
329. Riel - Pt 1 0f 2 Pts - Narcissistic Abuse Survivor: 20 Years of DARVO & Childhood Trauma
From WHEN DATING HURTS by Evergreen Podcasts
April 28, 2026 · 41 min
About this episode
Riel shares her harrowing experience as a survivor of narcissistic abuse and childhood trauma, detailing the manipulation tactics used by her abuser.
Content Warning & Disclaimer This true story contains detailed accounts of emotional abuse, psychological abuse, and narcissistic abuse that began in childhood and continued into adulthood. It includes descriptions of prescription drug misuse, recreational drug abuse, failed suicide attempts, and completed suicides. Please proceed with caution. This episode may be highly triggering for survivors of abuse, trauma, or those struggling with suicidal thoughts. Listener discretion is strongly advised. Throughout the interview, you’ll hear the term DARVO — a common manipulation tactic used by abusers. DARVO stands for: Deny Attack Reverse Victim and Offender It occurs when the abuser flips the script, making the victim believe they are the problem and positioning themselves as the victim. This powerful form of gaslighting is explained clearly during Riel’s powerful testimony. When I sat down with Riel, I thought I understood the broad strokes of her story. What unfolded was far more shocking and complex than I anticipated. The layers of betrayal — not just from her long-term partner, but also from her own mother — were deeply disturbing and completely unexpected. Riel survived 20 years…
People in this episode
Guest: Riel
Topics covered
- narcissistic abuse
- childhood trauma
- emotional abuse
- psychological abuse
- DARVO
- survivor testimony
Keywords
- narcissistic abuse
- DARVO
- emotional manipulation
- childhood trauma
- survivor story
- psychological abuse
- gaslighting
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Evergreen Podcasts
More episodes of WHEN DATING HURTS
- 336. What You Need to Know About Love Bombing · June 11, 2026 · 19 min
- 345. Julia - Pt 2 of 2 Pts. - Love Bombing to Gaslighting: A Canadian Survivor’s Toxic Ex-Husband Story · June 9, 2026 · 1h 9m
- 344. Julia - Pt 1 of 2 Pts. - Love Bombing to Gaslighting: A Canadian Survivor’s Toxic Ex-Husband Story · June 9, 2026 · 57 min
- 343. Gaslighting: How it Sounds, Works, and Steals Your Reality · June 7, 2026 · 13 min
- 340. What Future Faking Is · June 4, 2026 · 14 min
- 343. Tricia Gray: From Trauma to Triumph – The Inspiring Story Behind "The Lotus Legacy" Memoir · June 2, 2026 · 58 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the WHEN DATING HURTS podcast page.