592: Do the Math: Am I a Psychopath? | Feedback Friday

Mother's Betrayal

The emotional turmoil of a mother siding with an abusive partner over her child is profound. Jordan Harbinger and Gabriel Mizrahi discuss a listener's heartbreaking experience of revealing past abuse to her mother, only to be met with denial and abandonment. This betrayal is compounded by the mother's decision to move away with the abuser, leaving her daughter feeling isolated and invalidated 1. Jordan empathizes with the listener's pain, acknowledging the complexity of emotions involved when a parent fails to protect their child 2.

Mom didn't protect you when you were a kid and this was going on under her nose, and she's not protecting you now as an adult when you're telling her this horrible thing happened to you.

--- Jordan Harbinger

The discussion highlights the deep wounds caused by such familial betrayal and the struggle to reconcile love for a parent with the hurt they have caused.

   

Healing Process

Healing from parental and partner betrayal is a challenging journey. Jordan and Gabriel emphasize the importance of processing grief and accepting painful realities as part of emotional recovery. Dr. Erin Margolis advises grieving the loss of the mother one thought they had, acknowledging that these feelings are valid and part of the healing process 3.

You clearly need to grieve your mother — the mother you thought you had, the mother you needed to have, and the mother that you wish you had now.

--- Dr. Erin Margolis

The hosts stress that while grief may never fully disappear, therapy can provide essential support in navigating these emotions and finding a path forward 4.