Ep 5: Manipulators vs Narcissists
Welcome to Episode 5 of The Rise Room! In this episode, I’m bringing you into the murky territory of control, charm, and emotional manipulation, exploring how manipulators and narcissists operate, how their behaviors impact mental health, and how you can reclaim your power and peace.
This one’s for anyone who’s ever left a conversation wondering if their memory is wrong, their feelings are too much, or their reality is just warped. We’re pulling back the curtain on what’s really going on.
Episode Highlights
A manipulator uses guilt, fear, or emotional tactics to steer outcomes in their favour.
A narcissist often has a fragile core, needs constant admiration, and reacts with control or withdrawal when that admiration isn’t there.
Gaslighting blurs truth and makes you doubt your memory, your feelings, your sanity.
Coercive control turns emotional or social independence into an invisible trap.
These aren’t just “bad traits”, they’re patterns that quietly degrade your mental health: anxiety, self-doubt, emotional exhaustion.
We’ll hear real-life phrases you may recognise (“After everything I’ve done for you…”, “You’re too sensitive”, “I’m just trying to protect you”) and unpack what’s going on underneath.
Research tells us that narcissistic traits and manipulative behaviours connect to higher risk of trauma, relationship harm and mental-health issues. (See citations below.)
I share my personal journey of realising I was being gaslit, how I rebuilt trust in my own memory and feeling, and what healing looked like.
“You don’t need someone else to co-sign your truth. My feelings are real. My memory is valid.”
Rise Challenge
Identify one recent moment where you questioned your feelings or wondered if your memory was wrong.
Write down what actually happened, not the version someone told you, but your truth.
Then say out loud: “My memory matters. My emotions are real. I trust myself.”
After that, when you feel ready, share what you discovered. Tag @TheRiseRoom on Instagram or message me, your story could help someone else recognise their own hidden reality.
Resources Section
Thank you for joining me for this deep dive into manipulators vs narcissists and the hidden mental-health battle behind charm and control. If this conversation resonated, please share it with someone who needs to hear it, someone whose truth has been doubted or erased.
Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss your next Rise moment.
✨ Step in. Rise up. Reclaim your peace.
Until next time, stay gentle with yourself, protect your energy, and keep rising.
References
Yakın, E., & Karaağiz, M. (2024). The psychological battleground of narcissists: Manipulation. SSD Journal. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15002607 ssdjournal.org
Stanley, R., & et al. (2021). Self-serving social strategies: A systematic review of social cognition in narcissism. Current Psychology, 42, 4362–4380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01661-3 SpringerLink
Pahud, M., et al. (2024). Association between pathological narcissism and emotion regulation: The role of self-mentalizing? (online). John Wiley & Sons Ltd. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38710596/ PubMed
Lo et al. (2003). Manipulation: searching for an understanding. (Review) Behaviour & Psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12755918/ PubMed
Moran, P., et al. (2013). On the uses and abuses of narcissism as a public health issue. The British Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.112.118465Cambridge University Press & Assessment