by Christine Hammond on September 19, 2016
The conversation begins so normally. There is good flow from one person to the next. Each hears and understands the topic at hand without any indication of stress. Then out of nowhere, it dramatically shifts. The conversation becomes one-sided, almost lecture-like, the words toward others are harsh and biting intertwined with statements of self-praise, and… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on May 20, 2015
The other day a friend told me about her husband’s ranting and raving over what seemed like nothing. His work was demanding more and more, he did not like his boss or the people he worked with, the house needed some repairs, his health was deteriorating, he got a stomach ache from his last meal,… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on January 7, 2015
Narcissistic verbal abuse is powerful. A talented narcissist can wear you down and then spin you around so fast you hardly know what has happened. Before you realize it, the narcissist has convinced you that what is up is really down and their verbal assaults are actually your fault. For this reason, verbal abuse is… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on January 14, 2013
Your spouse is going to rant about something sooner or later. Unfortunately the ranting may even be about the same topic, the same people, or the same circumstances you have heard about a thousand times before. In your response, you are likely to fall into a pattern of defending, explaining, shutting down, minimizing or personalizing… (more…)