by Sherry Gaba | Sep 1, 2026 | Codependency, Obsessive Love, Relationships
One of the deepest wounds many people carry is the belief that love must be earned. If you grew up feeling unseen, criticized, emotionally neglected, or responsible for other people’s feelings, you may have learned that being loved required performing. Perhaps...
by Sherry Gaba | Aug 25, 2026 | Abuse, Codependency, Narcissism, Relationships
Most people have heard of narcissists and psychopaths, but a newer term has been gaining attention: the dark empath. While not an official mental health diagnosis, the concept describes someone who appears emotionally attuned to others but uses that understanding to...
by Sherry Gaba | Aug 18, 2026 | Codependency, Relationships
One of the most misunderstood concepts in both spirituality and codependency recovery is the idea of not reacting. Many people assume that not reacting means becoming passive, suppressing emotions, or allowing others to mistreat you. In reality, not reacting is one of...
by Sherry Gaba | Aug 11, 2026 | Codependency, Narcissism, Relationships
Few family dynamics are as painful and confusing as the relationship between a covert narcissistic mother and her adult child. Unlike the grandiose narcissist who is openly controlling, demanding, or attention-seeking, the covert narcissist often appears...
by Sherry Gaba | Aug 4, 2026 | Codependency, Obsessive Love, Relationships
One of the most painful experiences a mother can face is becoming estranged from an adult child. While every estrangement story is unique and often involves many contributing factors, one dynamic that frequently appears in family systems is overfunctioning....
by Sherry Gaba | Jul 28, 2026 | Abuse, Codependency, Relationships, Trauma
In recent years, the word toxic has become one of the most commonly used terms in conversations about family relationships. Social media, podcasts, self-help books, and even some therapeutic spaces have normalized the idea that if a relationship feels difficult,...
