Terah never imagined her 20-year marriage would become a fight for survival. Married to a man who concealed his narcissistic tendencies until they became her daily nightmare, she lived in a constant state of vigilance, trying to shield herself and her children. Seven years of couples counselling yielded no progress, and every time a therapist pointed out her husband’s controlling behaviour, he insisted they find someone new. It was a cycle she couldn’t break.
Her two children ultimately saved her life, running to the neighbours one night after he had a psychotic break, threatening to end her life. When the police found him, he was armed, his trunk loaded with ammunition. But within days, he was free again. It was then Terah realized how little protection she had. She took her children and went into hiding, filled with fear—not only for herself but that he might try to take her children. The threat felt relentless, and as she grappled with a system unprepared to protect her, she realized how isolated abuse can make a person feel.
For her, speaking out about narcissistic abuse has become a way to empower others. She shares the harsh truths that outsiders rarely understand: the manipulation, the fear, the judgment survivors face. Friends would ask her, “Why did you stay so long?” But they didn’t see her reality—a life reduced to survival, filled with self-blame and self-doubt. The constant victim-blaming she encountered only deepened the scars left by her husband’s abuse.
Leaving him was both liberating and devastating. Her career, her business, and her home were casualties in the fight for freedom. Even as she struggled to rebuild, the relief of being away from him was worth every loss. With her children safe and finally out of his control, she felt the weight of survival lift, and a new chapter began. Therapy for herself and her children has helped them navigate the PTSD that clung to their past, but Terah knows recovery is a journey, one she would choose again without hesitation.
Featured image: Terah telling her story of surviving narcissistic abuse and domestic violence. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Terah Noel Narcissistic & Spiritual Abuse Recovery
