not, reduce it significantly. Grief work is also important as victims of narcissistic abuse often experience numerous losses in their lives. That can take the form of narrative therapy or expressive writing. Creating a sense of meaning and purpose in life can help mitigate suicidal thoughts if they arise. However, discovering meaning and purpose after experiencing trauma and illness can be a complex and challenging journey. This path may require examining and reframing one's beliefs, values, and life objectives. It might also involve using the trauma experience to foster positive changes in one's own life and in the lives of others.

If this is something you’ve been affected by, please leave a comment below. If there’s something important you’d like to add, please do so. I'd love to hear from you.

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Dr. Ingela Thuné-Boyle is a licensed Practitioner Health Psychologist specializing in stress and loss, especially in improving the quality of life of people struggling with long-term health problems, chronic pain and (medical) trauma. She runs a private online (telehealth) practice at www.ingelathuneboyle.com.

Please note: Advice given in this blog is not meant to take the place of therapy or any other professional advice. The opinions and views offered by the author is not intended to treat or diagnose, nor is it intended to replace the treatment and care that you may be receiving from a licensed physician or mental health provider. The author is not responsible for the outcome or results following their information and advice on this blog.