How to Spot a Narcissist

<p>Season 2 Episode 6 : How to Spot a Narcissist</p><p><br></p><p>What if the problem wasn’t that you were too sensitive…</p><p>…but that you were being taught to doubt your own reality?</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Not Saving It For Later, Hannah sits down with retired clinical psychologist Dr. Kerry McAvoy to unpack one of the most misunderstood and overused words in modern relationships: narcissist.</p><p><br></p><p>Because not every difficult partner is a narcissist.</p><p>And not every narcissist looks the way you think.</p><p>This conversation moves beyond social media buzzwords and into the real psychology behind narcissistic behavior, manipulation, power, and emotional control.</p><p><br></p><p>Dr. Kerry brings both clinical expertise and personal experience to this conversation, helping listeners understand not only what narcissism is — but why smart, capable, loving women so often find themselves trapped inside these relationships.</p><p><br></p><p>If you have ever felt confused… blamed… emotionally exhausted… or like you were slowly disappearing inside your relationship… this conversation may help you make sense of what you’ve been living.</p><p><br></p><p>This Conversation Covers:</p><p>• What narcissism actually means according to the DSM</p><p>• Why narcissism is often confused with selfishness or being a jerk</p><p>• The core traits narcissists share</p><p>• Manipulation, entitlement, and lack of empathy</p><p>• Why narcissists often see relationships as competition and control</p><p>• How love bombing and “compliance testing” work</p><p>• Why smart women still fall into these dynamics</p><p>• The role of self-betrayal and emotional conditioning</p><p>• Why narcissists struggle to change</p><p>• What emotional detachment can look like inside marriage</p><p>• How manipulation escalates when you begin pulling your power back</p><p>• Why staying “for the kids” may not protect them the way you hope</p><p>• Practical ways to begin recognizing patterns and protecting yourself</p><p>One truth from this episode that hit hard:</p><p>&quot;The people who benefited from you giving away your power will freak out when you call it back.&quot;</p><p>If this conversation feels painfully familiar, please hear this:</p><p>You are not crazy.</p><p>You are not weak.</p><p>And you are not doomed to stay stuck in dynamics that require you to abandon yourself to survive.</p><p><br></p><p>TIMESTAMPS:</p><p>00:00 – Introduction + Meet Dr. Kerry McAvoy</p><p>02:15 – What Narcissism Actually Means</p><p>06:30 – Narcissist vs. “Just an Asshole”</p><p>11:40 – DSM Criteria + Core Traits Explained</p><p>18:15 – Jealousy, Entitlement &amp; Lack of Empathy</p><p>24:20 – Are Narcissists Born or Made?</p><p>31:10 – Family Patterns + Genetic Components</p><p>38:00 – Why Narcissists Feel Superior Yet Empty</p><p>45:15 – Power, Control &amp; Competition in Relationships</p><p>52:30 – Why Women End Up With Narcissists</p><p>58:10 – Love Bombing + The Mask They Wear</p><p>1:04:20 – How Compliance Testing Works</p><p>1:12:00 – Self-Betrayal, Attachment &amp; People Pleasing</p><p>1:19:45 – Pulling Your Power Back</p><p>1:27:30 – Why Leaving Is So Hard</p><p>1:35:10 – Staying for the Kids + The Cost of Survival Mode</p><p>1:43:40 – Emotional Healing + Building Back Better</p><p>1:51:15 – Divorce, Labels &amp; Why Caution Matters</p><p>1:59:20 – Not Saving It For Later</p><p><br></p><p>CONNECT WITH DR. KERRY MCAVOY:</p><p>Website: https://www.kerrymcavoyphd.com/</p><p>Instagram: @kerrymcavoyphd</p><p>Facebook: Dr. Kerry McAvoy</p><p><br></p><p>CONNECT WITH HANNAH + HEMBREE BELL:</p><p>Website: www.hembreebell.com</p><p>Website: HannahHembreebell.com</p><p>Instagram: @hannahhembreebell</p><p>Instagram: @hembreebelllaw</p><p>Facebook: Hannah Hembree Bell</p><p>TikTok: @hannahhembreebell</p>