Maybe it wasn’t narcissism—maybe the person was just a jerk. Or maybe you were.
Lately, I’ve seen an uptick in people marketing things like “Healing from Narcissistic Abuse Yoga” or claiming that hypnosis, meditation, or certain sound bytes will “erase” the trauma of narcissistic abuse. While these offers might sound appealing — especially when you’re in pain and desperate for healing — they can be misleading at best and harmful at worst.
Let’s talk about why.
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| Being outside in nature does have healing properties, as does outdoor yoga. However, healing from any kind of trauma takes a lot of time and work. |
Narcissism Isn’t as Common as Social Media Says
First, some clarity. True Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) affects an estimated 0.5% to 5% of the population, depending on the study and diagnostic criteria used. That’s not nothing — but it’s a far cry from what social media would have you believe. These days, it seems like anyone who was mean to you, lacked empathy, or didn’t validate your feelings gets labeled a narcissist.
And the word doesn’t just get misused — it gets weaponized.
When the Word “Narcissist” Becomes a Smear Campaign
I know this firsthand. My sister has repeatedly told others that I’m a narcissist. At one point, I even asked my therapist if that could be true — and his response was immediate: “You’re the opposite of a narcissist.”
That meant something. He wasn’t saying I was perfect. He was saying I’m deeply empathetic, introspective, and often put others before myself — sometimes to a fault. Those are not narcissistic traits. They’re traits of someone who, like many survivors, has over-functioned to maintain peace and connection.
The sad reality is, when you try to stand up for yourself, clarify your truth, or draw boundaries — some people will say you’re “trashing them.” But there’s a difference between smearing someone and defending yourself. I’m not trying to tear my sister down — I’m simply stating the truth of my experience, and challenging a narrative that’s been used to discredit and isolate me.
Let’s Get Back to the Fat Cream
Claiming yoga, meditation, or hypnosis alone can “heal” narcissistic abuse is like saying a cream will magically melt away all your fat. It sells you the dream of transformation without addressing the actual mechanisms of change.
That’s not to say yoga, meditation, or hypnosis are bad. They’re tools — and very useful ones in the right context. I personally love meditation and body-based practices. But here’s the key:
If those tools aren’t being offered by someone trained in trauma — especially relational trauma — they may do more harm than good.
Here’s why:
Untrained facilitators may accidentally re-trigger trauma by asking people to “sit with their pain” or “visualize safety” without knowing how to support flashbacks, dissociation, or internal collapse.
People may blame themselves when those tools don’t “work,” thinking their trauma is too deep or that they’re broken.
Predatory practitioners sometimes step in, acting as “healers” but mirroring the same emotional manipulation survivors are trying to escape.
Healing Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
Real recovery from narcissistic abuse — or any kind of deep relational trauma — often involves:
* Learning how to safely feel and regulate emotions
* Rebuilding trust in your own perception
* Setting and maintaining boundaries
* Grieving the relationships you thought you had
* Reclaiming your self-worth, one choice at a time
Those are not things you can bypass in a one-hour yoga class, or “reset” in a meditation that wasn’t designed with trauma in mind.
Final Thought
Be discerning. Trust your instincts. If someone tells you there’s a quick fix for the complicated pain you carry, take a step back.
You’re not broken, and you don’t need saving — but you do deserve healing that is honest, trauma-informed, and centered around your truth.
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