Author: Lynn Nichols

Lynn is a trauma-informed narcissistic abuse recovery coach, author, personal survivor, host of the Moving Forward with Hope - Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Podcast, and creator of the YouTube Channel, Wake the Elephant. Her books include Overcoming the Devastation of Narcissistic Abuse: How to Heal, Recover and Take Your Life Back and Master Manipulators: Discover Covert Tactics Narcissists Devise to Manipulate, Deceive and Control. She is passionate in encouraging others through the stages of healing and recovery from narcissistic emotional abuse. Lynn is available for interviews, podcast appearances, and collaborating on related projects. In her free time, Lynn enjoys traveling (both internationally and domestically) and spending time near the beach in warm weather. The purpose of this site is to validate victims (now survivors and overcomers!) of narcissistic abuse, provide resources and encouragement toward rebuilding lives, and to facilitate a revolutionary change to pursue dreams, visions, and living intentionally. If you have found our free material to be useful and beneficial, please head to our Support Page to learn how you can support our mission. We thank you in advance. Subscribe to our email list and follow us on Social Media to stay connected @waketheelephant. Validate. Rebuild. Revolutionize.

Empaths | Exit Plan | Grief and Loss | Healing and Recovery | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

3 Tips to Manage Empathy | Narcissist and Empath Connection
ByLynn Nichols May 18, 2021May 17, 2025

How to Manage Empathy: 3 TIps to Have Boundaries around Your Special Trait Podcast Facebook Youtube Instagram X-twitter Medium Empaths: If you have found your way to this page, perhaps you have been in a relationship with a narcissist, and have been told, or heard it through the grapevine, that you may be what is…

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Healing and Recovery | Empaths | Grief and Loss | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Tactics and Red Flags

One Powerful Benefit of Silence
ByLynn Nichols May 17, 2021May 14, 2025

Groomed For Silence Facebook Youtube Instagram Twitter Medium F*ck Silence When in a relationship with a narcissist, silence becomes the unspoken rule. The abused learns what they can do and not do, say and not say, and over time are conditioned into abiding by the rules as a learned behavior and as part of an…

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Grief and Loss | Empaths | Exit Plan | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Tactics and Red Flags

7 Stages of Grief and Loss After Narcissistic Abuse
ByLynn Nichols April 25, 2021August 10, 2025

The 7 STAGES OF GRIEF And Loss After Narcissistic Abuse Podcast Facebook Youtube Instagram X-twitter Medium Link Stages of Grief and Loss In Overcoming the Devastation from Narcissistic Abuse, How to Heal, Recover and Take your Life Back, it lists 7 stages of grief in the process of healing and recovering from narcissistic abuse and…

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Personal Growth | Empaths | Grief and Loss | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Scapegoat

Get off the Treadmill of Performance with a Narcissist | 3 TIPS to Get Clarity Today
ByLynn Nichols April 1, 2021May 14, 2025

Is it Time to Get off the Treadmill of Performance (going from More To More)? Facebook Youtube Instagram Twitter Medium When in a relationship with a narcissistic abuser, we are often taught do more, and to maintain a high- performance level, inadvertently, of course. We are indirectly told we are not enough, no matter how…

Read More Get off the Treadmill of Performance with a Narcissist | 3 TIPS to Get Clarity Today
Personal Growth | Exit Plan | Grief and Loss | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Spouse/Partner

Master Manipulators
ByLynn Nichols February 19, 2021May 14, 2025

Facebook Youtube Instagram Master Manipulators: Discover Covert Tactics Narcissists Devise to Manipulate, Deceive and Control Are you walking on eggshells in your relationship? Do you feel controlled, even manipulated, told what to say, and how to act? If this is you, perhaps you feel like you are going crazy in your relationship. Perhaps you are…

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Healing and Recovery | Empaths | Grief and Loss | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

Why Narcissistic Abuse is so Devastating
ByLynn Nichols December 23, 2020May 11, 2023

Why Narcissistic Abuse Is so Devastating The Abuse Cycle Facebook Youtube Instagram This page contains affiliate links, that if purchased, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. In addition, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Table of Contents A Bird’s Eye Viewpoint At the onset of discovering we…

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Uncategorized | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Personal Growth | Spouse/Partner

Guide to Terms
ByLynn Nichols December 20, 2020May 14, 2025

Guide to Terms Facebook Youtube Instagram Learning about narcissistic abuse can be confusing especially with terms such as flying monkey, gaslight, and Stockholm Syndrome. It’s almost like learning a second language. We have created a Guide to Terms to aid in your research as you learn about narcissistic abuse. Table of Contents Narcissist A Narcissistic…

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Personal Growth | Empaths | Healing and Recovery | Tactics and Red Flags | Uncategorized

Causes of Panic Attacks
ByLynn Nichols December 20, 2020May 14, 2025

Causes of Panic Attacks Facebook Youtube Instagram The short and obvious answer: panic attacks are caused by high anxiety. But, what exactly is anxiety? Understanding how anxiety crops up will help you defeat panic attacks. One of the biggest myths surrounding anxiety is that it is harmful and can lead to a number of various…

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Healing and Recovery | Grief and Loss | No Contact | Personal Growth | Spouse/Partner | Uncategorized

Gift Giving with the Narcissist: Do I have to buy a gift?
ByLynn Nichols December 7, 2020May 23, 2025

Should I buy the narcissist a gift?

Read More Gift Giving with the Narcissist: Do I have to buy a gift?
Personal Growth | Empaths | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

Why Self-Doubt is the Narcissists Greatest Weapon
ByLynn Nichols November 4, 2020May 14, 2025

Why Self-Doubt is the Narcissists Biggest Weapon

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Personal Growth | Empaths | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Scapegoat

5 Steps to Retrain the Brain after a Relationship with a Narcissist Today
ByLynn Nichols September 8, 2020May 14, 2025

6 Steps to Retrain Your Brain after Narcissistic Injury

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Personal Growth | Dating | Empaths | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

4 Reasons Narcissists Ignore You
ByLynn Nichols April 18, 2020May 23, 2025

Ignored by a narcissist? Being in a relationship with a narcissist can be infuriating. It is NOT like most relationships. It can take years or even decades to uncover and see through the masks they so cleverly wear. Their disguise is perfected, polished, and preserved – even from those they closely associate with.

Most people are drawn in by their wittiness, smile, and candor, and may be quickly enticed by their flattery and knowledge. On the outside and especially around others, they will appear to be charming, attentive, and treat you kindly, but when in a one-on-one encounter they are absent, disconnected, deliberately unaware of your needs, and lack empathy to feel your pain or viewpoint from your side.

Read More 4 Reasons Narcissists Ignore You
Healing and Recovery | Empaths | Golden Child | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

A Narcissist Seeks 6 Things
ByLynn Nichols March 7, 2020May 17, 2025

The Narcissist Seek 6 things from you.

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Healing and Recovery | Empaths | Exit Plan | Golden Child | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

7 Ways Narcissists Obtain Supply
ByLynn Nichols December 23, 2019May 14, 2025

7 Techniques Narcissists Use to Obtain Supply

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Healing and Recovery | Empaths | Golden Child | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

5 Ways to Survive the Holidays
ByLynn Nichols November 25, 2019May 14, 2025

5 Ways to Survive the Holidays

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Personal Growth | Empaths | Exit Plan | Financial Recovery | Grief and Loss | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags | Travel

4 Powerful Changes After Going No Contact
ByLynn Nichols November 24, 2019May 23, 2025

I felt the pain again, understood and grieved it deep within my heart and realized the impact. The earth stood still for a split second, shock in the moment, as I digested this and from there I decided to move on with my life. It has been the largest healing adventure of my life. It was going to BE MY LIFE now. I wasn’t going to live to please or put others’ wishes, wants, desires above my own pursuits.

Read More 4 Powerful Changes After Going No Contact
Personal Growth | Empaths | Exit Plan | Financial Recovery | Grief and Loss | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

Loss after Narcissistic Abuse – 6 Devastating Truths
ByLynn Nichols August 5, 2019May 14, 2025

6 truths in loss after narcissistic abuse

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Healing and Recovery | Empaths | Exit Plan | Grief and Loss | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

5 Things Gained after Surviving Narcissistic Abuse
ByLynn Nichols August 4, 2019May 14, 2025

Surviving narcissistic abuse leads to significant personal growth including freedom from toxic relationships, reduced anxiety, and a renewed perspective on relationships. It fosters a stronger sense of self-worth, unlimited potential, and healthier mindsets. While recovery involves loss and takes time, it ultimately opens opportunities for thriving and personal transformation.

Read More 5 Things Gained after Surviving Narcissistic Abuse
Healing and Recovery | Dating | Empaths | Exit Plan | Golden Child | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

7 Character Traits that Attract Narcissists
ByLynn Nichols August 4, 2019May 18, 2025

Traits: A narcissist will look for prey, as if it is their source of survival. They are looking for individuals to “feed them” and go along with their planned agenda. A narcissist is searching for traits and certain attributes and has devised a plan to keep their supply intact. They do this so they can feel in control, worthy, even if for evil planning. It’s sickening and maddening for those in their path.

Read More 7 Character Traits that Attract Narcissists
Healing and Recovery | Empaths | Exit Plan | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

Leaving the Narcissist – 7 Practical Steps to Freedom
ByLynn Nichols July 30, 2019May 23, 2025

The threshold has been reached and you realized it is time for you to leave the narcissist and go no contact.

Another argument has occurred out of the blue on why I wore blue socks?

Pointless and deliberate targeted arguments that were intentionally designed to degrade the mind surface again. These arguments are crazy-making and manufactured to get you to go over the edge and lose it, of course then, it would be all your fault, right?

Maybe you are saying, “I can’t believe I am in this predicament!”

Perhaps you have determined that you are ready to leave.

Okay, it is time. Time to go.

Read More Leaving the Narcissist – 7 Practical Steps to Freedom
Healing and Recovery | Empaths | Exit Plan | Golden Child | Grief and Loss | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

Confidence after Narcissistic Abuse – 4 Tips to Boost and Rebuild
ByLynn Nichols July 25, 2019May 14, 2025

Confidence after Narcissistic Abuse – 4 Tips to Boost Your Confidence

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Personal Growth | Dating | Empaths | Exit Plan | Golden Child | Grief and Loss | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

Am I with a Narcissist? 60+ Ways to Detect
ByLynn Nichols July 23, 2019May 23, 2025

Facebook Youtube Instagram This page was updated on May 8, 2023. Table of Contents Am I with a narcissist? It is estimated 158 million people in the U.S. are affected by narcissistic abuse, and an estimated 6 percent* have narcissistic personality disorder. The numbers are staggering, and it’s likely you know someone who has…

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Financial Recovery | Dating | Empaths | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Personal Growth | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

4 Steps to Overcome Financial Abuse from a Narcissist
ByLynn Nichols July 21, 2019May 20, 2025

4 Steps to Overcome Financial Abuse Podcast Facebook Youtube Instagram X-twitter Medium Financial abuse is a terrifying experience. You can regain control again over your own finances. It may take some time, but keep your spirits high as you move forward. We are going to talk about several steps to help navigate and to regain…

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Personal Growth | Empaths | Golden Child | Grief and Loss | Healing and Recovery | Scapegoat | Tactics and Red Flags

Is Narcissistic Abuse a Hate Crime?
ByLynn Nichols July 20, 2019May 14, 2025

Is Narcissistic Abuse a Hate Crime? Facebook Youtube Instagram Twitter Medium Narcissistic Abuse. It’s an insidious crime. Should it be classified in its own category as a hate-crime? In this article we will discuss how an individual can be affected by narcissistic abuse and tip to handle going forward, an encouraging message. Table of Contents…

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Personal Growth | Empaths | Exit Plan | Golden Child | Grief and Loss | Healing and Recovery | No Contact | Scapegoat | Spouse/Partner | Tactics and Red Flags

Narcissist Kryptonite: 8 Things a Narcissist Never Wants you to Know or Do
ByLynn Nichols July 14, 2019May 23, 2025

Narcissist Kryptonite: A narcissist thrives in certain environments when their needs are met. When things go awry, and their needs are not met, or they have been ousted, they will not be happy campers.

In this article, we are going to explore the biggest fears of a narcissist, which are the very things they don’t want you to ever do or act on or heaven forbid, even have knowledge of. Let’s begin.

Read More Narcissist Kryptonite: 8 Things a Narcissist Never Wants you to Know or Do