Bitesize Moment: "It's a Slow Erosion." — Nikki Dwyer on reclaiming yourself after control
About this episode
Nikki Dwyer discusses the subtle nature of coercive abuse and the journey of reclaiming oneself after loss.
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, former lawyer turned businesswoman Nikki Dwyer explains why coercive, narcissistic abuse rarely looks the way people expect — it's a slow erosion of confidence through criticism, gaslighting and isolation. She speaks candidly about how losing nearly everything became the moment she could stop drifting and consciously choose who she wanted to be. It's honest, raw and ultimately hopeful. 🔑Key Points • Why abusive relationships rarely look the way people expect from the outside • How criticism, gaslighting and isolation slowly wear down confidence • Why being capable or strong doesn't make you immune • Turning the loss of everything into a chance to choose who you want to be 💛 If anything here feels close to home, it's not your fault. In Ireland, Women's Aid (womensaid.ie) offers free, confidential support. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here. Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here . Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host…
People in this episode
Host: Laura Dowling
Guest: Nikki Dwyer
Topics covered
- coercive abuse
- narcissistic abuse
- self-reclamation
- mental health
- confidence erosion
Keywords
- coercive control
- narcissism
- gaslighting
- confidence
- self-identity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Women's Aid
Places: Ireland
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