In today’s episode, I am joined by Mackendrie Gardner – an abuse survivor who has overcome and risen above the trauma of her childhood and young adult life.
Mackendrie radiates positivity and healing through her sound words of advice. She shares that much of her abuse stems from being surrounded by narcissistic personality types.
We dive into narcissistic behavior traits and how to recognize and identify them in others. We also touch on gaslighting which is a form of emotional abuse wherein a person manipulates another by forcing them to question their thoughts, memories, or actions while also denying accusations made against them.
Mackendrie shares her path to healing through acceptance of the abuse that she has endured, surrounding herself with people who better define who she truly is, and working through a unique type of therapy called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). This type of therapy involves rapid eye movement that allows the left and right brain to connect which then releases emotions that are stored as a result of a traumatic experience. EMDR redirects how you process memories or your therapist may focus on addressing "moral injury" (translation: managing a conflict of conscience or beliefs) with you. It has tremendously helped Mackendrie in her healing process.
Tune in to hear what is Mackendrie doing today to move on from her abuse and what gives her hope for the future of healthy relationships.
For anyone seeking further conversation with Mackendrie, she can be reached through the following platforms:
Instagram: @bodylikebaywatch
Facebook: @MackendrieGardner and/or @BodyLikeBaywatchVIP
To find out more about S.H.A.R.E or to tune into other episodes visit:
www.sharethemovement.org and www.speakloudpodcast.com