"Narcissist" has become one of the most overused words in modern culture. We hear it everywhere. Ex-partners are narcissists. Parents are narcissists. Bosses are narcissists. Anyone who appears self-focused, difficult, controlling, or hurtful risks being labeled with the term. The problem is that most people don't actually understand what narcissism is. When most people use the word, they are referring to an inflated sense of self—someone who believes they are more important, more deserving,...

A Nervous System Perspective on Boundaries, Disappointment, and Vulnerability We often talk about “needs” and “desires” as if they’re clean categories. But in somatic work, the distinction isn’t conceptual — it’s regulatory. I tend to differentiate needs and desires less by definition and more by nervous system impact. What Makes Something a Need? A need is something that, if chronically unmet, destabilizes the system. When a true need isn’t protected, you’ll often see: Contraction Resentment...

We don’t outgrow childhood just because we reach adulthood. Time passes, bodies mature, roles shift—but many of us carry unmet needs from...