23: How Can I Tell the Difference Between Love Bombing and Love?

After experiencing the highs of love bombing, and the whirlwind romance that they thought was their soul mate only to be dropped to the lowest lows, many people are terrified to date again.

But there are major differences between love bombing and love. Love bombing starts off hot and heavy. It's constant communication and complements. It's rushing all forms of intimacy--sex, opening up about your life, moving in together (or talking about moving in together), talking about marriage--all within the first few months of dating a person.

Love is something that takes time to develop. It is based on dignity and respect. Love is kindness, caring, and consideration of the other person and their feelings.

Love is not a one-sided dynamic in which one person is dragged through hell and has to continually look the other way and try to "forgive" their partner of all their wrong doings in order to keep the relationship together. It does not envy, it does not boast. It does not abuse. It does not cheat, lie, or deceive. It does not demand trust or forgiveness when it is not earned.

Our love, like our compassion, is not complete if it does not include ourselves. Because while you may love them, you have to love yourself enough to walk away when someone is mistreating you.

From the full livestream October 19th 2016

Do you have a narcissist, sociopath, or psychopath in your life, or think that you might? Are you in (or recently out of) of a relationship that you can only describe as crazy making, toxic, or like a lifetime TV movie? Then you are in the right place.

The live streams are a time where we "meet" every Wednesday at 8:30pm EST to ask questions, and give answers and support. I give my two cents, as do many of the other people in the chat. If you can't make it to the live stream, you can email me your question at: [email protected] I get a lot of questions, but I do my best to bring up and answer as many of them as I can each week. :)

To get support: www.ThriveAfterAbuse.com/forum

* This is an "open" group, meaning that anyone can see what you are posting, however, you can choose your own screen name and have total privacy that way.

Support Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HealingAfterNarcissisticAbuse/

*This is a "closed" group, meaning that your Facebook friends can see that you are in the group, but they CAN'T see what you are posting (although it looks like they can, as you can see the chat on your timeline--but they really can't so don't panic.)

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ThriveAfterAbuse

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Disclaimer: I am not a therapist, doctor, attorney, or expert in Narcissism...or anything at all really. If anything, I am a student of life, love, behavior and behavior change, and a woman who is dedicated to thriving.

Professionally, I worked as an advocate for victims of domestic violence at a domestic violence shelter, and currently I am a psychiatric nurse. Personally, I have been through two relationships with narcissists, and have been able to not only survive those, but have been able to move forward and thrive.

My goal with these videos is to share all of my lessons learned, as well as to start many important conversations about abuse, and recovery with the hopes that together we can provide the clarity, closure, and healing that we all deserve.

Remember: You are not crazy. You are not alone. And yes, you really can heal from this.