Covert Narcissism: Did I Make Him a Narcissist by Reading Too Much?

Have you ever discovered narcissism in your relationship, started reading everything you could find, and then panicked — wondering if you were the one who created the pattern you were seeing? In this episode of the Covert Narcissism Podcast, Renee Swanson opens up about a fear she's never shared before: the worry that dwelling on covert narcissism had somehow manifested it in her marriage. She walks through the exact passages from Eleanor Payson's The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissists that jumped off the page at her early in her journey, and why recognition is not the same thing as manifestation. This episode covers covert narcissism, narcissistic abuse recovery, the difference between normal self-centeredness and a true narcissistic pattern, and the safeguard Renee uses to answer one simple question: does this person ever return to baseline? If you've ever doubted your own perception of narcissistic abuse in your own marriage or family, this conversation will help you trust what you already know. If you've been listening, learning, and starting to see the patterns — but still feel stuck in the same cycles — that's not because you're missing information. It's because this isn't something you're meant to untangle alone. If you're ready to take the next step toward healing, I invite you to join me in my coaching program at www.covertnarcissism.com. And if this episode resonated with you, please subscribe so you never miss one. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not to be used for diagnosis and is not intended to be a substitute for clinical care; please consult a health care provider for guidance specific to your case. This material discusses narcissism in general — Renee shares stories from her personal experiences as well as from those she has talked with for several years, and her material does not claim that any specific person has narcissism and should not be used to refer to any specific person as having narcissism. Permission is not granted to link to or repost this material to support an allegation or claim that any specific person is a narcissist; that would be an unauthorized misuse of the material and information provided. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.