5 Signs You’re Healing From Narcissistic Abuse
- Randi Camirand
- Jan 24
- 3 min read
What Real Recovery Looks Like in the Nervous System and the Body
Many people expect healing to look like confidence, clarity, and empowerment right away. In reality, healing is usually much subtler and deeply embodied.
If you’ve experienced narcissistic abuse, emotional invalidation, or gaslighting, your system adapted in brilliant ways to survive. Healing doesn’t erase those adaptations. It gently unwinds them.
Here are five signs you may already be healing, even if it doesn’t feel dramatic.
1. You’re Relearning How to Trust Yourself
One of the most profound effects of narcissistic abuse is the loss of self-trust. When your reality has been repeatedly questioned or distorted, you may have learned to rely on others to tell you what’s true.
A sign of healing is beginning to notice:
You believe your perceptions more quickly
You second-guess yourself less
You don’t immediately look for external validation
This doesn’t mean certainty all the time. It means you’re rebuilding an internal reference point—one grounded in your own lived experience.
2. Your Nervous System Responds Differently
Healing often shows up first in the body, not the mind.
You may notice:
You pause before reacting
Your body settles more easily after stress
You feel moments of safety or presence
These shifts reflect nervous system regulation, not willpower. Your system is learning that constant vigilance is no longer required.
3. You Feel Less Compelled to Explain Yourself
In invalidating environments, over-explaining becomes a survival strategy. You may have learned to justify your feelings, decisions, or boundaries endlessly.
A powerful sign of healing is when:
You say less—and feel okay doing so
You don’t need to convince others of your truth
Silence feels safer than self-betrayal
This is self-trust in action.
4. Shame Begins to Soften
Narcissistic abuse often leaves behind deep, internalized shame—the belief that something is fundamentally wrong with you.
Healing doesn’t mean shame disappears overnight. It means:
You catch self-blame sooner
You respond with compassion instead of criticism
You recognize shame as something you learned—not who you are
As shame loosens, your authentic self has more room to emerge.
5. You’re More Connected to Your Body
Many survivors of narcissistic abuse disconnect from their bodies as a way to cope. Re-embodiment is a core sign of healing.
You might notice:
Increased awareness of sensations or emotions
Clearer signals about needs and limits
A growing sense of grounded presence
This reconnection happens slowly—and it’s a profound indicator that safety is returning.
A Gentle Practice to Support Healing
Try this once a day:
Place one hand on your body—wherever feels neutral or comforting.
Take one slow breath.
Silently say:“Right now, I am allowed to trust what I feel.”
No fixing. No analyzing. Just contact.
Why Support Matters in Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
Healing from narcissistic abuse does not have to be a solo process. Because the injury occurred in relationship, repair also happens in relationship—especially one where your experience is consistently believed and honored.
As a seasoned practitioner specializing in narcissistic abuse recovery, I support clients in:
Restoring self-trust
Regulating the nervous system
Reconnecting with the body
Healing shame and self-abandonment
Reclaiming inner authority
My work is trauma-informed, somatic, and grounded in both extensive training and lived, embodied practice.
You’re Not Behind—You’re Healing
If these signs resonate, you’re not “almost healed.”You’re already in it.
Healing is not about becoming stronger than what happened.
It’s about becoming more yourself again.
Therapy that honors your lived experience can help you come home to yourself.
You are not alone. I am available for individual sessions, when you are ready.
In the meantime, here are some Resources For Your Healing Journey:
Read blog posts from my series When the Spell Breaks: Healing from Narcissistic Abuse. https://www.randicamirand.com/blog/categories/healing-from-narcissistic-abuse
Follow my Women’s Wintering Well Series on Instagram for almost daily self-care reminders. https://www.instagram.com/randicamirand/
10 Grounding Practices for Women
Visit my Homepage www.randicamirand.com
Learn more About Me and My Approach https://www.randicamirand.com/about
Learn about my Women’s Online Meditation Classes and email sign up to receive notifications. https://www.randicamirand.com/womens-meditation-classes
Check out The Blog for therapy insights and self-help tips.
