by Sherry Gaba | Mar 10, 2026 | Codependency, Relationships, Trauma
Toxic perfectionism is often misunderstood. People assume it’s about wanting things “just right” or having high standards. But clinically, perfectionism becomes toxic when it shifts from striving for excellence to striving for safety. It becomes a...
by Sherry Gaba | Mar 3, 2026 | Codependency, Obsessive Love, Relationships, Trauma
Rejection sensitivity isn’t simply the fear of someone pulling away. It’s the ache that hits your chest when a text goes unanswered, the spiral you fall into when someone’s tone changes, the sudden sense of wrongness in your body when you feel...
by Sherry Gaba | Feb 17, 2026 | Codependency, Narcissism, Obsessive Love, Relationships, Trauma
Abandonment anxiety is one of the most painful emotional experiences a person can carry. It lives deep in the nervous system, often formed in childhood when love felt inconsistent, confusing, unpredictable, or unsafe. As adults, this fear doesn’t simply...
by Sherry Gaba | Feb 10, 2026 | Codependency, Relationships
Empathy is one of the most beautiful human qualities. It’s the ability to feel with others, to sense their emotions, and to extend compassion. But like all traits, when empathy becomes unbalanced, it can turn into something harmful – both to the giver and...
by Sherry Gaba | Jan 27, 2026 | Codependency, Narcissism, Relationships, Trauma
Going “no contact” with a narcissist – cutting off all communication, blocking messages, and stepping out of the toxic cycle – is one of the hardest yet most healing steps a codependent can take. Yet, even when a person knows the relationship...
by Sherry Gaba | Jan 20, 2026 | Codependency, Narcissism, Relationships
One of the hardest lessons survivors of narcissistic abuse learn is that logic, reasoning, and heartfelt explanations don’t work with someone who is committed to misunderstanding you. If you’ve ever found yourself exhausted after trying to “make them...
