@Wendy Prager I just got divorced in May and moved out of my mother's home after nearly two years in June. Trying to learn hard lessons with grace.

@Wendy Prager I didn't move far at all. I've lived here in SWPA since 2012. That is a big question for me because I never really wanted to live here, but I'm here.

👏 👏 👏

Great job. I left you a comment and subscribed. Thank you for sharing.

@Alex Rehbichler this inability to accept gifts is a trauma response to conditional love. "If I take something there is an unspoken expectation for me to return the gift in some form or fashion, with possible punitive consequences if I don't fulfill my end of the agreement." A victim of narcissistic abuse is very likely. Gift giving isn't a sincere gesture, it's transactional, therefore receiving gifts equates to receiving punishment and pain. She sounds very traumatized.

Love bombing is one of the first red flags for narcissism. "I love that you represent the ideal archetypal person I desire, so I'll shower you to death at first to entrap you, while you still represent that fantasy for me, but when you show your real self, I'll criticize, neglect, and abuse you for not living up to my fantasy."

As a highly empathic person, I've learned to use the frame technique in order to keep myself both connected and separated from the collective. Otherwise, it's too easy to pick up on the energies of others which can be detrimental to my health.